Workers’ Compensation Reform

Whether paid in the form of insurance premiums or direct expenses for medical treatment and benefits, workers’ compensation is a significant cost of doing business for every public and private employer in California. Despite California employers paying a much higher cost than employers in other states, the outcomes are worse for California’s injured workers. Workers’ compensation costs to employers must be further reduced to ensure that California remains economically competitive in the regional and global economy. In addition, the system needs more reforms to ensure efficient and clear processes, allowing employers and employees to resolve workplace accidents without having to navigate the court system. California needs an efficient and cost-effective workers’ compensation system that provides fair compensation for legitimate claims while protecting employers from the financial and productivity effects of abuse.

Positions

WC-1: Supports controlled costs through the elimination of fraud, reduced litigation, and the consistent application of established principles for determining eligibility.

WC-2: Promote best practices in the areas of standards, medical findings, and criteria applied uniformly to the application of workers’ compensation law and the administration of the workers’ compensation system to streamline the determination of disability, delivery of benefits, and decisions concerning injured workers’ ability to return to work.

WC-3: Supports eliminating financial and other incentives for claimants to seek legal representation.

WC-4: Supports the option for employers to combine health care coverage for employees with the medical coverage provided through workers’ compensation.

WC-5: Supports efforts to address the problem of carrier insolvency consistent with the above principles.

WC-6: Opposes any roll-back or amendments designed to weaken workers’ compensation reform in California.