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Congratulations Michigan Cleaning Fund Members! The Michigan Cleaning Fund is pleased to announce a profit distribution of $2,243,033 to be returned to Fund members! This represents an average return equal to 50% of a member’s annual premium. As a member-owned program, all premium collected that’s not used for claims and administrative expenses is returned back to members. Since its inception in 1981, the total profits returned are over $23,900,000.

The Michigan Cleaning Fund, a member owned self-insured workers’ compensation program, has several distinct advantages over most standard insurance carriers. The Fund’s excellent performance has insulated its members from the turbulence of the traditional insurance marketplace. From substantial profit returns to aggressive claims handling, the Fund is the most cost-effective workers’ compensation option for its members year after year. Most importantly, Fund members receive stable yet competitive upfront pricing. This competitive pricing, along with the Fund’s selective approach to underwriting new members, is designed to save members money on the total cost of workers’ compensation over the long term.

By focusing on accident prevention and proper claims management, Fund members continue to keep their costs down as low as possible. The Fund offers its members numerous safety resources and loss control programs that are specific to the cleaning industry. Some of the Fund’s educational training focuses on creating a safety culture in the workplace, by working with owners/supervisors on proper claims handling, accident investigation, return-to-work programs and making every employee accountable for safety on the job. The Fund works with loss control specialists who provide sound guidance and cost-saving solutions on safety and loss prevention for its members.

In addition to safety, workers’ compensation claims are treated with great diligence in the way they are handled. The Fund is very loss sensitive and sees every claim dollar being spent as their money. The Fund controls these costs by fighting fraudulent claims and by requiring claim settlements to be authorized by a board of trustees, comprised of Fund members.

Participants of the Fund must be a member of the Michigan Institute of Laundering & Dry Cleaning or Midwest Carwash Association. The majority of payroll must fall into one of the following classifications: dry cleaning, industrial laundry and uniform, coin-operated laundry, car wash, carpet cleaning, and commercial janitorial.

Congratulations on another exceptional year! If you’re not currently a member, you’re missing out on the many benefits the Michigan Cleaning Fund has to offer. Please contact RPS Regency for more information or micleaningfund.org.

Where Premium Returns Happen.Michigan Cleaning Fund Distributes

Profit Return Back to Members!The

Fund has

distributed

over $23.9

Million to

members

since 1981.

Administered by

REGENCY

Renewal 2018

FUNDREPORT

micleaningfund.org

MIDWEST CARWASH ASSOCIATION

John Winterburn, Chairman • Portage Cleaners & LaundryAmy Plassman, Vice-Chairwoman • Plassman & CompanyNeil Soper • Sohn Linen Service, Inc.Dave Dupuis • Clayton CleanersJeff Fetters • Sanitary Cleaners, Inc.Roger Buys • JoyMar, Inc.Dave Barlow • Jan’s Professional CleanersSteve Fry • Presidential CleanersSarah Wrubel • Continental LinenMatt Koster • Enviro Clean

CLAIMS: York Risk Services Group • 800.533.9366ASSOCIATION: MILD • 877.390.6453 | MCA • 517.327.9207POLICY ISSUES: RPS Regency • 800.686.6640Liz Noe-Masterson • ext. 2741 • Customer ServiceJoAnn George • ext. 2739 • UnderwritingDan Foster • ext. 2742 • Report Cards • Loss Control/SafetyDawn Feldpausch • ext. 2754 • Marketing & SalesBrent Rykse • ext. 2765 • Payroll Audits

Over one million workers suffer back injuries each year. Twenty-five percent of all workers’ compensation indemnity claims are related to back injuries. Back injuries are painful and affect all aspects of life. The chance of re-injury after a back injury is significant. The following procedures can help reduce the potential for Back Injuries: Plan ahead; assess the lift and your surroundings. Knowing what you’re doing and where you’re going will prevent you from making awkward movements while holding something heavy.

• Is the load of a size and weight that you can adequately handle? • Is the path of travel for the lift clear of obstructions? • Can the load be broken down into smaller components? • Will the load interfere with your vision? • Can the load be lifted safer with the help of a co-worker?

- If you are lifting with another person make sure you both agree on the plan. • Can the load be lifted safer with a mechanical device?

When lifting always remember the following: • Get as close as possible to the load. You will be a stronger and more stable lifter if the object is held close to your body

rather than at the end of your reach. Make sure you have a firm hold on the object you are lifting, and keep it balanced close to your body.

• Center yourself over the load with your feet shoulder width apart. A solid base of support is important while lifting. Holding your feet too close together will be unstable, too far apart will hinder movement. Keep your feet about shoulder width apart and take short steps.

• Tighten your stomach muscles; this helps to support the back. • Squat down, bend your knees and keep your back in its normal arch. Let your legs do the lifting. • Get a good tight hold on the load and keep it close to your body. • Move with a smooth motion, lifting straight up. • Keep load in front of torso. Do not twist the back. Your nose and feet should always be pointed in your direction of travel.

