WorkCompNews

NA - Frequency fears; NY - Fraud claimant sentenced to 15 months; MN - Benefits increase and expand; NA - Macro safety statistics encouraging; NA - NWCR program for WCI 2026 Hiring rebound could lift comp premium, injury frequency: NCCI - Business Insurance "upward pressure on injury frequency as employers add less-experienced workers," Rikers officer who took $370K in phony workers' comp claims is sentenced - The Chief "admitting he falsely claimed that he suffered injuries on the job to collect more than $370,000 in workers' compensation benefits" Minnesota Workers' Comp Benefits Just Got 20 Percent Bigger "new law increases those awards by 20%, and separate provisions widen the circle of medical professionals who can diagnose work-related post-traumatic stress disorder." Workplace Injury Risks Varies Widely by State: Here's What Employers Need to Know "According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, national workplace fatalities have d...

CA - Rate increases signal delicate market; MA - Commissioner role clarified; MN - Depression in a physical/mental state; NM - Imposter scam continues to garner concern Workers comp renewals stay competitive as severity pressures build - Business Insurance "proposed double-digit increase in California advisory pure premium rates is raising concerns that claim severity and medical costs could eventually erode soft market conditions." Mass. Top Court Orders Insurance Commissioner to Explain 14.6% Workers' Comp Rate Cut "The commissioner may disapprove rates or withdraw his approval only if rates are inadequate, excessive, or unfairly discriminatory. If the commissioner disapproves a proposed rate, he must state his reasons for disapproval. " When Depression Can Become Part of a Minnesota Workers' Comp Claim "law may recognize psychological conditions that develop as a consequence of a primary physical work injury." Workers' comp scams popping up ...

TX - Missed deadline in litigation; NA - Managing compliance; TN - OK to use other's identities; NA - a scathing indictment of state systems; NA - Stewardship of Truth at NWCR/WCI 2026 Missed e-filing deadline dooms worker's retaliation suit - Business Insurance "because she waited more than a month to correct an improperly formatted electronic filing." How to Manage Workers' Comp Compliance in 2026 - WorkersCompensation.com "Each state maintains unique workers' compensation forms, deadlines, and filing requirements that require ongoing monitoring" Worker used fake identity to get hired, benefits still stand - HRD America "a ruling that tests how far an employer's fraud defense can reach." How America Let Its Workers' Compensation System Fail - The American Prospect "Congress missed a chance to fix the broken comp system. It left compensation insurance entirely free of federal regulation" National Workers Compensation Revi...

NA - Risks for healthcare providers; FL - Payroll fraud alleged; NA - Employees believe accidents happen, but not to them; NY - 22% rate reduction for WC premiums. How Health Care Executives Can Address Rising Workforce Demands and Workers' Comp ... "executives are confronting a unique set of risks and looking for strategies to keep pace." Six accused of payroll construction fraud ring in South Florida - WPBF "They are accused of processing more than $95 million in checks during 2025 from West Palm Beach office." The Psychology of 'It Won't Happen to Me': Optimism Bias in the Workplace "Every employee understands workplace injuries happen…and far fewer believe an injury will happen to them." Workers' comp insurance premiums to drop by 22%, NYS says - Rochester Business Journal "will go into effect on Oct. 1 and is expected to reduce costs by an average of $1,779 per policyholder."

FL - Certificate renting alleged; CT - Allegations of non-coverage; NS - Tip theft alleged; CA - Underwriting loss widens Fake Workers' Comp Certificates Helped Move $12.5M Through Construction Jobs, Investigators Say "Investigators said the group used at least seven interconnected shell companies and a workers' compensation fraud method known as 'certificate renting.'" Meriden construction company owner 'knowingly' violated workers' comp law, warrant says "investigators determined C&D Gutama Construction did not have an active workers' compensation policy at the time of the February 2024 inspection and it didn't obtain another policy until about a month later. " Advocates, industry leaders call on Nova Scotia to outlaw 'tip theft' - CBC "We feel quite strongly that tips belong to the employees, and that that's best practice." California Workers' Comp Underwriting Loss Widens As Medical And Indemnity ...

