WorkCompNews

NA - AI accretion; IA - Vaccine reaction not comp; CA - agency probes employees using comp funds One Cupcake at a Time: Building Trust in AI - Risk & Insurance "What they're discovering is that capability means nothing if employees don't trust it. Adoption succeeds or fails with each action in the gap between the promise of success and fear of the unknown." Court rejects workers' comp claim over employee's COVID vaccine reaction - HRD America "a city's vaccine encouragement fell short of 'strong urging,' leaving one worker's severe reaction outside workers' comp. " California agency taps workers comp funds to probe its employees. 'A huge slush fund' " The probe, conducted by an outside firm, not only cost him his health and reputation, he said, records show it cost the department an estimated $80,000, which was paid from workers’ compensation funds.

NA - Professor John Burton passes; NA - Fee schedule changes; NA - AI in claims; TN - Training by the Bureau John Burton Passe s An icon economist who critiqued workers’ compensation  Medicare's 2026 Fee Schedule Shifts Signal Modest but Uneven Pressure on Workers' Comp Costs "Physician payment rates rebound after five years of decline" AI Workflow Coordination is the New Competitive Advantage in U.S. Workers' Comp: Report "white paper suggests that AI in workers compensation is best maximized when embedded directly into a framework of coordinated operational workflows" Bureau Offers Two Workers' Comp 101 Training Sessions This September - TN.gov "Tailored for HR professionals, safety officers, business owners, and supervisors, these sessions will empower local industries to handle workers’ compensation matters with clarity and competence."

NA - Delay in indemnity explained; NA - Data to drive better care; TX - Cancer presumption criticism. Why Your Workers Comp Check May Still Be Delayed | FinancialContent "workplaces are getting statistically safer; if you’re the one waiting, though, national safety averages don’t pay your grocery bills." From Data to Better Outcomes: MedRisk CEO Sri Sridharan on the Future of Workers' Comp "to improve patient care, optimize medical costs and create stronger partnerships across the claims ecosystem." I-Team update: He died fighting cancer. His widow is still fighting the workers' comp system "46% of cancer claims that firefighters filed in Texas between January 2021 and April 2026 were denied."

NA - Whole person approach to Comp; KY - Sugrogation claims; MD - Exclusive remedy. Beyond the Injury: Reshaping Workers' Compensation with a Whole Person Health Approach "the workers' compensation industry is rethinking how it cares for injured workers." Insurer joins Louisville UPS crash lawsuit to recover benefits paid to victim's family - WDRB "The National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report found the plane’s left engine caught fire and detached during takeoffThe National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report found the planes left engine caught fire and detached during takeoff" Did Icy Freezer Floor let Worker Skate into Court with Tort Lawsuit? "What’s more, management, he said, was aware of the dangerous condition but continued to require him to work there."

NA - Provider data at WCI; NA - How investment is taxed or not; OH - extraordinary dividend headlines driven by COVID Perspecta Targets Workers' Comp Market at WCI Conference - MyChesCo "the provider-data company sponsors the opening reception at the 80th annual Workers’ Compensation Institute Conference in Orlando" His Employer Spent $52500 Retraining Him for the Robot Age. Social Security Counted $0. "That saves the worker income, Social Security, and Medicare taxes today. The less obvious consequence is that excluded compensation does not help calculate his future Social Security benefit." What we learned about how nearly 80% of DeWine-era workers' comp dividends went out in ... "80% of that total was distributed through three extraordinary dividends in 2020, when Ohio used the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation system to provide financial relief during the COVID-19 pandemic."

CA- Failure to secure insurance and tax evasion; IL - Law change could raise rates; ME - Dependency and death benefits Nursery owners settle with tenants who lived in illegal structures on the property. "They also pled no contest to tax evasion and failing to secure workers compensation insurance" Workers' comp law could raise employer costs | US & World News | fox21online.com "a new Illinois law could reverse the state’s gains in workers’ compensation reform." Dependency at Time of Injury, not Resulting Death, Determines Right to Survivor's Benefits in Maine "eligibility for workers' compensation death benefits hinges on dependency at the time of the injury, not at the time of death"

 NA - WCI 2026 Dave's Picks for the WCEC Program; OR - Sovereign immunity persists; NA - The evolving role of claims; NA - The Gig economy. Dave's Suggestions "In order, here are the things I would strive to put on my agenda." Oregon Worker's Claim Against State Runs into Workers' Comp Immunity Barrier "The legislature may retain immunity for claims against the state itself." Rethinking the Role of the Claims Professional - Risk & Insurance "Medical care is more specialized, recovery paths are less predictable, and employers expect greater transparency and better outcomes." The Renewal Date Was Never the Real Question - Buttondown "The pitch from the platforms is autonomy"

FL - Alleged fraud scheme; NA - Mental health in WC; NA - Health insurance premiums rising 5 local people among 7 charged in alleged $100M Florida workers' comp fraud scheme "According to the Attorney General’s Office, the defendants created and controlled shell construction companies that obtained workers’ compensation insurance policies by allegedly underreporting the number of employees and the amount of payroll." Breaking the Cycle: How Early Mental Health Intervention Transforms Workers ... - Risk & Insurance "Mental health continues to be one of the most misunderstood elements of the workers’ compensation process." Most mid-market employers have never evaluated their health plan funding "80% of covered workers at large companies are enrolled in self-funded health plans."

