Officials Urge Rejection of 'Opt Out' Program

Tuesday, October 13, 2015 | 0

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” is the advice of two industry officials who are urging the Tennessee Legislature to reject a workers' compensation "opt out" program.

That opinion from Ron Gant, president of Insurance Associates of Tennessee, and Portis Tanner, president of Westan Insurance Group of Union City, appeared in a guest column Monday in The Commercial Appeal.

The Workers' Compensation Reform Act of 2013 has resulted in a 20% decrease in loss costs and contributed to the state’s positive business climate, they wrote, noting that the expansion or relocation of major employers to the state is evidence of the success.

But the "opt out" program would discard the "uniform, established, transparent process to guide workplace injury," they wrote. The proposal is sponsored by Sen. Mark Green, R-Clarksville, and Rep. Jeremy Durham, R-Franklin.

"All of the declared savings in the proposal are based on significant reduction of benefits to employees," Gant and Tanner said.