OH - Flock cameras for workers' compensation; TX - Premium audit litigation; NA - E-Bikes and their risks illustrated. More Ohio agencies deploy Flock AI cameras, including workers comp and the fire marshal "State agencies investigating workers’ compensation fraud, suspicious fires, and crimes in state prisons are all turning to Flock’s AI-powered, license plate reading cameras." The Hartford sues Dallas firm over unpaid workers' comp premiums - Insurance Business "The case centers on a standard feature of workers' compensation coverage: the premium audit." E-Bikes, Scooters, and the New Face of Transportation Injuries - WorkersCompensation.com "Transportation is changing faster than many workplace safety programs. Electric bicycles, scooters, and other micromobility devices have become common"

LA - Fraud timing interpretation;  WV - Premiums reduced for 12th consecutive year; NY - Universal Authorization, will it expedite? NA - Congress acts to strengthen FECA anti-fraud; NA - Causation Analysis at August NWCR program at the WCI    Workers' Compensation Fraud in Louisiana: How We Won at the Supreme Court "Benefits you’ve already earned can’t be taken away retroactively." Workers' Comp Rate Drop to Save West Virginia Employers $36 Million "the savings result from a 12th reduction in workers’ compensation premiums in 12 years. " Universal Authorization: Will It Change New York Workers' Compensation for Carriers? - - JD Supra "Beginning Jan. 1, 2028, virtually any eligible licensed medical provider in good standing will be able to treat injured workers without first obtaining special authorization" House Acts to Crack Down on Fraud in Federal Workers Comp Program "Unfortunately, certain medical providers have treated FECA like a pe...

NY - Sex abuse claim not barred without proof; NA - Return to work depends on trust; CA - Legislative change predicted in 2027; AL - Second opinion not due until compensability decided. School district fails to establish comp exclusivity defense in sex abuse case "The appeals court said they failed to establish that they maintained workers compensation insurance during the relevant period or that the employee received comp benefits for the alleged injuries." Workers' Compensation Claims: Maintaining Trust in Claims Handling - Risk & Insurance "trust isn’t just a two-way street - it’s the only direct route from injury back to work." Calif. employers anticipate comprehensive reforms in 2027 - Business Insurance "employers hope to balance any benefit increase with medical delivery changes and savings on medical-legal costs and cumulative trauma claims." Employer need not fund second opinion before comp claim is proven - Business Insurance "Circui...

NA - benchmark suggests better execution leads to success; NY Sexual abuse claims barred by exclusive remedy; FL - Supreme court reverses DCA in Bouayad; NA - Situational awareness and safety; NWCR announces litigation strategies program at WCI 2026 WC Benchmarking Study – Turning Priorities into Performance - Risk & Insurance "The strongest claims organizations are not managing less complex workloads, focusing on dramatically different priorities, or investing in entirely different technologies. Instead, they are doing a better job of turning strategy into everyday execution." Comp exclusivity bars negligence claims against Goodyear - Business Insurance "exclusivity bars negligence claims against Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. arising from alleged sexual abuse after an employee turned 18, while allowing a hostile work environment claim to proceed." Fla. Supreme Court Reverses Lower Court on Compensability of a Workplace Shooting "made it a little easier for ...

TN - Misrepresentation timing; CT - Employer arrested for lack of coverage; NA - Questions about efficacy of premium calculation; UT - Supreme Court precludes claim dismissal. Forfeiture of Workers' Comp Benefits for Fraud in La. Applies Post-Misrepresentation Only "the forfeiture is effective at the time of the misrepresentation, rather than at the time of the accident," Meriden construction company owner charged with not giving employees workers' comp insurance "arrested on Tuesday and charged with not providing his employees with workers’ compensation insurance." Payroll May Overstate Expected Losses for High-Wage Workers, NCCI Research Finds "Unlimited payroll,... may not scale proportionally with expected losses across wage levels" Utah high court overturns dismissal of comp claim over failed medical exams "state law permits the claim to be suspended but not dismissed."

MA - Rate reduction questioned; TN Mental injury claim without physical precursor; NA Medication fraud; OK - Lawsuit over Compsource expansion. Massachusetts court sends 14.6% workers' comp rate cut back - Insurance Business "The regulator rejected the bureau's cut, then picked a bigger number he couldn't explain" Comp board backs delay in Walgreens worker's robbery-related claim - Business Insurance "The record did not indicate she was physically assaulted. Two days later, the worker reported a mental injury, and Walgreens authorized counseling." 5 Signs of Medication-Related Fraud Work Comp Adjusters Should Watch For "Pharmacy fraud represents one of the fastest-growing cost drivers in workers’ compensation claims." Business Owners Sue Workers Comp. Insurance Company – KFOR.com Oklahoma City "Compsource" sued over expansion of ownership in mutual insurer