AL - Duty to defend and timing; NA - Safety focus evolving; NA - Workers electing to take less leave; NA- Thriving on Change at NWCR this August at WCI 2026 Alabama justices revive insurer's duty-to-defend case over courthouse injury claims "the duty to defend is a separate question from the injury suit and can be decided now." Workers' comp's next safety frontier: Fixing systems, not workers | Insurance Business "employers focus more closely on the workplace systems that allow mistakes to become injuries." American Workers avoid Taking Vacations for Fear of Losing Jobs, Ending up with Excess Work "48 percent of U.S. workers take less time off than employers offer." National Workers Compensation Review announces program on Thriving In Times of Change, at the WCI 2026, Tuesday, August 26, 2026, 3:15-4:15 p.m. Grand Ballroom 8B

FE - Congress passes medical provider reform; TN - Reimbursements limited to fee schedule; CA - Cumulative Trauma increasing. House approves workers' comp bill targeting fraudulent medical provider claims "The House has unanimously passed a bill intended to help the Department of Labor combat fraudulent federal workers’ compensation claims." Tennessee board limits Fresenius payment for denied workers' comp treatment "Deny a worker's comp treatment, lose it later, and you still pay only the fee schedule. That is Tennessee's answer to carriers. " California Cumulative Trauma Claims Nearly Double Since 2018, With Southern CA ... "the increase was driven primarily by an increasing number of workers filing at least one CT claim rather than existing claimants filing multiple claims"

NA - AI is already in Comp, NA - OSHA exceeded its authority, NC - Heat injury in agriculture business. AI Is Already Shaping Workers' Compensation and Responsibility Did Not Disappear "artificial intelligence entered quietly through software updates, new features, and automated functions" Fifth Circuit Puts OSHA's Mental Health Oversight in Question - Bloomberg Law "finding the Occupational Safety and Health Administration lacked congressional authorization to regulate mental health in the workplace." N.C. Ag. Worker's Death doesn't Show 'Intentional' Tort for Exclusive Remedy Purposes "employees worked outside in conditions with heat indices up to 108 degrees Fahrenheit"

NA - NWCR publishes 2026 curriculum; FE - Border Patrol injury at home; CA - Audit silence allows cancellation; NA - At-will employment and injury. NA - Beyond exclusive remedy at NWCR/WCI in August "National Workers Compensation Review announces program on Beyond Exclusive Remedy, at the WCI 2026, Tuesday, August 26, 2025, 2:10-3:10 p.m. Grand Ballroom 8B CBP Officer Felt Pain, but could he Secure Workers' Comp Gain from Iron-Pumping Injury? officer hurt himself while lifting weights at home during COVID, did his injury occur on or off the job? California court says audit silence lets insurer cancel workers' comp policy "an employer's silence can amount to blocking a payroll audit - enough to cancel a workers' comp policy. " How At-Will Employment Affects Injured Workers - CEO Today "the lowest count in a data series that runs back to 2003."

AL - Scheduled injury compensation upheld; NA - Challenges to all comp systems; TN - Maximum compensation analyzed. Alabama court upholds benefit cap for Lineage Logistics worker's finger injuries "Alabama's workers' comp law lists specific body parts and assigns fixed compensation for each." 10 Workers' Comp Challenges Experts Are Tackling This Year - Risk & Insurance "Every workers' comp program is fighting a version of the same fight" Tennessee Raised Workers' Comp to $1,488 a Week. An Injured Tradesman Could Watch ... "If the total exceeds 80% of the worker’s “average current earnings,” SSA reduces the Social Security side."

NA - NCCI on economics; FL - Potentials for legislation on pharmacy; NA - Federal workers' compensation under review; NA- NWCR presents Hot Topics at WCI 2026 5 Questions with Stephen Cooper on NCCI's Quarterly Economics Briefing "New hires typically have higher claim frequency than more tenured workers; so in 2025 when we saw very little employment growth overall, it could have been impacting frequency." Fla. Workers' Comp Physician Dispensing Ruling Could Produce New Legislative Fight "insurers and employer groups may find themselves engaged in legislative advocacy efforts to preserve the current framework, while provider groups and dispensing practitioners may seek statutory changes" 3 Bills to Watch Targeting Paid Leave, Workers' Comp, Workplace Safety - AFGE "would make it easier for federal employees to receive treatment for work-related injuries or illnesses." National Workers Compensation Review announces program on Hot Topics in wo...

