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Most Read Workers Comp News

Employee's off-duty car-crash injuries compensable: Court

Published May 29, 2012 CST

FRANKFORT, Ky.—The Kentucky Supreme Court says workers compensation benefits should be paid to a horse groomer who was injured in a car accident, even though his employer said the man was off-duty when the crash occurred.

'Rate-based' safety programs may discourage reporting

Published May 27, 2012 CST

“Rate-based” safety incentive programs are drawing federal scrutiny for their potential to discourage workers from reporting accidents and injuries.

Employee's coffee-break injury not compensable: Court

Published May 31, 2012 CST

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.—The Missouri Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that workers compensation benefits should be denied for a Missouri woman who twisted her ankle while making a pot of coffee for herself and her coworkers.

Calif. workers comp advisory pure premium rate hike of 8.25% is approved

Published May 30, 2012 CST

SACRAMENTO—California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones has approved a California workers compensation advisory pure premium rate hike amounting to 8.25% for new policies and those renewing on or after July 1, 2012.

Calif. workers comp claims show sharp increase in medical costs: Study

Published May 25, 2012 CST

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.—California has seen a “steep” increase in medical costs for workers compensation claims despite reforms to the system in the last several years that initially reduced costs, according to the Workers Compensation Research Institute.

Out-of-network doctor's report admissible evidence in workers comp case: Court

Published May 31, 2012 CST

A report from a doctor who is not part of an employer's workers compensation medical network is admissible as evidence for determining benefits, a California appellate court ruled.

AIG must pay $146.5M to settle alleged workers comp premium underreporting

Published June 01, 2012 CST

HARRISBURG, Pa.—American International Group Inc. must pay state regulators $146.5 million by the end of June to settle 2006 allegations that its insurers underreported workers compensation premiums over several decades.

Opioid painkillers should be monitored electronically: N.Y. grand jury

Published May 25, 2012 CST

NEW YORK—A New York grand jury investigating an epidemic of controlled substance abuse has called on pharmaceutical manufacturers to help fund electronic monitoring of opioid pain medication prescribing.

Opioid death liability falling on employers

Published May 20, 2012 CST

Several state appellate courts have held that employers and insurers are financially accountable for overdose deaths tied to opioid pain medications prescribed for injured workers, raising concerns that more such rulings could follow.

New York workers compensation board seeks 11.5% rate increase

Published May 18, 2012 CST

NEW YORK—The New York Compensation Insurance Rating Board is seeking an 11.5% workers compensation rate increase, citing increased claims frequency among other cost drivers.

Increased drug testing for painkillers increases Calif. workers comp costs: Study

Published May 23, 2012 CST

OAKLAND, Calif.—The widespread use of narcotic painkillers to treat injured workers has fueled exponential growth in drug testing, which added $100 million in costs to California's workers compensation system in 2011, according to a study released Tuesday.

Connecticut governor signs new medical marijuana bill into law

Published June 01, 2012 CST

HARTFORD, Conn.—Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signed new medical marijuana legislation into law Friday that expands its previously permitted use.

Workers compensation audit reviews can reveal costly errors

Published May 13, 2012 CST

With workers compensation rates firming, some employers are pressing for reviews of their workers comp audits with an eye to lowering their premiums.

Property/casualty insurance rates up 3% in April: MarketScout

Published May 04, 2012 CST

The composite rate for commercial property/casualty and professional lines coverage increased an average of 3% in April 2012 compared with the same month a year ago, MarketScout said Friday.

Maryland lawmakers vote to privatize workers compensation insurer

Published May 23, 2012 CST

TOWSON, Md.—Maryland’s state workers compensation insurer will become a private, nonprofit corporation next year after state lawmakers passed legislation to privatize the Injured Workers’ Insurance Fund.

Broadspire CEO Danielle Lisenbey discusses firm's future moves

Published May 20, 2012 CST

Broadspire CEO Danielle Lisenbey recently spoke with Business Insurance Senior Editor Roberto Ceniceros about how she envisions the future of the company.

Business Insurance In FOCUS video: Safety programs for an aging workforce

Published April 10, 2012 CST

In our latest weekly video, we examine how America's aging workforce is having huge implications for employers and workers comp insurers.

Workers compensation drug tests raise costs, questions

Published April 29, 2012 CST

Amid increasing nationwide demand for drug testing to ensure workers compensation claimants comply with prescribed narcotic regimens and don't misuse their medications, questions are surfacing about the testing industry's business practices and ethics.

Average Calif. workers comp indemnity hits $66,922 in 2011: Institute

Published May 04, 2012 CST

OAKLAND, Calif.—The average cost of a California workers compensation indemnity claim edged up slightly to reach a record high of $66,922 for 2011, a California Workers' Compensation Institute bulletin states.

OFF BEAT: Woman competes in 80 foot races while collecting workers comp

Published May 18, 2012 CST

A former Florida mail carrier was convicted of health care fraud Tuesday after she competed in dozens of distance running events—including the Boston Marathon—while collecting workers compensation benefits.

Bostik to pay $600,000 in fines for safety infractions after explosion

Published May 18, 2012 CST

MIDDLETON, Mass.—A Massachusetts adhesive manufacturer will pay $600,000 in fines for numerous safety infractions after a March 2011 explosion that injured four workers.

New Solution Arc: Toughest Workers Comp Claims

Published May 14, 2012 CST

With a relatively small percentage of workers comp claims responsible for a large proportion of employers' costs, how can workers comp managers better address those claims to yield big savings?

NCCI’s 2012 State of the Line report

Published May 22, 2012 CST

NCCI’s 2012 State of the Line report contains lots of information on the workers compensation insurance market’s outlook, including the impact of Great Recession, insurer underwriting results, nationwide claims frequency data and the uncertain impact of health care reform.

Death benefits awarded to widow of worker who died from hydrocodone overdose

Published May 11, 2012 CST

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas—Workers compensation benefits must be awarded for a death caused by an overdose of hydrocodone pain medication prescribed for an on-the-job injury, a Texas appeals court ruled Thursday.

Medicare set-aside reform legislation introduced in House

Published April 30, 2012 CST

WASHINGTON—Members of the House of Representatives on Friday introduced bipartisan, federal legislation that seeks to eliminate delays and confusion caused by a federal agency's review of workers compensation Medicare set-asides.