Workers' Comp Executive

New Hampshire Municipalities' Insurer Denies Misusing Funds

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:09:30 GMT

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.

State Fund IDs 705 Positions for Actual Layoffs

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:02:52 GMT

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.

Hearing Rep's Disciplinary Hearing Delayed, Again

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:54:37 GMT

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.

California Better Than Average on Medical Costs, WCRI Study Finds

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:51:06 GMT

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

AMA Guides Ratings Good Predictor of Earning Losses, Study Finds

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:41:25 GMT

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.

CompWest, workers' comp, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, BCBSM,

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:20:38 GMT

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.

SIG Industry Drafts Voluntary Audit Guidelines

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:57:56 GMT

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

Drug Screening: The Next Cash Cow?

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:49:02 GMT

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.

Flash: DIR Closely Monitoring Two Bankruptcies

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:44:54 GMT

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.

Flash: Reforms Cut Permanent Disability Benefits By 58%, Study Finds

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:11:04 GMT

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.