BWC Checks Need to be Cashed
Employers, look through your old mail! Millions of dollars in rebate checks remain uncashed by Ohio employers. The checks are among the more than 160,000 BWC issued in July as part of the agency’s Third Billion Back rebate initiative. Uncashed checks expire, or stale date, 95 days after the check’s issuance date. Some have already passed their stale date, but there’s still time for some checks. As of Oct. 6, more than 5,500 checks totaling $9.8 million had not cleared BWC’s system, including one check for nearly $203,000. In all, 152 checks were for amounts of $10,000 or more. BWC emailed notices alerting employers who had not cashed their checks. We will reissue checks after the stale date following a brief lag time for processing. BWC Administrator/CEO Sarah Morrison said businesses are free to spend their rebates as they see fit, but she would like to see all businesses invest in workplace safety. Protecting Ohio Firefighters Residue collected on firefighters’ gear during a blaze can cause respiratory disease, cancer and other ailments. That's why its important for firefighters to wear appropriate protective gear and ensure it is cleaned properly. BWC's new Firefighter Exposure to Environmental Elements Grant Program provides $2 million a year to help departments purchase safety gear and equipment designed to protect firefighters from carcinogens and other harmful elements encountered during a fire fight. Thirty-eight Ohio fire departments were awarded $406,270 through the program in August and September. View a list of all recipients here. “The dangers of fighting a fire do not stop when the flames are extinguished,” said BWC Administrator/CEO Sarah Morrison. “The men and women who risk their lives to save ours deserve access to the best equipment and tools that can minimize long-term threats to their health and wellbeing.” The program provides a 5-to-1 match of up to $15,000 for public and private employers with annual payroll of at least $500,000. No match is required for employers with less than $500,000 in payroll. Learn more about the program at bwc.ohio.gov. Public employer rates going down Ohio public employers will pay an average of 6.1 percent less in workers’ compensation premiums beginning Jan. 1. The cut was approved by BWC’s Board of Directors last month and will decrease the amount the BWC collects from these employers by $11.8 million next year. “This latest reduction shows our continued commitment to help employers succeed by keeping their rates as low and fair as possible,” said BWC Administrator/CEO Sarah Morrison. “We know the less they spend on premiums, the more they can invest in their communities and into safer work environments for their employees.” All told, BWC will have lowered public employer rates by an average of 33.9 percent since the start of 2011, bringing the combined statewide financial impact to $434 million. BWC captures industry awards BWC collected two international awards last week for its innovative response to the opioid epidemic and for an employee regarded as an up-and-comer in the work comp industry. The International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions (IAIABC) named BWC’s pharmacy department the winner of its second annual Innovation Award for its contest entry, “Saving Lives — Building a Model Pharmacy Program Amid a Deadly Epidemic.” “Saving Lives” summarizes BWC’s work since 2011 to reduce opioid abuse and excessive prescribing of the painkillers while building a pharmacy program that’s recognized as a leader in the industry today. The department found 8,029 injured workers dependent on opioids in 2011 and reduced that number by nearly half to 4,101 by the end of 2016. (For an infographic explaining the effort, click here.) The IAIABC also named BWC’s Kendra DePaul one of 11 NexGen award winners from across the country. Short for Next Generation, the award recognizes talented new leaders in workers' compensation who are making their mark. DePaul won for her work in building and managing BWC’s Other States Coverage program, which insures Ohio employers when they’re working outside Ohio. BWC Administrator/CEO Sarah Morrison said the awards reflect BWC’s commitment to being a world-class workers’ compensation carrier. “I couldn’t be prouder,” Morrison said. “These awards demonstrate what I tell people all over Ohio — BWC is loaded with talented people who represent the best in public service.” BWC eBriefs -- Save the dates! Save the date for the Ohio Safety Congress & Expo, BWC's annual occupational safety, health and workers’ compensation event. Safety Congress will be March 7-9, 2018, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. The Workers’ Compensation Medical & Health Symposium for healthcare providers and office staff members will also run March 8 and 9 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. For more information on both events, visit bwc.ohio.gov. Interested in exhibit space at either event? Just click on “EXHIBIT” for details.
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