California remains an innovator in Workers Compensation. The Golden State sustained a Workers Comp crisis in the 1990s that required the State Fund to write almost all of the policies in the state.
The reason that California has its own category in the articles is the state always sits at the forefront of Worker’s Compensation laws. The state produces so much of the cutting-edge WC laws and rules that seem to lead the nation.
The recent Dynamex Supreme Court decision and laws such as Assembly Bill (AB) 5 caused the elimination of most of the independent contractors.
AB 5 required most of the state’s employers to only have employees. The gig-worker economy shrank almost overnight.
Prop 22 was approved by a majority of the voters that kept Uber and Lyft drivers under the gig-worker independent contractor status. Most other contractors were still considered employees after the passage of AB 5.
The State Compensation Insurance Fund (SCIF) wrote almost all of the WC coverage from the early 1990s until 2015 due to the lack of insurance carriers in the state.
SCIF still writes a large portion of coverage. SCIF is not a risk pool option. They are classified as a competitive state fund. SCIF is the insurer of last resort for employers that cannot find coverage with any other carrier due to adverse risk or insurance market dynamics.
California’s rating bureau is the Workers Comp Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB). The WCIRB is the second-largest worker’s comp insurance rating bureau behind only NCCI in the number of insureds that they provide WC E-Mods or X-Mods as part of California’s Workers’ Compensation insurance process.
Implications of California Insurance Commissioner Lara Not Allowing COVID Data One headline that jumped off the page recently over a slow workers comp start to
CAMPN – California AB 1465 Alters Workers’ Comp Medical Treatment Networks The term CAMPN – California AB 1465 is an Assembly Bill that proposes to
California Prop 22 – Not Just A One State Issue California Prop 22 was overwhelmingly given a thumbs up by the Golden State’s Voters. If
Uber or Lyft Driver – California Workers Comp Contractor vs Employee – Prop 22 One of the most heated online and in-person (before COVID-19) debates
Possible Corrections To AB 5 Introduced With Two New California Assembly Bills Two California Assembly Bills were introduced very quickly after the rumble caused by
California Assembly Bill 5 Cranks Up the Questions – Email and Phone Calls The California Assembly Bill 5 (also known as AB 5) article published
New California AB 5 Legislation Causes Confusion for Gig Workers And Comp Carriers The New California AB 5 (Assembly Bill 5) has the gig worker
California Dynamex Decision – Overreaction or Harsh Reality? The California Dynamex decision hit the Workers Compensation airwaves and blogosphere over the last few weeks. An
California Supreme Court Changes Definition of Independent Contractor The California Supreme Court recently decided how to distinguish a contractor from an employee for the Golden
Workers Comp Loss Prevention Should Never Stop Workers Comp loss prevention and claims loss reduction should be considered as the same function – just more
Our Safety Consultant Glen Disagrees With Using Mod As Only Bellwether Our safety consultant, Glen, sent over an article in response to a recent article
WCAN WCIRB California Workers Comp Full Analysis (Great Charts) The WCAN WCIRB California Analysis of Workers Comp consisted of many great charts. The WCAN (Workers
Setting California Workers Comp Status Conferences This article on setting California Workers Comp Status conferences definitely applies to Workers’ Compensation claims at the WCAB level.
OSHA’s Surprising New Posture On Safety Incentive Plans This article on safety incentive plans was written by our ept Safety Consultant Glen Dulac. Always remember
California AB 1643 Warning Memo From WCAN The new California AB 1643 House Bill has caused quite a bit of controversy. WCAN has produced a
California CWCI Publishes Quarterly Report on IMR Statistics – The Other Numbers The California CWCI (California Workers Compensation Institute) recently published a spotlight report on
Confusion on California WC Statistics WCIRB WCAN WCRI – Three trusted statistical providers that now have me confused on whether or not SB 863 actually
California Claims Adjustment Costs Very Expensive The California claims adjustment costs are massive when compared to other states. The Workers Compensation Action Network (WCAN) published
California WCIRB Rating Formula Changes The California WCIRB rating formula changes for January 2017 stood out in one of their recent press releases. The
California Workers Comp System Reforms Fizzled? The California Workers Comp System was supposed to reduce costs after SB 863 was enacted in 2013. SB 899
California’s Workers Compensation Difficulties California’s Workers Compensation difficulties may have subsided for a few years. However, it seems that it was only a temporary situation.
