News from the BWC...

As fall approaches, so does the season for employers to choose which plan best suits their company’s workers’ comp needs in 2017. Now is a great time to promote your Group Rating and Group Retrospective programs to your membership and encourage them to receive a quote by completing an AC-3 (Temporary Authorization Form).  If you don’t already have your personalized link on your website please let me know and I will send it to you.

 Upcoming Deadlines:

• August 30, 2016 - deadline for the DFSP-5 (Drug Free Safety Program report)
• August 31, 2016 - due date for the 2^nd 2016 premium installment
• August 31, 2016 – due date for Group Rating Safety Plan Summary (SH-2)

(see additional information below)

True –Up Report Deadline Extended:

As you already know the first-ever payroll true-up period for private employers has begun and payroll true-up reports were due to BWC no later than August 15, 2016

GOOD NEWS! The Ohio BWC has provided a grace period for businesses that did not meet the August 15^th deadline.  Businesses will now have until Friday, September 30^th to complete the true-up.

Our records indicate there are still a significant number of businesses that have yet to complete the new payroll true-up process.  It is important that businesses complete this process by the September 30^th deadline. Please see the attachment to share with your members.

Group Rating Safety Plan Summary Form (SH-2)

The SH-2 summary is for the July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016 program year. CareWorksComp is processing these reports on your behalf and once we have compiled the information and completed the form we will forward them to your attention for review and signature. We expect to have them completed and sent to your attention by mid-August and then we ask that you return the signed form to us so that we can file with BWC by the August 31 deadline. In addition, the 2016 Safety Accountability Letter has been released by the BWC – it is attached to this newsletter.  Please be sure to publish this letter to your members by the end of September, 2016.  You may mail, email, include it in a newsletter or just post it to your website.

Unemployment Update

• Ohio to Pay the Federal Unemployment Debt: A plan has been put into place to pay off the lingering federal government loan that caused Ohio employers an increase in federal unemployment tax (FUTA) over the past several years.  Because Ohio was unable to pay back a $3 billion loan within the two-year grace period, a penalty was charged that increased FUTA from the base rate of $42/employee to $147/employee.  If the loan would remain outstanding, FUTA would have increased the base rate to $168/employee in 2017! To stop this increase from taking effect, next month the state will take a loan from the Unclaimed Funds account in order to pay back the remaining debt. The penalties will be abated and FUTA will once again be $42/employee; however, employers will also be assessed a surcharge in 2017 so the current loan can be repaid.  The loan repayment surcharge, which is expected to be approximately $45/employee, plus the base FUTA of $42/employee, will total approximately $87/employee. This is almost 50% less than the $168/employee if nothing had been done.  For additional information about this or controlling your unemployment expenses, please contact Kammy Staton at 614.526.7165 or Staton@careworkscomp.com.

OSHA Update

• OSHA Delaying Enforcement of Retaliation Provision: OSHA is delaying enforcementof the anti-retaliation provisions in its new injury and illness tracking rule in order to conduct additional outreach and provide educational materials and guidance for employers. Originally scheduled to begin August 10, 2016, enforcement will now begin November 1, 2016. Under the rule, employers are required to:
• Inform workers of their right to report work-related injuries and illnesses without fear of retaliation;
• Implement procedures for reporting injuries and illnesses that are reasonable and do not deter workers from reporting; and,
• Are prohibited from retaliating against workers for reporting injuries and illnesses.

I have included a good bit more information on the new reporting guidelines with this email and am glad to help if you have further questions.

Other News

Impacts of Medical Marijuana: Although medicinal use of marijuana will become legal in our state in a limited capacity this September, it won’t have an effect on the Drug-Free Safety Program, BWC does not pay for access to marijuana, and an employer still does not have to allow or condone an employee’s use of it. I have included a synopsis of the law itself and how it does and does not change the landscape of your workers’ compensation program. For any interpretation of this issue, I would recommend consulting with your legal counsel.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Attachments:

Medical Marijuana Impact

New OSHA Recordkeeping Rule

OSHA Recordkeeping Guidelines

True Up ExtensionFY17 Group Rating Accountability Letter

Beverly Westover
Program Manager
CareWorksComp
Ph: 800-837-3200 Ext. 57169
Direct: 614-526-7169