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WCIRB WCAN WCRI = Confusion on California WC Statistics

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Confusion on California WC Statistics

WCIRB WCAN WCRI  – Three trusted statistical providers that now have me confused on whether or not SB 863 actually had an effect on California’s Workers Comp system.

Workers Comp Reform SB863 WCIRB WCAN WCRI emblem from web
(c) california republic

Acronyms –

  • WCIRB  – Workers Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau – The Rating Bureau for California’s WC system
  • WCAN – Workers Compensation Action Network – An independent group that studies and advocates for reform in CA’s Workers Compensation system
  • WCRI – Workers Compensation Research Institute – An independent organization that studies WC nationwide and produces reams of good data
  • SB 863 – A Senate Bill passed and enacted on January 1, 2013 which was supposed to reduce WC costs by controlling certain aspects of the California WC system
Woman Confusion WCIRB WCAN WCRI Using Laptop
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After receiving a press release from WCRI today, confusion abounds as I had thought that SB 863 had failed in its mission.   WCRI today published a study of  California’s WC system that actually indicated a 5% reduction in medical costs.

Any of my comments on SB 863 are in this J&L Blog search.    After searching back through 15+ articles ( wow, I actually wrote that many) on SB 863,  I  may have broken one of the Cardinal Sins of Workers Comp.

The actual results of a system change are not going to start really showing for two (at the beginning) to five years (full effect).   WC is a delayed system.  Immediate changes do not show for many months.   I have seen Safety and Risk Manager jobs being eliminated as companies do not wish to be patient in our “instant information and results” workplace of today.

According to WCRI, some of  the main reasons for the 5% decrease in costs were:

  • Reduced fee schedule rates for services at ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs)
  • Elimination of separate reimbursement for implantable medical devices, hardware, and instruments for spinal surgeries
  • Requiring a $150 fee to file liens against an employee’s workers’ compensation benefits and a $100 activation fee for liens already filed.

There will be more information published by WCIRB WCAN WCRI in the future. One has to only anticipate an improved situation in California (or will it be improved).

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James J Moore - Workers Comp Expert

Raleigh, NC, United States

About The Author...

James founded a Workers’ Compensation consulting firm, J&L Risk Management Consultants, Inc. in 1996. J&L’s mission is to reduce our clients’ Workers Compensation premiums by using time-tested techniques. J&L’s claims, premium, reserve and Experience Mod reviews have saved employers over $9.8 million in earned premiums over the last three years. J&L has saved numerous companies from bankruptcy proceedings as a result of insurance overpayments.

James has over 27 years of experience in insurance claims, audit, and underwriting, specializing in Workers’ Compensation. He has supervised, and managed the administration of Workers’ Compensation claims, and underwriting in over 45 states. His professional experience includes being the Director of Risk Management for the North Carolina School Boards Association. He created a very successful Workers’ Compensation Injury Rehabilitation Unit for school personnel.

James’s educational background, which centered on computer technology, culminated in earning a Masters of Business Administration (MBA); an Associate in Claims designation (AIC); and an Associate in Risk Management designation (ARM). He is a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) and a licensed financial advisor. The NC Department of Insurance has certified him as an insurance instructor. He also possesses a Bachelors’ Degree in Actuarial Science.

LexisNexis has twice recognized his blog as one of the Top 25 Blogs on Workers’ Compensation. J&L has been listed in AM Best’s Preferred Providers Directory for Insurance Experts – Workers Compensation for over eight years. He recently won the prestigious Baucom Shine Lifetime Achievement Award for his volunteer contributions to the area of risk management and safety. James was recently named as an instructor for the prestigious Insurance Academy.

James is on the Board of Directors and Treasurer of the North Carolina Mid-State Safety Council. He has published two manuals on Workers’ Compensation and three different claims processing manuals. He has also written and has been quoted in numerous articles on reducing Workers’ Compensation costs for public and private employers. James publishes a weekly newsletter with 7,000 readers.

He currently possess press credentials and am invited to various national Workers Compensation conferences as a reporter.

James’s articles or interviews on Workers’ Compensation have appeared in the following publications or websites:

  • Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS)
  • Entrepreneur Magazine
  • Bloomberg Business News
  • WorkCompCentral.com
  • Claims Magazine
  • Risk & Insurance Magazine
  • Insurance Journal
  • Workers Compensation.com
  • LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and other social media sites
  • Various trade publications

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