Tagged in: Mark Webb

Poizner vs. Gov: Suit May Face Some Obstacles

Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner is getting plaudits from the industry for filing a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the governor’s plan to sell $1 billion in State Compensation Insurance Fund assets. In his 18-page lawsuit, the commissioner accuses the governor of usurping both the complete system of workers’ comp and the insurance commissioner’s authority. Industry … Read More »

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Legislature: SIG Transparency Still Controversial

Substantive debate, at least in the Legislature, over financial transparency for workers’ comp self-insured groups (SIGs) will have to wait until at least the beginning of next year, say legislative staffers. Both AB 879, authored by Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina), and SB 683, authored by Ron Calderon (D-Montebello), have been bumped to two-year bills. But … Read More »

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Industry Swift To Denounce Decision

Unwise. Unrealistic. Unsustainable. Those are a few of the early reactions to Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner’s decision to deny in its entirety the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau’s filing for a 23.7% hike in the workers’ comp claims cost benchmark AKA the pure premium rate. Actuaries at the California Department of Insurance discounted the Bureau’s … Read More »

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Will Scrutiny Screw SIGs?

As workers’ comp rates start to creep up, the debate over transparency of self-insured groups (SIGs) is beginning to heat up. Following up on last year’s abortive effort, the Legislature ponders proposed legislation that would open SIG financials to greater scrutiny. SIGs control $5.2 billion of workers’ comp payroll, yet unlike insurance companies, their financial … Read More »

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Recent En Banc Cases Wreak Havoc with Reserves

Now there is a great deal of uncertainty in the industry around the whole issue of permanent disability. It is starting to wreak havoc in both underwriting and reserving practices, say industry veterans. The Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board’s recent en banc decisions in Ogilvie and Almaraz/Guzman have created the issues. (see Workers’ Comp Executive Flash Report … Read More »

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Return To Work: Long-Term Solutions For Employers & Employees

With return-to-work rates not significantly improved since SB 899, employers are discussing the possibility of providing better access to state programs for injured workers, the sole focus being to bring them back into the workforce. And that may mean going back with different employers. For all intents and purposes, the current return-to-work system requires that … Read More »

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More Efforts To Bring Equity To PD Expected In 2008

The workers’ comp industry in California can expect further attempts to remedy permanent disability inequities that have arisen from SB 899 reforms during the 2008 legislative session. There likely will be a continued assault on the now four-year-old reforms. And with it being an election year, pressure and support will be heaped on legislators to … Read More »

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Industry Oracle Prognosticates Legislation For Next Year

HUNTINGTON BEACH – When the Legislature convenes in January, expect a flood of bills tackling the unintended consequences of the landmark SB 899 workers’ comp overhaul vehicle, says Mark Webb, vice president of governmental affairs for Employers Direct Insurance Company. Legislation that tweaks regulations governing temporary disability and overhauls the return-to-work offer requirement as it … Read More »

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