Telephonic Payroll Audits Legitimate For Smaller Employers Payroll audits, also known as premium audits can take many forms. Telephonic payroll audits have gained in popularity
Big Buzz Around California’s AB 1897 and Temporary Employment Agencies The Buzz around California’s AB 1897. Please note that this article will likely apply to
California AB 1897 Changes The Temporary Employee – Employer Relationship The upcoming effects of California AB 1897 caught me slightly by surprise. Many states had
California SB 863 California SB 863 was supposed to be a cost-cutting measure for all parties involved in their WC system. Last week, the WCIRB
CA WCIRB Webinar The following is a great live CA WCIRB webinar that was typed in as it happened. Please excuse any typos, weird language
New Mexico Supreme Court Turns TTD into PTD The New Mexico Supreme Court recently ruled that Temporary Total (TTD) can be a permanent disability. These types
California’s SB 863 – Unintended Consequences? Did California’s SB 863 increase the Workers Comp medical costs for the state? Workers Compensation Research Institute WCRI recently
Claim Costs Effect on Rates Direct and Delayed The claim costs effect has a direct but delayed relationship on insurance rates. California’s Workers Comp Action
Workers Compensation Action Network Workers Compensation Action Network (WCAN) produced another great graphic on the Workers Comp situation in California. Click here for the chart.
Workers Comp Action Network Produces Great SB 863 Infographic The Workers Comp Action Network produces great summary charts for California work comp analysis. They have
California’s Rating Bureau (WCIRB) The WCRIB – California’s Workers Compensation Rating Bureau (similar to NCCI) has written quite a few great plain-language documents on explaining
California’s WC Reform Not Yet A Cost Saver A few startling numbers from California’s WC Reform are listed below. One wonders if the reform is
Statistical Madness – Eating While Driving More statistical madness was created with another shining example this month. Over time, a few Workers Comp statistics articles
ACA Penalty May Not Deter Workers Comp Claims What if a worker decided to pay the ACA penalty and file a WC claims for medical
WCIRB ‘s New Mod Formula – Small Employers Must Enact Safety Programs Now WCRIB’s new mod formula will heavy affect small employers with a less
Californias WCIRB X-Mod Formula Heavily Penalizes Small Unsafe Companies This month Californias WCIRB produced a new small employer X-Mod formula. Yesterday, I attended the WCIRB
California’s Great Insurance Database > CLSB Californians have a great insurance database for construction contractors. The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) maintains a great database to see
The Bankrupt City of Stockton California The largest bankrupt city in the nation – Stockton, CA is self insured with CorVel as the Third Party
Workers Comp Audit Materials Needed The materials needed for Workers Comp Audit are communications, data, information and contracts. We receive this question quite often when
WCIRB Upcoming Meeting Will Affect Certain Employers Heavily The upcoming meeting of WCIRB in California may be one to mark on your calendar if you
California Employer Question A California employer emailed in this question last weekend. “We are a medium-sized employer (dry cleaner) in central California. Our Experience
California Loss Cost Multipliers Do Not Reflect Any Reform Measures The California Loss Cost Multipliers has said no to reforms. Loss Cost Multipliers (LCM’s) are one
Who Is The WCIRB ? What do they regulate and who is the WCIRB ? I received this question on the WCIRB last night from
Thumbs Up – California SB 863 Webinar According to sponsors, the SB 863 Webinar turnout was massive. That is to be expected with such a confusing
New Policy Ombudsman – Addie Wong The new policy ombudsman for CA’s WCIRB is Addie Wong. She was recently named the new ombudsman for the
CA Workers Comp Costs The quickly growing Workers Comp costs in California places it as the most expensive state. I was perusing an article from the
California Changes Disputes With Bill Signed By Governor Brown The State of California changes landscape of premium audits and others disputes. Last night, I
State Funds – Are They Losing Viability? The State Funds that cover just their headquarters state have begun to look elsewhere. I read today where
California’s Governor Signs Bill The California Governor signs workers comp bill quietly. California has a great system for finding out if the contractor you are
Two Workers Comp Bills Vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger The Governator has two Workers Comp bills Vetoed,that opponents said would have had dire effects on the current
Governator Says No To WCIRB 30% Increase The governator says no to WCIRB 30% increase in pure premium rates. I was surprised to see this
Shorting Employers – California Workers Comp System Lookback Period According to the California Workers Comp System rules, the employers are being shorted. We have been very
Most Expensive Workers Compensation Classification Codes California Version For the most expensive Workers Compensation classification codes California seems to be the highest in the US.
CA Insurance Commissioner – 27 Recommendations For Cutting Comp Costs CA Insurance Commissioner issues recommendations to cut WC costs. After rejecting any increase in the pure
California’s Complex Workers Comp Situation Deepens California’s complex Workers Comp situation deepens with a recommendation by the WCIRB.I had posted a few week ago regarding
California Workers Comp System Upcoming Changes California has performed well in finding ways to control their runaway Workers Compensation system. As I predicted a few
California Workers Comp Policies Have Built in Disadvantage California Workers Comp policies have a built-in disadvantage when compared to other states. California has changed their
CA Workers Comp Judicial System = Paperless Will California’s Workers Comp judicial system go paperless? Is the update/upgrade going to be the funds and time
California Workers Comp Reform What do you see for the future of the California Workers Comp Reform System? I think the applicants’ attorneys are going
Question – The California Workers Compensation Crisis Our blog readers sent in this question on the California Workers Compensation Crisis. This is a timely question.
California Reader Question – Can J&L Premium Review Services Work Here? A California reader had a great question. Is California a tougher state than other
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