Opt-Out or Non-Subscriber Report Just Published
A new report was recently released on opt-out or non-subscriber services for Workers Compensation. The report can be found here. The report should be given a thumbs up by all that read it. Please note the report is a very large PDF that will require a PDF reader.
The report covers the current opt-out system in Texas. The in-depth report also covered the option proposal in Oklahoma. Last year Oklahoma had attempted to get a non-subscriber bill through the Legislature without success.
A prolific Workers Comp author, Peter Rousmaniere, had co-authored the report. He and I discussed some of the findings at the LRP Las Vegas Workers Comp Conference as the report release was imminent. We discuss Workers Comp frequently. Peter has included me in some of his reports. I always take that as a compliment to J&L and this blog.
Even if you are not involved with opt-out or non-subscriber services, it is worth your time to read the report in full. This may be the face of Workers Comp in the near future. Can Workers Comp really continue on it current path? The answer is very likely – no.
When authors put some much time into a report, I usually do not critique it. The report actually has a few areas of self-critique. The one area that stood out was that no employees that are or have used non-subscriber benefits were interviewed.
Interviewing a few of the claimants may have shown surprising results as the injured employees are issued a Summary of Plan Benefits by their employer. The employee must follow the employer’s rules. These rules are not state-mandated including which injured employees receive benefits.
This is such a cutting-edge area in Workers Comp. The report was a huge effort by all involved – kudos for their effort. If and when Oklahoma passes any non-subscriber laws, the Workers Comp airwaves will be buzzing for weeks.
©J&L Risk Management Inc Copyright Notice
