Send contracts to CURRENT arbitrators; Another felony conviction won against uninsured employer

Send contracts to CURRENT arbitrators

Please send settlement contracts and other documents to the currently assigned arbitrator.  If you send materials to the arbitrator who will take over the case in January, you will only slow down your case as materials are returned or forwarded.  Please help us spread the word!


Another felony conviction won against uninsured employer

Another uninsured employer has pled guilty to a Class 4 felony for refusing to obtain workers' compensation insurance. John Linek, individually and as President of SMS Logistics of Chicago, has been ordered to pay a $10,000 penalty for refusing to obtain workers compensation insurance. The IWCC's Insurance Compliance Unit had been requesting compliance with the Act from this trucking firm since 2010.

In August 2013, the Compliance Division obtained a felony conviction against Ahmed Ghosien, d/b/a Ghosien European Auto Werks in Hometown. Ghosien pled guilty to a Class 4 felony for failing to obtain workers' compensation insurance. The IWCC's Insurance Compliance Unit worked with the Cook County Sheriff's Office and the Cook County State's Attorney's Special Prosecutions Division to obtain the conviction. Again, the Insurance Compliance Unit had worked on the case since 2010.

Both of these individuals were given many opportunities to obtain insurance before charges were filed, but they persistently refused. Employers who fail to follow the law put their workers at risk, and they enjoy an unfair competitive advantage over law-abiding employers.


For more information go to http://www.iwcc.il.gov/news.htm

Arbitration calendars online; Downstate 19(b) cases will remain at site

2014 Arbitration calendars online; Downstate 19(b) cases will remain at site

The 2014 arbitration calendars are now online at http://www.iwcc.il.gov/calendars.htm

In January 2014, arbitrators will appear at the following sites:

Zone 1
Collinsville: Lindsay
Mt Vernon: Lee
Herrin: Zanotti

Zone 2
Springfield: Pulia
Quincy: Gallagher
Urbana: Dearing

Zone 3
Bloomington: Erbacci
Peoria: McCarthy
Rock Island: Dollison

Zone 4
 Geneva: O'Malley
 New Lenox: Granada
 Ottawa: Mathis

Zone 5
Rockford: Fratianni
Waukegan: Falcioni
Woodstock: Andros

Zone 6
Chicago: Luskin
Chicago: Cronin
Wheaton*: Doherty
*Arb. Luskin will appear in Wheaton in February. Arb. Cronin will appear in March.


Note that Downstate 19(b) cases will remain assigned to the Downstate site.

In Chicago, the Commission will redistribute cases to create new calls.  In 2014, Arbitrator Carlson will handle the call Arb. Cronin handled in 2013, and Arb. Luskin will take over Arb. O’Malley’s call.

Arbitrator Holland Died

Arbitrator Holland died

We are sorry to report that Arbitrator Doug Holland passed away in his sleep. Doug first joined the Commission in 1986 as a commissioner. Since 1989, he has served as an arbitrator. He was well-respected professionally and well-liked personally. We offer his family and friends our condolences.

Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. on Sunday at Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa, with Liturgical Prayers at 1:30 p.m. Mass will be at 10 a.m. on Monday, October 21, at St. Mary’s Church in Utica.

 http://www.muellerfh.com/sitemaker/sites/Muelle1/obit.cgi?user=1131999Holland

http://www.stmarysutica.org/

Fee Schedule Updated

The Commission has updated its medical fee schedule to include maximum reimbursement rates for codes that had been previously listed as "POC53.2."  Section 8.2 of the Workers' Compensation Act authorizes the Commission to establish fee schedule reimbursements using provider non-discounted charge data, non-Medicare relative values, and conversion factors from established fee schedule amounts. 

The Workers' Compensation Medical Fee Advisory Board voted to approve the reimbursements for 16,000 codes on the Professional Services fee schedule, all of which had been paid at 53.2% of the billed amount. 

To view the new Professional Services fees, click the new button, "2013 Professional (10-11-13)" at https://iwcc.ingenix.com/IWCC.asp

2014 Fee schedule rates will increase 1.52%; 7% lower than 2006

Medical fee schedule rates will increase 1.52% on January 1, 2014. If the fee schedule had tracked medical inflation, rates would be 30% higher than in 2006; instead, rates are 7% lower than 2006.

