Home - WCExec.com

The Workers' Comp Executive is the journal of record
for the workers' comp community in California.

Search:

FREE Flash Reports

FREE to your inbox!

Articles

Resources

Services

FLASH REPORTS

FLASH: DIR Monitoring Two Corporate Bankruptcies Two large companies filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. What will this mean for their self-insured workers comp obligations? Click here for the story. Read more here ... More...

FLASH: Average Pure Premium Rate On The Rise The California Department of Insurance called for a rate decrease in 2012 but the industry had other ideas. So what does the final analysis say? Click here for the story Read more here ... More...

FLASH: PD Benefits Are Making News Everyone knows that workers' comp reforms cut permanent disability benefits for injured workers, but the depth of those cuts is the subject of much debate. How far down did the cuts really go? New research is out that sheds light on the issue and will likely prove pivotal in negotiations over an increase. Click here for the story. Read more here ... More...

FREE Flash Reports to Your Inbox!

TOP STORIES

Drug Screening: The Next Cash Cow? With a struggling economy, doctors and other vendors are looking for new profit centers as legislation and regulations eliminate others. What’s the latest cottage industry to pop up, how much does it cost and what are employers doing about it? Click here to get all the details. Read more here ... More...

SIG Industry Drafts Voluntary Audit Guidelines A trade association for the self-insured group (SIG) industry is rolling out a new voluntary compliance program for its members. Will the proposals make sure SIGs stay transparent and solvent? What does the insurance industry think, and where does the Office of Self-Insurance Plans (OSIP) stand on the issue as the industry's chief regulator? Click here for the story Read more here ... More...

Michigan Supreme Court Considers CompWest Acquisition Is the 2007 sale of CompWest Insurance Company to Michigan's Accident Fund on its way to being unwound? That's what one government official and a gaggle of competitors seek. Who's going to have the final say? Click here for the story. Read more here ... More...

AMA Guides Ratings Good Predictor of Earning Losses, Study Finds Preliminary findings from a study of impairment ratings under the AMA Guides and how those translate into benefits for California’s injured workers are raising eyebrows. Will this help boost the argument for increased benefits? Has the system gone astray, and if so, what would it take to set the system right? Click here for the story. Read more here ... More...

Workers’ Comp Not Becoming Profitable Soon Rates are going up in California, but how does the workers’ comp line look in the rest of the country? Is there reason for concern? How are carriers reacting? Click here to read what the experts have to say. Read more here ... More...

California Better Than Average on Medical Costs, WCRI Study Finds A new study is out showing where costs are increasing and where the reforms are still holding. What do the findings show about California's relative standing with other states in the study? Click here for the story Read more here ... More...

Hearing Rep's Disciplinary Hearing Delayed, Again The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board is pursuing a disciplinary case against a lien claimant hearing officer, but like many defendants, he finds the process slow going. What's delaying the case this time around and when will we see some real action? Click here for the details. Read more here ... More...

State Fund IDs 705 Positions for Actual Layoffs The state's largest workers' comp carrier is moving ahead with a scaled-down layoff plan, thanks to the success of a buyout offer. How many jobs are still on the chopping block and which offices will be hit hardest? Click here for the full story. Read more here ... More...

New Hampshire Municipalities' Insurer Denies Misusing Funds A New Hampshire municipal insurer is in hot water with the state over how it has conducted some of its business. What does the state say it has done wrong and how much is at stake? What does the insurer say in response? Click here for the details. Read more here ... More...

WCIRB Considers New Approach to Regulatory Changes The Workers' Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau is now under new management and already is considering altering the way it does business, but is anything really changing? What's under consideration and when might the changes take effect? Click here for the story. Read more here ... More...

SIG Board Members Given Advice and Subtle Warning The Office of Self Insurance Plans (OSIP) offers a not-so-subtle hint that there will be a price to pay if any shenanigans go on at the state's self-insured groups (SIGs). Who received the shot across the bow? Click here for the story. Read more here ... More...

Bills on the Underground Economy Rise Up The Legislature has hit the ground running, addressing issues that have been brought to the fore by the Brown administration, but keeping a workers’ comp package in sight. What’s been introduced and what does the future hold for a comprehensive workers’ comp package? Click here for details. Read more here ... More...