NY - Assault in the workplace; NA - Medical inflation pauses; CA - Cumulative trauma claims increasing in breadth. CVS worker in swanky NYC nabe beaten by knife-wielding maniac, then fired after filing for . “I wouldn’t change the way that I acted — I would do the same thing again,” she said. “I can’t do it any differently." Workers’ Compensation Medical Price Growth Slows To 1.0% In June, NCCI Reports "Medical inflation softened broadly in the second quarter" CWCI Finds CT Claims' Share of California Workers' Comp Nearly Doubled from 2018-2025 "the increase was widespread, extending beyond regions and industries that historically accounted for the largest share of CT claims"

OH - Major dividend possible for employers; NA - ADA in remote work; NA NCCI notes increase in workplace violence. Ohio employers could get $1 billion workers' comp payout - The Columbus Dispatch "The total exceeds the premiums employers have paid since 2019, according to a news release." What HR should consider about remote work accommodations for disabled employees "there are people who are absolutely lying about needing to work, medically, remotely…and then there’s a group of people who legitimately need it…and they—medically—hugely benefit" NCCI's Workplace Violence: Part 3 – Assaults and Violence by Others in Finer Detail ""The assault share of all Days Away From Work (DAFW) cases doubled from 4.8% in 2011 to 9.6% in 2019"

FL - Judge Humphries retires; NA - frequency is not the issue, severity is; CA - special fraud unit funded by grant; NA - Non-scheduled medical is increasing costs; NA - Empathy on the agenda at NWCR 2026 at the WCI in Orlando Hon. Ralph Humphries retires from Florida OJCC, leaving the Jacksonville office after 16 years of service. Uncovered Medical Services Are Driving Up Workers' Comp Costs, WCRI Finds "services without fee schedule rates are consuming a growing share of payments" Ventura County DA Gets $900,000 to Combat Workers' Comp Fraud - Insurance Journal "The unit includes prosecutors, investigators, an investigative assistant, a forensic accountant, and an administrative assistant." Why Workers' Comp Leaders Are Feeling the Squeeze — and Where They're Finding Answers "NCCI reports medical and indemnity severity both climbed roughly 4% in the most recent accident year" National Workers Compensation Review announces program on Empa...

CA - Provider network shortcomings; NA - changes in construction coverage; FL/GA - interpretations on assault; FL - an important retirement. Montgomery: Three Reasons Why the MPN System Is a Failure - WorkCompCentral California "medical provider network" challenged by a "general provider shortage" How Combined Environmental and Professional Liability Coverage is ... - Risk & Insurance "contractors are seeking efficient ways to meet their coverage obligations without sacrificing protection" Florida, Georgia Appeals Courts Clarify Key Workers Compensation Legal Standards "Two recent court decisions clarified how courts should evaluate workers' compensation claims involving workplace assaults" Judge Humphries Retires "Congratulations, Ralph, that your moment is now. You will be missed, valued, and remembered here"

NA - Occupational disease and foreseeing the future; VA - another rate decrease; NA - Actuarial insights offered by NWCR at the 2026 WCI in Orlando; UT - Supreme Court clarifies sanction for non-cooperation. Emerging Infectious Diseases Every Employer Should Watch - WorkersCompensation.com "Which employees are most likely to encounter the next emerging disease first?" Virginia: Workers comp rates set to decline -- again - Richmond Times-Dispatch "Viginia’s 2018 workers' compensation insurance reform continues to pay dividends for businesses as insurers propose another rate cut, the seventh in a row. Suspension, not Dismissal, Applies to Utah Claimants who Obstruct IMEs "Suspension of a workers' compensation claim during the period in which the claimant fails to cooperate is the only available sanction." National Workers Compensation Review announces program on Actuarial Insight. At the WCI 2026, Tuesday, August 19, 2026; 9:55 – 10:55 a.m. Grand Ballroo...

CO - Marijuana to replace opioids; CA - Structure and function of medial process questioned; CA - 2025 report released; NA - Significant differences in claims across industry and states Colorado tests out medical marijuana on workers' comp - Denver Westword "Researchers hope that adding cannabis could spur honest dialogue with doctors and decrease opioid use." Montgomery: Presenting Hard Truths to the CHSWC - WorkCompCentral "Testimony left commissioners 'with their jaws open'" Commission on Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation releases 2025 annual report "The report provides an overview of the state’s workplace health and safety and workers’ compensation systems" Claim Frequency Trends Vary by Industry and State Despite Continued Overall Decline "While lost-time claim frequency continues its long-term downward trend, significant differences remain across industries and jurisdictions."

OH - Flock cameras in workers' compensation; TX - Premium audit lawsuit; NA - E-bikes and their evolving risks 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 "Electric bicycles, scooters, and other micromobility devices have become common"