Quote of the day
"God sent us this attorney, and he sent us this judge."
Wilma Seltzer, one half of an Ohio couple sentenced to probation for running a sham medical practice and submitting false bills to the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation
CRM to Acquire Embarcadero for an Estimated $45 Million
CRM Holdings, Ltd. yesterday announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire privately-held, San Francisco-based workers’ comp insurer Embarcadero Insurance Holdings, Inc., for an expected $45 million. Embarcadero, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Majestic Insurance Co. writes workers’ comp insurance for medium to large size businesses and operates in California, Arizona, Alaska, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. Workers’ Comp Executive
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Bay Area Police Chief Says Job Stress Caused Physical Illnesses
Kensington, Calif. police Chief Barry Garfield says the demands of the job caused injuries to his “emotional system,” according to a form filed with the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board. By Justin Hill, Contra Costa Times
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Prosecutor Calls Ohio Couple’s Fraud Sentence a Wrist-Slap
Infuriating the prosecutor, a Cuyahoga County, Ohio judge gives probation to a couple convicted of running a sham medical practice that cost the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation at least $160,000. By Jim Nichols, Cleveland Plain Dealer
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Ohio: Managed-Care Firms Cashed In Despite Claims Drop
A decade ago, Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation officials said the managed-care program would lower medical and compensation costs, speed up the claims process, and improve care of injured Ohio workers. But more than anything it appears to have filled the coffers of managed care firms with bureau money. By James Drew and Steve Eder, Toledo Blade [With Photo] Go to the Full Story…
Roadblocks to Settlement May Be Falling in West Virginia
West Virginia’s workers’ compensation system was not always designed to encourage the resolution of claims through settlements despite the time, money and energy that could be saved. However, some of the statutory obstacles to settling comp claims are changing. By Juliet A. Terry, State Journal (Charleston, W.V.)
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Mountain State Officials Discuss Expansion of Rate Classes
In a meeting at the West Virginia state capitol, representatives of the state Insurance Commission, BrickStreet Insurance and a national rating firm explain the decisions behind increasing from 94 to 468 different business classes with respect to workers’ compensation rates. Metro News [With Audio] Go to the Full Story…
South Carolina County’s Use of Risk Manager Pays Off
After a year of employing a risk manager, Spartanburg County, S.C. reports that its payout on workers’ compensation claims decreased by about 33 percent during fiscal year 2005. By Monica Mercer, Go Upstate (Spartanburg, S.C.)
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In Alberta, the Numbers Don’t Add Up
Alberta Human Resources claims the number of workplace injuries has declined 30 percent from 1994 to 2004 thanks to a program called Work Safe Alberta. But national Association of Workers Compensation Boards of Canada statistics show that the number of deaths rising from 74 to 124 over the same period of time. By Jeremy Loome, Edmonton Sun
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Studies Report Stability in Michigan’s Workers’ Comp Program
Two new national studies report that Michigan’s workers’ compensation benefit payments have been stable in recent years and that its costs reside below the national average. Workers’ Comp Executive
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