Quote of the day
"I'm here to tell you today that's the old Beacon. It's only going to get better."
James V. Rosati, new chief executive officer of dominant Rhode Island workers' comp insurer Beacon Mutual Insurance Co., which has been investigated for its pricing practices
Rhode Island’s Beacon May Cut Rates by 5.5 Percent
Rhode Island workers’ compensation insurer Beacon Mutual Insurance Co.’s new chief executive officer James Rosati tells business leaders that the company plans to cut workers’ compensation insurance rates by an average of 5.5 percent later this year. By Lynn Arditi, Providence Journal [With Photo] Go to the Full Story…
Ambiguity Holds Up Delaware Workers’ Comp Reform Bill
A possible conflict in Delaware’s recently-passed workers’ compensation reform bill is forcing officials to stall the legislation. Insurance Commissioner Matt Denn says the bill does not clearly specify whether sole proprietors who were previously exempt from purchasing workers comp insurance would lose the exemption. By Ron MacArthur, Cape Gazette (Lewes, Del.)
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Opinion: Colorado House Bill a ‘Solution Without a Problem’
One welcome bill pending in the Colorado House of Representatives would allow an injured worker to choose from two physicians or networks selected by that worker’s employer and allow a one- time change between the two. But another would require that firefighters who contract one of five types of cancer be treated under workers’ compensation unless the employer proves that exposure to chemicals on the job did not cause the cancer—and that’s less sensible than existing law. Denver Post
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Coventry Health Care Raises Its FY 2007 Forecast
Maryland-based Coventry Health Care Inc. lifts its earnings and revenue forecast for 2007. Last month, managed care provider Concentra Inc. agreed to sell its workers compensation business to Coventry for $387.5 million. Trading Markets
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Maryland Senate Preliminarily Approves Auxiliary Officers’ Bill
The Maryland Senate gives preliminary approval to a bill that would expand workers’ compensation coverage to auxiliary police officers in Howard County. The legislation is inspired by such an officer who was volunteering at an accident scene when another car hit him, pinning his legs. By Laura Smitherman, Baltimore Sun [Second Item] Go to the Full Story…
Former Baltimore Cop Sentenced for Workers’ Comp Fraud
A 40-year-old former Baltimore City police officer will serve six months of home detention for accepting and cashing more than $150,000 in fraudulent workers’ compensation checks, according to the state attorney general. By Jaime Malarkey, Baltimore Examiner
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Claim Volume Causes Pennsylvania County to Lose Policy
Pennsylvania’s McConnellsburg Borough insurance broker notifies it that the county’s workers’ compensation insurance policy will be cancelled effective May 1 due to the number of claims made on it. The loss of the policy means the borough has to seek the insurance from the State Workers’ Insurance Fund. By Jean Snyder, Fulton County News (McConnellsburg, Pa.)
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Union: Vancouver Olympics Volunteers Won’t Be Covered
The head of the union representing inside employees of the City of Vancouver warns 2010 Winter Olympics volunteers that the city does not intend to protect such workers under Workers’ Compensation Board coverage. By Carlito Pablo, Georgia Straight (Vancouver, B.C.)
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Ohio BWC May Have Its Own Inspector General
Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland’s budget plan includes adding an inspector general at the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation in order to prevent waste, fraud and abuse of public money at the troubled agency. By Jim Otte, WHIO-TV (Dayton)
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