danna-gracey workers' com changes that will affect your healthcare practice
TRANSCRIPT
Workers’ Comp Changes That Will
Affect Your Practice
Presented by
Tom Murphy Julie Danna
2016/2017 Changes that will affect your practice. What we will discuss today: ➢ The history of workers’ compensation in Florida and how we got here.
➢ Recent Florida Supreme Court decisions and how they will reverse the legislative reforms of 2003 if nothing is done.
➢ Increased regulatory compliance from OSHA. What you need to know.
➢ Florida rates increasing 14.5% across the board on December 1, 2016.
➢ Future challenges for the Florida workers’ compensation system.
➢ Protecting your practice and employees: Preventing workplace accidents and ways to offset future rate increases.
WORKERS COMP CHANGES
Julie Danna: Danna-Gracey
➢ 17 years Extensive experience with medical malpractice insurance since 1996 with clients reaching over 6 different states
➢ A founding partner of Danna-Gracey, Julie has always been a strong advocate for medical liability tort reform in Florida
➢ Currently manages two Danna-Gracey offices in the Florida Panhandle overseeing four malpractice insurance Risk Purchasing Programs
➢Social Insurance
➢Purchase Options
What is Workers’ Compensation?
➢1908: First WC law passed ➢1930: Decision to attract industry in FL ➢May 1935: “New Deal” signed ➢September 1935: Florida Industrial Commission was
formed ➢1979: Workerman’s Compensation became Workers’
Compensation ➢1990: Drug free work place ➢2003: Attorney fee’s were structured
Short Walk Down WC Lane
➢Florida became top 3 for best rates in the country
➢Rates from 2003 to 2008
➢Legal fees
2003 to 2008 – Legal Fees
Castellanos v. Next Door Company
➢Actual Castellanos fee $1.53 per hour
➢Appropriate fee: $350 per hour ➢Proposed Castellanos legal fee
awarded: $164.01 ➢$350 - Attorney fees should have
been $37,520 ➢Section 440.34 ➢Counteraction of the Supreme Court
Tom Murphy: Danna-Gracey
➢ 30 years of extensive experience with claims and risk management
➢ An experienced risk management consultant, providing physicians and various medical entities with risk and claims management techniques for implementation
➢ Maintains an advisory position for various societies involving malpractice, claims and tort reform
➢ A frequent guest lecturer for numerous medical societies and associations, sharing his expertise with the medical community while gaining additional insight into the business of medicine
➢ Performs malpractice claims studies for medical specialty societies
➢Open Claims Occurring After January 1st, 1994
➢Incentives for Injured Workers
➢Incentives for Plaintiff Attorney’s
Impact of Recent Court Decisions
➢Increased Civil Monetary Penalties
➢Improved Tracking of Workplace Injuries
➢Potential Fines for Discouraging Employees from Reporting on-the-job Injuries.
Increased OSHA Regulatory Compliance
➢The National Counsel on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) Requested 19.6% Increase
➢This Will Not Be The Last We See of Increases
➢Florida Went From 45th Worst State for Workers’ Comp to The 3rd Best since 2003.
➢Future Challenges for Florida WC System
Florida Rates up Almost 15%
➢Preventing Workplace Accidents
➢Ways You Can Offset Any Future Rate Increases
Protecting Your Practice and Employees
On September 27, 2016, The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) approved an overall statewide workers’ compensation insurance rate increase of 14.5% to take effect December 1, 2016. The rate increase is in response to two recent Supreme Court rulings undoing reforms passed in 2003 and rocking the state’s workers’ compensation system. The Danna-Gracey Workers’ Compensation Insurance Program, offered through AmTrust, offers maximum possible dividends of 30%, you could end up saving 15.5% on your WC coverage even with the rates increasing!
It’s time to contact us today!
Danna-Gracey Workers’ Comp Dividend Program
Affordable Care Act Update: Section 1557 Compliance
November 30, 2016 12:00 - 1:00 pm EST
October 16, 2016 was the implementation date for Section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Section 1557 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability in certain health programs or activities. These changes will require organizations to post new notices, update existing policies to cover the new requirements as well as train staff. During this webinar we will address the new regulations and discuss what actions your organization should be taking to help ensure compliance with this new law.
Upcoming Webinar
