AgdaPkt 2005-05-09 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

9�- �� , . SB899 from page 1 ...................................... ........ .. . • The Workers' Compensation Insurance permanent partial disability accounted for 40.9 Rating Bureau of Califomia (WCIRB) reported a percent of every dollar! There is definitely some- peak level of $6.35 per $100 of payroll as the thing wrong when that amount of money is going � actual average rates for insured employers in the for permanent disability ratings. last quarter of 2003. In the third quarter of 2004, after passage of SB 899 the rate dropped to $5.34 The fix for the excessive permanent disability per $100 of payroll. If insurers pass through the costs is the adoption of more objective permanent projected savings from the permanent disability disability rating guidelines created by the American schedule changes, it is expected that the rates per Medical Association. These are the same guide- $100 of payrolt will drop to $5.22 for early 2005 lines now used by 41 other states. • and $4.68 by late 2005. • Insurance rate drops were recommended Public Sectort and those rates were reduced by 2.2 percent in January 2005 with the WCIRB proposing another WhaYs the experience in the public sector? 10.4 to be effective July 1, 2005. (The drops in We expect it is tracking in similar fashion to the insurance rates is taking place without the effect private sector, but there may be more dramatic of the changes in permanent disability schedule results with some of the reforms. The League will which was a central part of the SB 899 reforms). be contacting you shortly to help establish a data bank on this issue as some in the Legislature are • In April of 2003, a total of 17,104 new dis- asking to revisit and rollback the workers' compen- puted workers' compensation claims were re- sation reforms made in SB 899. We will be con- corded. In January of 2005, the number of new tacting the offices of the city manager, finance disputed claims was down to 10,878. director and human resource director in trying to compile this data. Any help you could provide The permanent disability rating schedule was Would be greatly appreciated. at the heart of the reforms to the workers' com- pensation system made in SB 899. Permanent disability benefits are paid to injured workers who LOOKING FOR CALIFORNIA'S BEST T0 , will never recover completely from an injury and FILL A POSITION IN YOUR CITY? will always be somewhat limited in their ability to work. Before those benefits can be paid, a work- Westem City Magazine's job opportunity ers permanent disability must be °rated.° In this section is the source for job seekers looking rating system is where most of the problems have for positions in local government. According been. to our reader sunrey, the job opportunity section is the best read section of our Because of the lack of objectivity in the rating magazine! system, California has experienced the highest amount of disputed permanent disability claims in When you place an ad in Westem City a five-state median. Califomia's rate of disputed Magazine, it will be posted at no additional claims is 30 percent, compared to 9 percent in charge on our Website, which receives over New Mexico, 11 percent in Washington, 7 percent 80,000 hits per month. in Wsconsin and 15 percent in Oregon. Call to place your recruitment ad today! The final regulations for this change in the law We Have What you Need have yet to be finalized, but are nearing comple- (800) 262-1801 or visit our Website tion. Prior to the passage of the new reforms, of www.westerncity.com indemnity payments paid by insurers in 2003, PAGE 8/PRlORITY FOCUS Visit the League's Official WebSite -- www.cacities.org