Workers’ Compensation Law Enters Second Year
Workers' compensation costs have decreased for 68% of employers in California, according to a survey released Tuesday by the Workers' Compensation Action Network, the Sacramento Bee reports. Twenty-five percent of those employers said costs decreased more than 25%, the survey found.
However, critics of workers' compensation reforms, implemented in 2005, say other studies have shown permanent disability benefits have been reduced by about 50% for workers' compensation claimants. Critics also are concerned that a two-year cap on temporary disability payments under the law could affect injured workers who still are waiting to resolve their cases (Chan, Sacramento Bee, 4/19).
Meanwhile, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) on Wednesday said the modifications to the state workers' compensation insurance system have been a "huge success," saying that workers' compensation costs have decreased by 40% on average since the law took effect (Lawrence, AP/Contra Costa Times, 4/20).
A WCAN release about the survey is available online. Note: You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the document.