Business Insurance

Login  |  Register Subscribe

Most Read Workers Comp News

Appeals court to reconsider RICO claims against Sedgwick, Coca-Cola

Published June 07, 2013 CST

A federal appeals court is scheduled to reconsider allegations that Sedgwick Claims Management Services Inc. and Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. violated the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act in settling workers compensation claims.

Commercial insurance prices up 7% in 2013: Towers Watson

Published June 10, 2013 CST

Commercial insurance prices rose almost 7% during the first quarter of 2013 compared with the same period the previous year, according to a Towers Watson & Co. survey released in Monday.

Okla. law could create template for deregulating workers comp nationwide

Published June 04, 2013 CST

Oklahoma's new law allowing employers to exit the state's statutory workers compensation system could create a template for deregulating workers comp nationwide, concludes a white paper released Tuesday.

Texas contract worker who lost arm limited to workers comp remedy: Court

Published June 10, 2013 CST

Exclusive remedy rules prevent a contract employee whose arm was amputated in an on-the-job accident from suing the city he was working for at the time, the Texas Supreme Court has ruled.

Walgreen in record $80M settlement over painkillers

Published June 11, 2013 CST

(Reuters) — Walgreen Co., the largest U.S. drugstore chain, has agreed to pay $80 million in civil penalties to resolve allegations that it violated federal rules governing the distribution of prescription painkillers.

Rising indemnity, severity cited in proposed 16.9% N.Y. comp rate plan

Published June 12, 2013 CST

A proposal to raise New York workers compensation rates by 16.9% is based in part on increasing indemnity and medical claim severity, according to the New York Compensation Insurance Rating Board.

Property/casualty insurance rates up 5% in May: MarketScout

Published June 05, 2013 CST

Average U.S. property/casualty insurance rates rose 5% in May, with small and midsize accounts seeing the biggest increases, Dallas-based electronic insurance exchange MarketScout said Wednesday.

OFF BEAT: Comedian Jim Carrey takes workers comp seriously

Published June 07, 2013 CST

It turns out that actor and funnyman Jim Carrey did indeed pay for workers comp insurance.

Data quality, managing change key for underwriters' predictive models

Published June 05, 2013 CST

Underwriters need to emphasize data quality and managing change when introducing predictive models into the underwriting process, experts said during the Insurance Accounting and Systems Association Inc.'s annual conference.

Calif. court grants insurer-sought stay in NFL defense, indemnity suit

Published May 29, 2013 CST

A California appellate court has given a temporary victory to 32 insurers that are battling the National Football League over defense and indemnity rights under 187 commercial general liability policies purchased over 45 years.

Comp exclusive remedy, Human Rights Act bar gay man's harassment suit

Published June 13, 2013 CST

A man allegedly subjected to harassment at work about his sexual orientation cannot sue his former employer for negligence because workers compensation exclusive remedy provisions and the Human Rights Act bar his lawsuit, an Illinois appellate court has ruled.

U.S. regulators propose new oversight of AIG, Prudential

Published June 03, 2013 CST

(Reuters) -- U.S. regulators on Monday proposed designating non-bank financial companies including American International Group Inc. and Prudential Financial for heightened regulatory oversight.

COMMENTARY: OxyContin formulation is good for workers comp, but bad for society

Published June 02, 2013 CST

A new OxyContin formulation is providing relief for workers compensation payers strapped with paying for the illegal diversion of the prescription pain reliever.

$4.3 million workers comp retaliation award upheld

Published June 03, 2013 CST

An Illinois man was properly awarded $4.3 million in a workers compensation retaliation lawsuit because his employer failed to modify his duties and terminated his job while requiring him to apply for other positions within the company, an appellate court ruled last week.

Workers comp is only recourse for granary death despite OSHA violations

Published June 04, 2013 CST

Workers compensation is the only recourse for a grain bin death even though the employer “willfully violated safety regulations and thereby caused the tragic death of one of its employees,” Nebraska's Supreme Court ruled.

Bill to ease workers comp Medicare set-aside process introduced

Published May 15, 2013 CST

A bill that would ease the Medicare Secondary Payer reimbursement process for workers compensation settlements has been introduced in Congress.

Commercial insurance prices to trend upward through 2013: Willis

Published April 10, 2013 CST

Buyers of commercial insurance can expect moderate upward pressure on rates throughout the year, according to an analysis released Wednesday by Willis Group Holdings P.L.C.

NIOSH establishes Center for Workers’ Compensation Studies

Published June 05, 2013 CST

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has launched a new Center for Workers’ Compensation Studies to analyze trends in work-related injuries and illnesses.

Cigna to pay more than $2M in disability claims irregularities

Published May 24, 2013 CST

Cigna Corp. will pay $1.6 million in fines and pay long-term disability policyholders up to $77 million to settle allegations of irregular claims-handling practices, California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones announced Friday.

OFF BEAT: Jim Carrey sued for not providing workers comp insurance

Published June 03, 2013 CST

Actor and comedian Jim Carrey reportedly stands accused of being a workers compensation scofflaw for allegedly failing to purchase insurance for employees at his New York art studio.

Cost of drugs for workers compensation claimants up in 2012

Published April 22, 2013 CST

The cost of drugs commonly prescribed for workers compensation claimants, including narcotic pain relievers, rose during 2012, reports released Monday by pharmacy benefit managers show.

Managed care overutilization could drive workers comp cost increases

Published April 21, 2013 CST

Managed care's promise to control medical utilization and reduce workers compensation claims costs is undercut when employers pay for excessive services that don't improve claims outcomes, experts say.

PTSD must arise from physical injury to qualify for Ohio comp benefits

Published June 05, 2013 CST

A mental condition such as post-traumatic stress disorder is compensable under Ohio workers compensation law only when it is caused by a physical injury, the state's Supreme Court has ruled.

OFF BEAT: Price is all wrong for workers comp fraudster

Published June 04, 2013 CST

A spin on “The Price is Right” resulted in a workers compensation fraud conviction this week for a former mail carrier who reportedly was caught spinning the show’s “Big Wheel” in spite of her work injury.

101 Ways to Reduce Workers' Compensation Costs

Published April 04, 2013 CST

This Midwest Employers Casualty Co. bulletin offers 101 ideas for reducing workers compensation costs.