CAN - Dividend system; GA - Deaths at Post Office; NA - Wildfire occupational risks. Workers' comp system returned $185M to P.E.I. employers since 2015, even after workplace ... "Businesses get the extra funds from stock market investments the board makes, regardless of their track record of injured workers." Congressman Questions what's Going on at Atlanta Post Office after Deaths "A number of employee deaths at a U.S. Postal Service facility in metro Atlanta has U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff asking for answers." Wildfire Smoke and Occupational Health: When One Hazard Becomes Many "Wildfire smoke is often described as an air quality issue. Smoke is a complex mixture of fine particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and other combustion byproducts. "

CA - Rates increasing; WI - Uninsured employers; IA - Court interprets Guides; NA - Dehydration challenges California Insurance Commissioner OKs Upping Workers' Comp Pure Premium 10.4% "The approved advisory pure premium rates average $1.65 per $100 of payroll." Paralyzed worker's case exposes risks of uninsured employers - Isthmus | Madison, Wisconsin " through a blurry relationship between a labor recruiter and a general contractor. Neither had the worker’s compensation insurance state law requires." Iowa Top Court Clears Up AMA Guides Question - WorkersCompensation.com "to clarify that the impairment value for a distal clavicle excision didn't get the 25% multiplier from Table 16-18." Your Brain on Dehydration: The Neuroscience of Workplace Mistakes "Dehydration presents an interesting exception because it begins changing the organ responsible for recognizing the danger in the first place."

CA - Legislation to change second injury; WY - compensability of secondary injury alleged from treatment; TX - Exclusive remedy California bills would limit benefits for workers with prior disabilities - Business Insurance "would exempt some pending and active claims from the stricter eligibility requirements." Wyoming court denies benefits for mechanic's pancreatitis claim - Business Insurance "He argued that the condition was a second compensable injury related to the work accident." Texas court says comp bar blocks worker's truck crash suit - Business Insurance "the workers compensation exclusive-remedy bar blocked an injured worker’s lawsuit against his employer"

KY - Exclusive remedy; NA - Return to work strategy; CA - Employee alleges systemic failures. Could Estates of 8 Workers Killed by Tornado Sue Candle Factory? "how extreme does a supervisor’s behavior have to be to fall outside the scope of employment?" Put time on your side: The benefits of getting return-to-work planning right “An effective RTW strategy is anchored in a set of core integrated principles: early reporting and immediate action, consistent and coordinated communication, proactive medical management in alignment with state regulations, and the use of transitional or modified duty,” Oakland Airport Worker Says Workers' Comp System Failing Her | KQED "Vernon said her manager, Salesh Prasad, told her to go home shortly after her fall. He directed a coworker to drive her to the airport employee parking lot, where she was left alone in her car, with no clear guidance about medical care."

LA- two fraud cases decided; NA - hidden costs of injuries; NY - stolen checks Louisiana high court issues pair of comp fraud rulings - Business Insurance "holding in one case that a worker who made false statements forfeited benefits only from the date of the misrepresentation, and in another that an employer and insurer lost their fraud claim after missing a court-ordered deadline." The hidden cost of workplace injuries, and the savings you could be missing - Baltimore ... "The true cost of an injury extends beyond direct claim expenses to overtime, operational delays, accident investigations, equipment and property damage, lower morale, and absenteeism." Postal Worker Stole $10K of Workers' Comp Checks Sent to Girlfriend's Deceased Mother "he defrauded the New York workers’ compensation system of nearly $10,000 by stealing wage reimbursement checks intended for his then-girlfriend’s deceased mother."

IA - Court concludes AMA Guides are law and so interpreted by legal experts; NA - tech is challenging agents and producers; NA - gig workers and the challenge of workplace injury 25-0458 Klein v. Whirlpool Corporation, filed 6-26-26 - Iowa Judicial Branch "because the AMA Guides have been incorporated into Iowa workers’ compensation law, their interpretation is properly within the domain of the agency and, ultimately, the courts." Independent Insurance Agents Are Struggling to Keep Up With a Digital-First Market "Independent insurance agents are facing mounting pressure to meet rising consumer expectations for speed and digital experience" Gig work is booming - so why are injured workers still falling through the cracks? "the gig economy market size reached $556.7 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow to $2.15 trillion by 2033"

OH - Death benefit dependency highlighted; CT - workplace violcnce alleged; CA - Work hours and physical demands in labor dispute Ohio high court denies additional death benefits to worker's adult daughter " Ohio law treats prospective dependency as a separate category. Because the commission awarded prospective-dependency benefits, it was not required to also determine dependency" Workers say violent disturbances followed staffing shortages at CT youth psychiatric facility "More than half a dozen employees have gone out on workers’ comp due to the incidents," Chef Files Lawsuit against Kylie Jenner, her Third Employee-related Suit this Year "the chef filed the complaint in Los Angeles Superior Court saying she was asked to routinely work 11- to 12-hour shifts, five days a week and was assigned physically demanding tasks despite telling her supervisors that she had a high-risk pregnancy."

