News Digest 10-24-2019

Quote of the day

“Right now, our assets are around $27 billion. What that means is last year we had a $1.5 billion dividend back to BWC. We decided to take that out with the encouragement of the governor and the board.”

Stephanie McCloud, Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation administrator and CEO

WTOV

 

 

 

Colorado loophole prevents 911 operators from collecting workers’ comp for trauma

A Colorado state representative is targeting a loophole in state law that prevents 911 operators and dispatchers from collecting workers’ compensation when they hear, but don’t actually see, something traumatizing. The Operations Manager for Denver 911 says trauma contributes to high turnover in the profession. CBS Denver

 

Ohio presents first of many dividend checks

The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation is paying out dividends to policyholders this week that the agency says are the result of strong investment returns and falling injury claims. WTOV [with video]

 

Workers’ compensation is about to be transformed

Workers’ compensation is the largest premium segment in the U.S. commercial insurance market. Yet these premiums are dwarfed by the overall cost of occupational injuries and illnesses, estimated at $250 billion in 2012 by a UC Davis researcher. A number of factors are now converging that will enable the insurance industry to reduce risk and transfer it more effectively, writes Leslie Chacko of Marsh & McLennan Solutions. Brink News

 

Montana motocross racer convicted of workers compensation fraud

A 42-year-old Montanan has pleaded guilty to workers’ compensation fraud after receiving more than $132,000 improperly from Montana State Fund. Based on a tip from his employer, a plumbing and heating company, investigators found he had competed in motocross races in the two months prior to his alleged workplace injury. Great Falls Tribune

 

Australia: Reality show contestant wins workers’ comp for mental injury

A former contestant on an Australian reality television program has won a landmark case against the network for psychological injury due to “isolation, bullying and harassment” throughout the filming of the program. The participant filed a workers’ compensation claim in 2017 claiming adjustment disorder, anxiety disorder, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. The Guardian