State Fund on Target for 25% Reduction in Force State Compensation Insurance Fund is moving to trim its operations and bring its workforce totals in line with its reduced market share. What hurdle has it just surmounted and what big boost has it gotten? Click here for the full story. Read more here ... More...

Los Angeles County Workers’ Comp Costs Taxpayers $1 Million a Day Is Los Angeles County feeling the pinch of workers’ comp? A million bucks a day ain’t even the whole story. What's the final word? Click here for the story. Read more here ... More...

Is Comp’s Opioid Addiction Fraud or Abuse? Is the high rate of opioid use in California's workers' comp system a criminal matter or an issue for regulators to handle? That's the debate now raging at the Fraud Assessment Commission. Click here for the story. Read more here ... More...

Court OKs Fight Against Baseless Workers’ Comp Claim An employer defeated a 132a claim for discrimination before the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, but the case is far from over. How is justice being served? Click here for the story. Read more here ... More...

California Workers’ Comp Fraud File A contractor is caught not playing by the rules. So what was his crime and punishment? Click here for the details. Read more here ... More...

WCRI Study Shows Fee Schedules Reduce Costs A major research organization has just completed a major study on cost savings and fee schedules. How do states with fee schedules fare against those without? Where does California rank and what are the exceptions? Click here to read the story. Read more here ... More...

National Football League Claims Costly Call Assuming a C&R is $100,000, these claims have the potential to cost employers tens of millions, if not hundreds of millions, of dollars. Can they even be filed in California or are applicants engaging in unsportsmanlike conduct? Click here to get all the details and find out who is trying to do something about it. Read more here ... More...

Setting the Stage for 2012 California workers' comp was an interesting industry to be a part of in 2011. A labor-friendly administration was taking over and a new insurance commissioner was just getting his feet wet. The California Supreme Court also was being asked to weigh in on significant workers' comp issues. So which stories were the biggest in 2011? Click here for the full list. Read more here ... More...

WCIRB Adopts New Standards for Midyear Rate Filings The Workers' Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau formally adopted a new process for handling midyear updates to the pure premium rates. What's the new standard and why might one former Supreme Court justice be smiling? Click here for the details. Read more here ... More...

Business Organizations Get New Lobbyists Business associations are looking for and hiring new workers’ comp lobbyists. Click here to find out who is on board and who is still looking. Read more here ... More...

Hefty Workers’ Comp Rate Hikes for the 1/1s Major carriers were filing for 2012 rate increase up to the end of the year, while renewal quotes were coming back with some hefty increases of their own. How much? Click here for the story. Read more here ... More...

Massive Case of Alleged Medical Fraud Moves Forward Several individuals are being arraigned in Orange County this week in one case where big dollars are at stake. Who’s being charged? What are the charges and how much money was allegedly swindled? Premium subscribers can read all about it by clicking here. Read more here ... More...

California Workers’ Comp Fraud File Fraud is still a problem in California's workers' comp system, but prosecutors scored a win recently, and new efforts are under way to find more bad actors. What's changing on the fraud-fighting fronts? Click here for the story. Read more here ... More...

CompWest, Fireman’s Fund See Rating Downgrades Two prominent companies in the California workers' comp industry caught the eye of rating analysts, and the outcome is not positive. Which companies are in the crosshairs and why? Click here. Read more here ... More...

Tokio Marine to Buy Safety National’s Parent in $2.7B Deal Will a proposed consolidation among international insurance companies have an impact on California's workers' comp market? Both are active in the traditional workers' comp market, but one of the affected companies controls a significant share of the excess workers' comp insurance market. Click here for the story. Read more here ... More...

New Audit Standards for Employers Self-Insured for Workers’ Comp The Office of Self Insurance Plans (OSIP) is changing the way it audits self-insured employers' workers' comp claims. What's changing and will there be an impact on claims reserves? Click here. Read more here ... More...

Supreme Court Rules in Claims Adjusters Case Are claims adjusters at Liberty Mutual and Golden Eagle mere production workers and thus eligible for overtime pay? Or is their work more administrative in nature and thus exempt from the rule? The Supreme Court has ruled in the case, but did it answer the question? Click here for the story. Read more here ... More...