WCIRB Analysis Projects Reform Would Increase Costs

By Greg Jones, Western Bureau ChiefOn the same day that opponents said projected savings and benefit increases in the latest workers’ compensation reform proposal are illusory, the California Department of Industrial Relations released an analysis that predicts annual cost increases of $300 million starting in 2014.The department released a pricing estimate prepared by the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau that projects total savings of $420 million in 2013. The analysis says the proposal would increase benefits by $550 million while also cutting $970 million in costs, ...