OCTOBER 2020 BWC NEWS FROM CAREWORKS COMP From CareWorks Comp


APPLY NOW: 2021 POLICY YEAR GROUP RATING & GROUP RETROSPECTIVE ENROLLMENT DEADLINE IS APPROACHING !! It’s that time of year again: 2021 Traditional Group Rating


and Group Retrospective Rating offers are now being sent out to employers. Contact us for a premium savings projection. CareWorks Comp will assist you in determining the program options that work best for your organization. Each year there may be a different mix of cost-saving strategies that work best to maximize your premium savings. The enrollment deadline for the 7/1/2021 Rate Year is November 16, 2020 for Traditional Group Rating, and January 22, 2021 for Group Retrospective Rating. For more information, contact Julia Bowling CareWorks Comp Program Manager at 513.218.4062 or julia.bowling@careworkscomp.com.


BWC BOARD APPROVES 2ND DIVIDEND THIS YEAR TO EASE COVID-19 FINANCIAL IMPACT On September 25, 2020, the Board of Directors of the Ohio


BWC approved yet another employer “Billion Back” dividend. This approximately $1.5 billion dividend will be sent to Ohio employers near the end of October 2020, after first applying the dividend to any unpaid balances. The BWC’s aim is to provide some immediate economic relief to employers amid the ongoing pandemic. This dividend equals approximately 100% of the premiums paid


in policy year 2019. (This would be January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019 for public employers and July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020


for private employers.) Dividends like this, as well as previous ones, are possible because of strong investment returns on employer premiums, a declining number of claims each year, prudent fiscal management, and employers who work hard to improve workplace safety and reduce injury claims. Employers who did not complete their 2019 policy year True Up may be ineligible to receive this Billion Back Dividend. “Thank you to the BWC Board of Directors for approving a


second round of dividends for Ohio employers,” said Governor DeW- ine. “The pandemic continues to impact businesses across Ohio, and we hope that this next round of dividends provides financial relief.” “We’re grateful our strong fiscal position allows us to assist our


business community during these unprecedented times,” said BWC Administrator/CEO Stephanie McCloud. “However, this means in all likelihood we will not issue a dividend in 2021.”


IMPORTANT DEADLINES: • October 21, 2020: Premium installment due for the July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2021 policy year, if your company is on a monthly or bi-monthly payment plan with the Ohio BWC.


• October 23, 2020: Cut-off date for CareWorks Comp to receive AC3 (Temporary Authorization Form) to request Group Rating/Group Retrospective evaluation quote for 2021 policy year.


• November 16, 2020: Deadline to enroll into traditional Group Rating with CareWorks Comp for the 2021 Rating Year.


LET’S LEARN: IMPORTANT BWC ACRONYMS • RTW: Return to Work—The date when the injured worker has returned to employment.


Have you looked at your group retrospective rating options?


This is Not Your Grandfather’s Group Rating Program: Group Retrospective Rating


WHAT IS GROUP RETROSPECTIVE RATING? A performance-based program where BWC-certified group sponsors pool businesses of like industry, that meet strict safety and claims management criteria and practices. As claim costs are controlled, the group members receive premium rebates. Plan savings are often greater than traditional group rating plans.


COMPREHENSIVE SAFETY SERVICES We offer on-site safety and program evaluation at no additional cost to help ensure and optimize savings.


BEST-IN-CLASS CLAIMS SERVICES ¢Rates & Payroll Underwriting ¢Industrial Commission (IC) and Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) Hearing Representation


¢Claims Management ¢Reporting


UNEMPLOYMENT CONSULTATION Review and consult with our industry experts on unemployment claim issues.


For more information, contact CareWorksComp’s Julia Hall toll-free, at 1-800-837- 3200, ext. 51576 or via email at julia.hall@careworkscomp.com.


1-800-837-3200 | www.careworkscomp.com | info@careworkscomp.com


• TTD: Temporary Total Disability—Compensation paid by the Ohio BWC to an injured worker who is totally disabled from employment on a temporary basis.


• MMI: Maximum Medical Improvement—The point where the allowed conditions in the claim have stabilized and no improvements and/or changes can be expected with reason- able medical probability.


• IW: Injured Worker—The employee who has filed a work- ers’ compensation claim with the Ohio BWC.


• EOR: Employer of Record—A term that both the Ohio BWC and the Ohio Industrial Commission use in describing who the employer is of the injured worker that filed the workers’ comp claim.


• DOI: Date of Injury—The calendar date that the employee sustained the injury.


HOUSE BILL 81: IMPORTANT BWC CHANGES Governor Mike DeWine has signed H.B. 81 and it became ef-


fective Sept. 15, 2020. H.B. 81 creates several important changes to Ohio Workers’ Compensation Law including: • Reduces the statute of limitations for filing an application for Violation of Specific Safety Requirement (VSSR) to one year from the date of injury or occupational disease from two years. The new limit will apply to all claims occurring on or after Sept. 15, 2020.


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