The WSIA Weekly, 10.23.15
Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals chair
recruitment announced
The
Washington State Labor Council and Association of Washington Business, jointly charged
with submitting nominations for the chair of the Board of Industrial
Insurance Appeals, has
just put out a position announcement for the chair. The turnaround
for interested individuals to apply for consideration is tight, with resumes
required in-hand at AWB and the Labor Council by 5:00 p.m. next Friday, October
30th. The recruitment for this six year appointment follows the
expiration of current chair Dave Threedy’s term earlier this summer. Take a
look at the link above for details, and please pass word along to qualified
individuals who may be interested.
Public
hearings occurring next week on L&I’s proposed 2016 rate increase
The
Department of Labor & Industries is taking public testimony next week on
its recent proposal to increase
workers’ compensation rates 2 percent overall next year for State Fund premium
payers. The proposal includes a 6.25 percent hike in the Supplemental
Pension Fund premium which self-insured employers also pay via assessment. WSIA
state fund or self-insured members interested in commenting on the proposal can
do so at locations around the state, as set out in this link,
or provide written comments to L&I by e-mailing joanne.atwood@lni.wa.gov by 5:00
p.m. on November 3.
ACHIEV meeting materials available
The
Department of Labor & Industries’ Advisory Committee on Healthcare
Innovation and Evaluation (ACHIEV), the business-labor-health care group that
advises on the state’s medical provider network and health services delivery,
had its most recent meeting yesterday. The committee focused in particular on
issues related to the provider network’s top tier criteria, and received an
update on the Department’s RFP for a catastrophic care management pilot. If you’re interested,
you can take a look at the meeting materials at this link. WSIA is
represented on the committee by Lisa Vivian of Eberle Vivian.
A group of ten members of the US House and Senate Democratic caucuses sent a letter this week to the US Department of Labor seeking greater federal oversight of state workers’ compensation programs, in response to recent highly publicized reports by National Public Radio and ProPublica about perceived defects of various states’ programs. While Washington’s generous benefit and eligibility structure has usually spared the state from criticism by these pro-labor efforts, it is worth noting that one of Washington State’s US Senators, Patty Murray, is among the signatories urging federal oversight. We’re monitoring this development.
Six spots left for Intro to Claims – get registrations in!
“Intro to Claims,” our Industrial Insurance University’s two-day “101 level” class on Washington’s unique workers’ compensation system is next taking place November 4-5 at Valley Medical Center in Renton. There are only six spots left, so if you or colleagues plan to attend, get registrations in right away! This course, equally applicable to new or new-to-Washington state fund and self-insured claims staff, brings attendees up to date on all the basics. Details and registration at this link.
New November webinar explores work-relatedness and medical causation
We’re happy to announce Dr. Stephen Fuller, Medical Director for Lake Oswego, Oregon-based impartial will join us online Thursday, November 19th from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. to present “The KEY Link: Understanding the Complicated Relationship between Work and Medical Diagnosis.” This will be a great presentation for claims handlers dealing with difficult causation, aggravation, injury vs. occupational disease, and IME issues. WWCP credit is available, and L&I claims management CEU have been applied for. More details and registration at this link.