injured workers News

Study Keys on Opioids in California Comp Claims Involving Mental Health

A new study shows the prevalence of opioids in workers’ compensation claims involving mental health. The study by the California Workers’ Compensation Institute tracks changes in the prevalence, volume and strength of opioid prescriptions in California work injury lost-time claims …

Report: Written Premiums for California Comp Insurers to be Flat Through 2017

Written premiums from workers’ compensation insurers in California for the year are expected to be flat at $18.1 billion compared with 2016 thanks largely to rate decreases, according to analysts with the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau. Premiums doubled from …

California Department of Workers’ Comp Dismissing 292K-Plus Unresolved Liens

The California Division of Workers’ Compensation is dismissing more than 292,000 unresolved liens. The liens belong to claimants who did not properly file the required supplemental lien form and 4903.05(c) declaration form. Senate Bill 1160, which became effective Jan. 1, …

California Workers’ Comp Drug Formulary Would Reduce Costs, Study Shows

Roughly one-in-three prescription drugs currently dispensed to injured workers in California will be no longer require authorization prior to dispensing under the state’s proposed workers’ compensation prescription drug formulary, according to a new study. The new formulary creates more efficiency …

California Division of Workers’ Comp Issues Revised Drug Formulary Regulations

The California Division of Workers’ Compensation has issued modified proposed regulations to adopt the medical treatment utilization schedule drug formulary. The proposed rulemaking implements Assembly Bill 1124, which mandates the adoption of an evidence-based drug formulary. DWC has reviewed comments …

Rand Report Recommends Analytics for Fraud Prevention in Workers’ Comp

The California Division of Workers’ Compensation has posted a report from the Rand Corp. with recommendations to prevent fraud in the workers’ compensation system. The Department of Industrial Relations last year requested that the Rand assess medical provider fraud in …

Nearly 60% of Payments in California Comp in 2016 Were for Medical Services

The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California issued report containing estimated California workers’ compensation costs for 2016 based on insured employer experience. The report also reflects payments made by the California Insurance Guarantee Association in the statewide loss payments …

California Workers’ Comp Board Submits Lower Filing than Industry Average

The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau on Tuesday submitted a July 1 Pure Premium Rate Filing to the California Department of Insurance proposing advisory pure premium rates that average $2.02 per $100 of payroll. The move follows a vote by …

California State Fund 2016 Report Shows 128K Policies Written

The California State Compensation Insurance Fund’s 2016 annual report shows a net income of $192 million in 2016. Other important highlights from the newly released report include: 128,000 policies written in 2016. Earned net premiums of $1.5 billion. Policyholders’ surplus …

California Workers’ Comp Report Looks at Spinal Fusion Claims

A study on the use of spinal fusion surgeries in California workers’ compensation shows that in 60 percent of spinal fusion claims the initial report of injury was for a sprain or strain, a majority of the fusions occurred within …