Looking at all the possible moving pieces in an insurer’s workers’ compensation claim process, whether one is reviewing benefit calculations, reimbursements for travel, food, and lodging, or actual state-mandated claim forms, one cannot help but notice “numbers.” From the actual dollar payments to the numbers on the state forms, insurers face challenges in keeping up with the factors and formulae driving the benefits and making sure they are using the current forms.
I recently shared some data on workers’ compensation claim forms activity thus far in 2009. A related area with substantial regulatory activity, concerns states establishing updated maximum weekly rates for injuries. For example, Arkansas issued Advisory Opinion 2000-1 which sets forth the maximum weekly rates for injuries to employees occurring on and after January 1, 2010 at $562.00 for Total Disability and $422.00 for Permanent Partial Disability. The Louisiana Workforce Commission announced an increase in that state’s maximum weekly rate for $577.00 for claimants injured during the period September 1, 2009 through August 31, 2010 in Workers’ Compensation Notice 2. Connecticut updated its data in Memorandum 2009-2 effective October 1, 2009, establishing the maximum compensation rate for total disability and decedents’ dependents at $1,138.00 for injuries occurring on or after October 1, 2009. Since Connecticut’s maximum compensation rate for partial disability is equivalent to the average weekly earnings of production and related workers in manufacturing in Connecticut, this rate is now set at $922.00 effective October 1, 2009. Massachusetts, in its Circular Letter 332, provides that effective October 1, 2009 the weekly compensation rate for temporary and total disability benefits continues to be set at 60% of the employee’s average weekly wage before the injury, but no more than a maximum weekly compensation rate equal to $1,094.70. Colorado announced earlier this year that from July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010, the maximum rate for compensation benefits for Temporary Total Disability, Temporary Partial Disability, Permanent Total Disability, and Death Benefits will be at the weekly rate of $807.24.
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