Carry the load between your shoulders and your waist. • If you become tired while carrying the load, stop, set the load down and rest. When setting down the load, squat down

bending your knees, keeping the load close to you. Release the load when the desired position is achieved. • When using mechanical devices remember to push the load rather than pull the load. Keep an arm length from the load with

your arms in the locked position and your back in its normal arch. Use your body weight and legs to push the load. • When storing objects on shelves put heavier objects on the shelves located at waist level. Put lighter objects on the upper or

lower shelves. • Good nutrition and exercise can also contribute to back injury prevention. The mattress that you sleep on is also important in

maintaining good posture.

Following these guidelines should help to reduce the potential of becoming one of the many people presently suffering from back injuries caused by unsafe lifting techniques.

The Fund strongly encourages all members to implement safe lifting procedures to reduce their exposure and liability. To view more loss prevention topics visit the York Risk Services Group website at yorkrsg.com/resources.

Ergonomic Solutions: Back Injury Prevention through Safe Lifting Procedures

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An epidemic of prescription pain medicine abuse has resulted in serious issues to both the health of injured employees as well as to the overall cost to the workers’ compensation system. The damaging impact can be seen in a variety of ways, including skyrocketing medical and prescription costs, longer treatment periods and claim settlement expenses.

The Michigan Cleaning Fund has implemented an aggressive and comprehensive Drug Management Program. The goal is to prevent inappropriate use of potentially harmful and addictive medications for injured employees and to control the costs associated with these prescriptions. The fund accomplishes this goal through agreements with the treating physician, the use of technology to monitor the injured employee’s claim and by utilizing the procedures outlined in the MI Health Care Service Rules (HCSR).

Opioids are prescribed to manage acute and chronic pain complaints. It can be difficult to recognize when the course of treatment moves from “acute care” to “chronic care.” The Michigan Health Care Service Rules has given employers, providers, TPA’s and Carriers, the necessary guidelines to help establish the acute from the chronic care. Managing a Michigan WC claim with opioid involvement should have the following objectives:

• Identify claims within the criteria of chronic pain (>90 days usage)

• Educate the treating physician regarding the requirements under the new HCSR

• Employ available tools to ensure that continued use of opioid medication falls within the acceptable parameters as outlined by the HCSR

• Provide a system of continued monitoring that works towards the discontinuation of opioid medication therapy.

The Fund’s guidelines along with the HCSR changes have allowed us to address the problem of long-term abuse of opioids by injured workers. The intent is to lower the projected pharmaceutical costs associated with Medicare Set-Asides, and help reduce the over-all medical costs for the State’s job providers. In a recent review of a large sample of 2016 Michigan WC claims, involving prescribed opioid’s for pain management, the results show that the pharmaceutical costs can easily exceed $2,000 a month.

Managing Occupation Injuries - What are some of the early warning signs? • Any opioid prescription with a supply over 14-days, within the first 30 days of treatment

• Any opioid prescription lasting longer than 45 days - post surgery

• Any opioid prescription lasting longer than 90-days

• Pain management consultation within 45-days of the injury

• More than one Pharmacy being utilized, simultaneously

• Injured employee frequently runs out of medications

• Increased or exaggerated pain complaints during the course of treatment

In summary, when managing injured employees with opioid issues, your fund utilizes the following action items: direct the medical care the first 28 days of treatment; if opioids are being prescribed, consider an Independent Medical Evaluation to assist in guiding the treatment plan; consider the use of a Nurse Case Manager to help guide the employee and physician away from utilizing opioids for chronic care and in certain cases involve communication with a trusted WC Defense Attorney to outline short and long-term strategies that adhere to state guidelines.

For more information on how the Fund can help your business manage its costs and benefit you by being an owner, contact RPS Regency at 800-686-6640. This article was provided by Frank Schmidt, MBA, York Risk Services Group, the Fund’s claim adjusting service partner.

Opioid Abuse &Workers’ Compensation

Ergonomic Solutions: Back Injury Prevention through Safe Lifting Procedures

In an effort to better serve your needs and make correspondence more convenient, the Michigan Cleaning Fund has its own website that offers a variety of services 24 hours a day.

Go to www.micleaningfund.org and click on “Member Services”

Please keep in mind when utilizing Online/EFT withdrawals that your down-payment will not be automatically withdrawn. You must still go to the Fund’s website to pay your down-payment. Once payment coupons are received, you will need to visit the website and update your new payment plan.

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CLICK. PAY. DONE.

Pay your premium onlinewww.micleaningfund.org 24/7 ACCESS!

Michigan Cleaning Fund1690 Watertower Place #500East Lansing, MI 48823

micleaningfund.org800.686.6640

FUNDREPORT

FUND Report | Renewal 2018

Endorsed by

MIDWEST CARWASH ASSOCIATION