Ohio BWC Board To Complete Self-Evaluation, Next Public Forum Announced

Columbus, OH  (CompNewsNetwork) - The Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) Board of Directors today unanimously agreed to complete an annual self-evaluation. In addition, the board shared details of its next public forum scheduled for June 26 in Columbus.

"The self-evaluation will prompt healthy and fulsome discussion about the board's focus and effectiveness,” said Director Allison Falls. Additionally, an annual self-evaluation is a best practice of governance that will allow the board to lead by example and improve risk management for BWC.

The board's self-assessment extends beyond the mandates of House Bill 100, which created the board and outlined a broad array of reforms and reporting requirements. The board will develop the self-assessment framework and may finalize the process during the June board meeting.

The board's move for a self-evaluation came shortly after it completed an evaluation of BWC Administrator Marsha Ryan and submitted it to Gov. Ted Strickland on Wednesday. The BWC Board of Directors rated Ryan's overall performance as an "excellent/plus” on a numerical rating system and offered the top rating (5) of Ryan's integrity and high ethical standards.

Next month, the board will host a public forum focusing on managed care services. Earlier forums centered on the group-rating discount program and barriers to delivering high-quality medical services to injured workers.

"The input from speakers at the April forum was vital in helping us to understand the concerns of our stakeholders and in developing initiatives to build a stronger, more effective workers' compensation system,” said Ryan. "The medical services staff has continued the dialogue started at the April public forum by working with participants to enhance medical services.”

June's forum will enable employers, injured workers and other interested parties to discuss managed care services and benefit plans as related to workers' compensation. Topics will include scope of coverage and level of benefits for medical; vocational rehabilitation and pharmaceutical services, reimbursement methodologies for these treatments and services; and best practices for ensuring efficient and effective delivery of the managed care process. Details of the public forum and registration are available here.

The BWC Board of Directors will hold its next meeting on June 27, 2008, in the William Green Building, 30 W. Spring St., Columbus.

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