Section 8.2(a) of the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act provides that, each year, fee schedule rates shall increase or decrease by the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index-U (CPI-U) in the previous year.

The 2014 rates will be posted as soon as the vendor, Optuminsight, calculates them and obtains information about new and deleted codes. The rates are usually posted at the end of the year. We will give notice on our blog when the rates are online.

Handbook, workplace notice now in Polish

We have translated the handbook and workplace notice into Polish, and created a web page in Polish in which we explain that the Commission will provide an interpreter to pro se claimants who are settling their cases. 

To view the handbook, go to  http://www.iwcc.il.gov/handbook013013inpolish.pdf
To view the workplace notice, go to  http://www.iwcc.il.gov/ICPNpFORM.pdf
To view the Polish web page, go to  http://www.iwcc.il.gov/polish.htm

Governor Quinn press release on insurance rate reduction; Reminder on attorneys' fees

Governor Quinn press release on insurance rate reduction  

Governor Quinn: Historic Workers’ Compensation Reform Saved Illinois Employers $315 Million
Recommended Rate Has Dropped 13.3 Percent Since Governor’s 2011 Reforms;
Latest Proposed Decrease of 4.5 Percent Will Help Ensure Fair and Honest Wages

CHICAGO – Governor Pat Quinn today announced that the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) has filed a request for an overall reduction of 4.5 percent in workers' compensation rates from the Illinois Department of Insurance (DOI).

 

Since the 2011 Workers’ Compensation Reform law championed by Governor Quinn, the department estimates that overall savings have reached $315 million for the Illinois Workers’ Compensation system. With the implementation of the proposed rate reduction, the advisory rate level will have dropped 13.3 percent below the advisory rate level prior to the changes sought and enacted by the governor. 

 

Today's announcement is part of Governor Quinn's commitment to strengthen Illinois’ business climate and drive more economic growth while ensuring that all workers are protected, treated fairly and receive the compensation they deserve. “When I came into office, Illinois had one of the most burdensome workers’ compensation systems in the country,” Governor Quinn said. “We turned that statistic around and delivered real reform that is saving hundreds of millions of dollars for our businesses and keeping the system honest to our workers. This rate review will ensure the state has a responsible advisory rate that supports business growth and protects workers.”

 

Officials estimate the latest proposed reduction in workers’ compensation advisory and loss cost rates could result in overall reduction in premiums of up to $110 million. This estimate is based on the credit rating organization A.M. Best’s calculations as they reviewed 2011 premiums. Individual rates for businesses may vary based on claims experience, payroll, and other factors. 

 

With the implementation of the proposed rate reduction, the advisory rate level will have dropped 13.3 percent below the advisory rate level prior to the 2011 Workers’ Compensation Reform Legislation. The overall premium impact based on the advisory rates is approximately $315 million. Individual companies may reflect different rate changes.

 

The NCCI advisory rates determine the premiums businesses pay for workers’ compensation insurance. Department of Insurance (DOI) actuaries must confirm the calculations submitted by NCCI, a process that typically takes about 60 days. 

 

“We’re pleased about the proposed rate reduction and look forward to the review process to confirm the results,” said DOI Director Andrew Boron. “The lower rate would benefit Illinois employers with cost savings.” 

 

If the department accepts the filing to be effective January 1, 2014, employers should contact their insurance agent prior to their 2014 renewal date to determine the impact on their premium. 

 

Since taking office in 2009, Governor Quinn made workers’ compensation reform and strengthening Illinois’ business climate a top priority. He launched a working group on the issue, proposed legislation and worked with the General Assembly to enact historic reform that is allowing businesses to save hundreds of millions of dollars, which in turn supports economic growth.

 

Earlier this month, Governor Quinn signed three laws that fight questionable practices to protect Illinois workers’ paychecks. House Bill 2649, House Bill 923 and House Bill 3125 deal with the misclassification of workers and the attempts of employers to avoid paying state employment taxes and premiums.