Five Things You Need to Know: 5/4, Friday Edition

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) -

1) WA: Plumber Sentenced to House Arrest After Stealing More than $29G in Disability Payments 

Bobby Eugene Stepp of Auburn is in some trouble with the state of Washington. He managed his plumbing business while on disability from a workplace injury in 2014, according to the Auburn Reporter. The business profited $144,000 while he was accepting disability payments. Stepp pled guilty to felony first degree theft after taking in more than $29,000 in benefits. He will serve 45 days on house arrest.  

2) WCRI Releases New Study on CA’s Cost Per Work Comp Claim

“The average total cost per workers’ compensation claim in California remained stable since the enactment of comprehensive reforms five years ago, according to a recent study by the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI),” per a release written by WCRI Communications Director Andrew Kenneally. “…The system reforms were contained in Senate Bill 863 (SB 863), which took effect in 2013. The legislation was designed to increase permanent disability benefits for injured workers while also creating cost savings and improving the efficiency of the workers’ compensation process, where possible.” The study, by Rebecca (Rui) Yang, compares stats in 18 states total, including CA. Another important conclusion to note: “…The average total cost per workers’ compensation claim in California was higher than most study states for 2014 injuries with an average of 36 months of experience post-reform, “ according the release.  

3) FL: NCCI Annual Issues Symposium/Golf Tourney to Sponsor Kid's Chance

“The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) is pleased to announce that its Annual Issues Symposium (AIS) 2018 golf tournament will support Kids' Chance and is sponsored by JLT Re,” according to a WorkersCompensation.com Current News article. “…The AIS 2018 golf tournament will be held on May 16, 2018, at the Grand Cypress Orlando Golf Club in Florida. You can find more information about the tournament on ncci.com,” per the article. According to the organization, “…Kids' Chance believes that we can make a significant difference in the lives of all children affected by workplace injuries by helping them pursue and achieve their educational goals.”

4) SAWCA To Host 70th Annual Convention in July

Mark your calendars: The Southern Association of Workers' Compensation Administrators will host their annual convention July 23-27 at the Salamander in Middleburg, VA, according to an emailed press release written by Executive Director Gary Davis. For more information and to register, click here. “We look forward to you joining us this summer as we celebrate 70 years of excellence in providing education and professional opportunities to state regulators and industry professionals,” writes Davis.  

5) A Reminder About the WorkersCompensation.com News Center: Two New Features

WorkersCompensation.com recently introduced two new options for readers, the first: National Workers' Comp Event Calendar. “…This would provide others tasked with scheduling events a single, one stop resource to make sure nothing conflicts with the dates they would like to use. And of course, it could persuade them to use alternate dates if important activities already occupy that spot,” President and CEO Bob Wilson wrote in a recent Cluttered Desk blog post. In a few weeks, private accounts can be enabled so organizers can add/edit events, while we can reach out to readers to spread the word. A contact form will also be created for organizations who'd like to post their events as well for free. ALSO: On the News Center home page, there is an option on the upper right hand side of the page to “Submit a News Tip,” for readers interested in contacting us with leads.

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