Over the past year, the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) has focused its attention on creating more program options for employers that encourage the correct behaviors and rewards them for achieving performance outcomes that reduce lost work days for injured employees while controlling costs.
“We highly recommend that, regardless of size, each employer in Ohio examines the many program options available today to assist them in lowering their premium expense, as many may fit right into their overall risk management plan,” says Mark MaGinn, vice president for CompManagement, Inc.
Smart Business spoke with MaGinn about the options available for your business.
Are there any discount programs an employer can participate in without having to wait until the next policy period?
In October, the BWC created a new program called Grow Ohio, which provides new employers the option of participating in a group rating program or receiving a 25 percent discount on their workers’ compensation premiums immediately. A new employer (defined as a new business entity or an out-of-state business that creates one or more jobs in Ohio on or after July 1, 2011) has 30 days from filing an initial application for workers’ compensation coverage to select an option. If it selects the group rating option, the employer receives an additional 30 days to enroll in a group program. In the past, it would have to wait until the next policy period to participate in group rating, losing the ability to save immediately on premiums. Any new employer entering the state between July 1, 2011, and June 30, 2012, may be eligible to receive up to a maximum discount of 51 percent for the 2011 policy year through the group option.
Will there be any new programs in 2012?
The BWC has several new programs available in 2012 that focus on improving return-to-work and management of associated claim costs. All fall under the Destination: Excellence program:
Industry Specific Safety Discount — establishes prevention strategies based on the unique nature of individual industries; employers can earn a 3 percent upfront discount for engaging in specific safety strategies like completing a risk assessment, providing data to BWC and completing safety activities that are intended to reduce accidents.
Transitional Work Grants — prepares employers to bring injured workers back in a modified capacity while allowing them to recover from injury; the program will allow employers to apply for grant money to implement a transitional work program, as well as earn up to a 10 percent bonus for utilizing the program in claims with lost-time.
Go Green Discount — program will provide employers with a 1 percent upfront premium discount (up to $1,000 every six months) for managing their account online.
Lapse-Free Discount — program is designed to encourage employers to pay premium in a timely manner and will provide a 1 percent upfront premium discount (up to $1,000 every six months) if an employer has not incurred a lapse in premium in the past 60 months; a one-time forgiveness to stay current can be utilized.
Private employers will be able to enroll in these programs until the last business day of April 2012 for the July 1, 2012, policy year. Public employers will need to enroll by the last business day in October 2012 for the Jan. 1, 2013, policy year.
Are there any changes to be made to existing programs in 2012?
BWC has made several productive changes to existing programs for the July 1, 2012, private rate year and the Jan. 1, 2013, public rate year.
100 percent EM Cap — Participation has been expanded to allow credit-rated employers (employers with better-than-average loss experience paying a rate lower than the base rate); the 10-Step Business Safety plan requirements have also been replaced with a half-day industry-specific training session that needs to be completed in the first year and online training for subsequent years.
Small Deductible — Payments made under the deductible program will now be excluded from an employer’s experience calculation.
Group Retrospective Rating — Participants are now eligible to earn a 2 percent upfront discount for participating in a Safety Council program.
One Claim Program — The discount is reduced from 40 percent off of the base rate for four years to 20 percent year one, 15 percent year two, 10 percent year three and 5 percent year four.
Salary Continuation — is now compatible with all programs.
Can an employer participate in multiple programs?
Yes, many programs are compatible with each other, giving an employer the ability to ‘stack’ discounts together beyond the maximum credibility table discount (currently 53 percent for the private employer July 1, 2012, policy year). However, only programs that encourage best practices and are not cost-based are compatible. Employers should be aware that there are different eligibility requirements for each program, as well as expectations that must be met to obtain eligibility.
How does an employer know which programs to participate in to maximize its discount?
An employer should contact its workers’ compensation third-party administrator to request a ‘feasibility study.’ A feasibility study is a tremendous tool for an employer to evaluate the many different rating/discount programs in order to see how they can impact the costs associated with their workers’ compensation program. In addition, a feasibility study should include which rating programs can be ‘stacked’ together for greater discount potential if qualifications are met.
Mark MaGinn is the vice president of Ohio state fund program management and business development for CompManagement, Inc. Reach him at (800) 825-6755, ext 8168, or [email protected].
