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Reform of the workers’ compensation system in seven key states was a 1993 priority of the Alliance of American Insurers, which recently published an overview of legislative action in those states and others.
“The 1993 Annual Review of Workers’ Compensation Legislation,” explains the Alliance’s proactive approach in California, Florida, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Additionally, it provides summaries of significant workers’ compensation laws in every state where legislation was proposed or enacted. Since the workers’ compensation reform efforts began in 1986, 26 states have enacted legislation to update and strengthen their state administered programs, according to Steve Milliken, vice president of commercial lines for the Alliance. Milliken said most of the state law changes are viewed as major reforms with expectations for significant system cost reductions.
“In 1989, the Alliance took a proactive approach to promoting reform in the workers’ compensation system,” Milliken said. “The result was the Workers’ Compensation Agenda for Action, and in that agenda we identified specific problems in certain states, and specific plans for solving those problems.”
In addition to the 26 which have enacted legislation, 10 states are involved in the system reform process, and many of the 14 remaining states have not experienced serious systemic problems. Milliken said managed care and anti-fraud provisions, along with safety and health language, were included in most of the omnibus reform efforts.
“The Alliance is still monitoring the potential for general health care reform legislation or specific 24-hour coverage provisions in the individual states.” Milliken said.
“The 1993 Legislative Review of Workers’ Compensation Legislation” is the seventh in a series of legislative reports, with others covering company operations, commercial lines (other than workers’ compensation), personal lines, NAIC financial regulation standards, claims, civil procedure and loss control. Copies of any of the legislative reports are available for free to Alliance member companies, and for $40 plus applicable sales tax, shipping and handling to non-members. To order copies, call the Alliance Customer Service Department at (708) 330-8530.
© Copyright 1994 Alikim Media