OH - Failure to repay money; LA - changes in approach advocated; TN - impact of physician communication on outcomes Police charge former Shenandoah Borough employee with misuse of workers' comp checks "with theft for failing to submit nearly $7,000 in workers’ compensation checks to the borough, as required while he was still being paid." LWCC Shares 4 Tips for Businesses Workers Compensation Coverage - Biz New Orleans " may overlook resources available through their carriers that support business continuity, workplace safety initiatives and employee return-to-work programs." Doctor's misunderstanding of job duties leads to benefits award - Business Insurance "physician initially misunderstood the physical demands of her job and issued restrictions that did not account for her essential duties."

PA, MS, and NA - Changes in Pharmacy; This Month, Don't Miss These 3 Key Updates in Workers' Comp Pharmacy "Three developments in June demand attention from anyone managing pharmacy" New Hampshire enacts workers' comp shift for leasing arrangements - Insurance Business "introduces a key change for employee leasing arrangements." Paduda: Good News for Florida's Doctors - WorkCompCentral "a major jump in pay, 41% to be precise"

GA - mental health compensability changing; MA - payroll fraud alleged; LSHW - compensability on competing medical opinions Mental health claims are slowly gaining recognition in workers' compensation cases "Workers' compensation systems have traditionally focused on physical harm, but that perspective is changing." AG charges Milford contractor with workers' comp fraud - AOL.com " alleges that between June 2020 and May 2023, Bueno fraudulently misclassified subcontractors who were working on a roof. Bueno allegedly evaded approximately $20,194 in workers' compensation premiums" Shipyard worker's post-employment lung injury award upheld - Business Insurance "An administrative law judge credited the opinion of Mr. Chaffers’ medical expert, who attributed his emphysema and restrictive lung impairment in part to workplace exposures"

RI - constraint on policy changes; PA - Interpretation changes perceptions on anti-referral; NA - MSA implications impacted by management  Rhode Island now forces insurers to warn producers before changing pay "A compensation change has to be flagged almost six months out. For producers who place business with more than one P&C company - and that is exactly who the statute covers - it buys time to plan before a cut takes hold." Pennsylvania Court Allows Doctor-Owned Pharmacy Referrals - Risk & Insurance "anti-referral provision doesn't extend to prescription drugs, allowing doctors to direct injured workers to pharmacies in which they hold financial stakes: Workers' Comp MSP Costs Run 23% Below National Average Where Clinical Intervention Is Applied "Clinical engagement and pharmacy management drove consistent reductions in Medicare set-aside allocations over a four-year period"

NA- PBMs in Comp; TN - fall case illustrates "expedited stage"; TN- denial of back claim on equivocal evidence The Unintentional Impact of PBM Legislation on Workers' Compensation - Risk & Insurance "broad PBM legislation can lead to negative consequences for workers' comp." Court denies benefits for worker's unexplained hallway fall - Business Insurance "The court denied her request for benefits at the expedited stage, ruling that she had not shown she was likely to prevail at a full hearing." Appeals board reverses benefits award in back injury claim - Business Insurance "the authorized physician’s questionnaire responses were confusing, inconsistent and equivocal on whether the work incident primarily caused Mr. Mtiri’s conditions."

FL - Changes to pension calculation; NA - Nurses not first responders; MA - Feels like fault-finding system Gulfport Advances Pension Changes After Workers' Comp Debate - The Gabber "pension contributions may stop while an employee recovers." Why Nurses Struggle to Get Workers' Comp for Infectious Diseases - Nurse.org "If a firefighter contracts a serious infectious disease and believes it happened on the job, many states presume he’s right. ... If a nurse contracts the same disease ... almost no state extends them that same benefit of the doubt." School of hard knocks takes a crack at workers' compensation - Worcester Magazine "Why does something that is supposed to be a no-fault system, feel like it’s a fault-finding system?"