Things you should know
Rating agency reports fifth year of comp profits but forewarns profits are not sustainable
According to Fitch Ratings Inc, the workers' compensation market is on track for a fifth consecutive year of underwriting profits in 2019, despite recent weakening in market fundamentals. The industry's statutory combined ratio fell to 86% in 2018, and has averaged 93% annually since 2015, according to the report. However, the report notes several factors that could result in a sudden deterioration in performance including an increase in claims frequency or severity, and new regulatory developments in key states, according to the statement.
NIOSH issues new banding guide for chemicals in the workplace
NIOSH has published a technical report intended to help control chemical exposures in the workplace. The NIOSH Occupational Exposure Banding Process for Chemical Risk Management details a strategy for managing the many chemical substances that don't have an authoritative occupational exposure limit. Occupational exposure banding is a process that assigns each chemical to a category based on its toxicity and any negative health outcomes associated with exposure to it.
FMCSA seeks to delay two provisions in final rule on CMV driver minimum training
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is requesting delaying compliance of two provision, which were scheduled to go into effect Feb. 7, 2020. These include requiring training providers to upload certification information into FMCSA's Training Provider Registry and a provision for state driver licensing agencies to "receive driver-specific [entry-level driver training] information."
Comments are due Aug. 19.
Another court decision favors MAO right to sue under private cause of action provision
Medicare Advantage Organizations (MAOs) received a favorable ruling on a motion to dismiss the case, MSP Recovery Series, LLC v. Plymouth Rock, in Federal Court in Boston. Since 2012 no court has concluded that MAOs do not have at least some rights under the private cause of action provision.
Study finds adherence to evidenced-based medicine guidelines for lower back pain lowers comp costs
A recent study in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine concluded there is a statistically significant trend in the relationship between adherence to ACOEM guidelines for the initial management of work-related lower back pain and decreasing claim costs. Medical and total costs trended lower by an average $352.90 and $586.20 per unit of compliance score respectively. No outlier cost claims were in the best guidelines compliance groups.
CMS proposed decision to cover acupuncture
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed decision to cover acupuncture for Medicare patients with chronic low back pain (cLBP) who are enrolled participants either in clinical trials sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) or in CMS-approved studies. Currently, acupuncture is not covered by Medicare. The goal of the proposed decision is to provide Medicare patients who suffer from cLBP with access to a nonpharmacologic treatment option and to determine the effectiveness.
NAHB offers resources on managing opioid misuse in residential construction
In response to the particularly heavy impact the opioid crisis is having on the construction industry, the National Association of Home Builders has introduced several free resources intended to help residential construction organizations combat the issue.
These include:
- An executive training package, including a webinar and other downloadable materials, outlining why industry action is needed
- Supervisor training packages on workplace interventions and preventing opioid misuse in the industry
- Fact sheets on the risks associated with taking opioids, and identifying medical and nonmedical opioid
- Resources on non-opioid alternatives to pain management
- A state-by-state guide of locally available resources
Study identifies what professions have worst drivers
A study of 1.6 million car insurance applications by Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Insurify Insurance Co., an auto insurance comparison website, found that bartenders, ticket sales representatives, and journalists had the most moving violations. The cause? These professions tend to work 55-60 hours per week and sometimes work weekends. In contrast, postmasters and music composers are the best.
Helping employees get more sleep improves productivity: review of research
Basic employer interventions such as educating workers about the importance of sleep and sharing strategies to improve it may result in better sleep habits, increased productivity, and reduced absenteeism, a recent review of research concludes. The study was published in the April 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.
New video for tower workers explores safe installation, maintenance of small cell antennas
A new two-and-a-half-minute video from the National Association of Tower Erectors stresses hazard awareness for technicians who work with small cellular antenna towers on new or existing structures.
State News
California
- The Workers' Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB) released its 2019 State of the System report highlighting key metrics of the state's workers' compensation system.
- The Division of Workers' Compensation posted an order updating the Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule. Treating providers, qualified medical evaluators and agreed medical evaluators, and utilization review and independent medical review physicians can access the MTUS guidelines at no cost by registering for an account here.
Florida
- The Division of Workers' Compensation has finalized a rule that defines which injuries "shock the conscience," as required by legislation passed more than a year ago. The eight injuries deemed to be shocking to the conscience are:
- Decapitation (full or partial).
- Degloving.
- Enucleation.
- Evisceration.
- Exposure of the brain, heart, intestines, kidneys, liver or lungs.
- Impalement.
- Severance (full or partial).
- Third-degree burn on 9% or more of the body.
Missouri
- The maximum weekly benefit for temporary total disability, permanent total disability and death benefits rose to $981.65, effective July 1. Permanent partial disability rose to $514.20.
New York
- Mandated comp coverage for farm laborers under the Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act, which requires farm employers to provide workers compensation for laborers, institutes injury reporting requirements and offers laborers additional protections, takes effect Jan. 1, 2020.
Virginia
- The Workers' Compensation Commission released its 2018 Annual Report, which provides a summary of key initiatives, trends, and outcomes.
Wisconsin
- Commissioner of Insurance approved an overall 8.8% rate decrease for businesses starting Oct. 1, the fourth consecutive year of decreases.