Things you should know

First official rating values for 2017 from NCCI - Missouri

The National Council on Compensation Insurance Inc. (NCCI) announced the split point for Missouri will be $16,500 - only $500 more than the 2016 figure.

Unfunded liabilities for Florida's workers compensation is expected to exceed $1 billion

NCCI estimates that an increase in unfunded liabilities for Florida's worker's compensation is expected to exceed $1 billion following three state Supreme Court rulings. Insurance companies, individual self-insured employers, and employers with deductible policies are expected to saddle the $1 billion debt. In two of the cases, the state's attorney fee schedule and temporary total disability provision were deemed unconstitutional.

California Final Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule (MTUS), Chronic Pain Medical Treatment Guidelines and Opioids Treatment Guidelines now in effect

The Office of Administrative Law (OAL) has approved the Division of Workers' Compensation's (DWC) final version of the MTUS regulations that updates the Chronic Pain Medical Treatment Guidelines and adopts Opioids Treatment Guidelines. The changes to the MTUS Chronic Pain Medical Treatment Guidelines are set forth in section 9792.24.2, the Opioids Treatment Guidelines are set forth in section 9792.24.4, and the clarifying changes to the meaning of chronic pain are set forth in section 9792.23(b)(1) of the California Code of Regulations.

The MTUS regulations went into effect on July 28, 2016 and will apply to any treatment requests made on or after July 29, 2016.

Tennessee sees spike in workplace fatalities

Tennessee OSHA Administrator Steve Hawkins is urging employers and workers to pay special attention to safety and health after 22 individuals suffered fatal job-related injuries since January. "In the month of July alone, 10 Tennessee workers lost their lives in workplace accidents, devastating families, friends, co-workers, and businesses." Hawkins added that if the trend continues, the state could see an increase of 36 percent in fatalities for the year.