Report: City's Comp Costs Skyrocket

The Santa Monica Daily Press reported a nearly 30% increase in the city's work comp liabilities in the most recent fiscal year, as hospital fees increased 264% and nursing home care payments jumped 652%. The newspaper said a report from the city finance director identifies three catastrophic claims — one from the police department and two from the fire department — as accounting for $7.9 million of the $8.2 million total increase in liabilities in the fiscal year that ended in June. Overall liabilities for the city's work comp program increased to $36 million from $27.8 m...