On May 31- June 03, 2015, Conference Chronicles will be blogging from sessions at the 2015 National Council of Self-Insurers Annual Conference at St. Pete Beach, FL. Established in 1946, the National Council of Self-Insurers is and always has been the only national organization devoted to the self-insurance of workers’ compensation. The National Council of […]

At the 2015 NCCI Annual Issues Symposium, Richard Victor, president and ceo of the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI), and Alex Swedlow, president of the California Workers’ Compensation Institute (CWCI), presented insights from their research on medical cost drivers. Below are the highlights: Physician Dispensing There are only 8 states that either prohibit or significantly […]

At the 2015 NCCI Annual Issues Symposium, NAIC chief executive officer Ben Nelson provided his insights into many of the industry’s most immediate challenges. The highlights: Insurance regulation cannot be static. It must be fluid and adapt to changes in the industry and the economy. Although the Federal government has tried to inject itself into […]

At the 2015 NCCI Annual Issues symposium, Robert Harwig, president of the Insurance Information Institute (III), presented a session that addressing the workplace of tomorrow. His session included gender differences in workplace assignments, new definitions of what will constitute a “job” in the future and the increasing “on-demand” nature of of the workplace. Robert’s style […]

At the 2015 NCCI Annual Issues Symposium,  Kathy Antonello, Chief Actuary for NCCI presented their State of the Line review which provides an exclusive review of workers’ compensation trends, cost drivers, and the significant new developments shaping the industry.  2014 Property/Casualty (P/C) Industry Results: All P/C lines saw premium levels increase in 2014. The industry as a […]

NCCI President and CEO, Steve Klingel, kicked off the 2015 NCCI Annual Issues Symposium with an opening session that focused on the top-line industry indicators and emerging issues that will capture the attention of workers’ compensation professionals in the months and years ahead. Top-of-the-line numbers: Net written premium for 2014 $44.2 billion, a 6% increase […]

At the 2015 NCCI Annual Issues Symposium, a panel of speakers covered a variety of issues facing the workers’ compensation industry.  Mona Carter, senior division executive – national policy development for NCCI moderated the workshop.  The speakers were Thomas Sullivan, associate director with the Federal Reserve; Ann Bok, practice leader and senior actuary with NCCI; […]

Although Self-Insured Work Comp Groups (SIGs) have plenty of competition from traditional carriers, the real competition for larger “best-in-class” accounts are group captives. With minimum casualty premiums of only $150,000 for workers’ compensation, general liability and auto, group captives are having record growth that is impacting both SIGs and traditional carriers. A panel at the […]

Significant understanding of the behavioral neuroscience of pain has developed over the past 20 years and has helped evolve dynamic evaluation and treatment models that work successfully in the workers’ compensation system. These models show positive results, not only in advanced claims with chronic pain and opioid dependence/addiction, but in early proactive claims intervention to […]

At the 2015 SIIA Workers’ Compensation Executive Forum, representatives from leading workers’ compensation excess insurance carriers discussed market conditions and what workers’ compensation self-insurers should expect in the year ahead with regard to policy pricing and availability. The panel consisted of: Richard Bird, Chief Operating Officer from Midlands Management Corporation; Scott Keller, Senior Vice President from […]