Bickmore Projects Savings of up to $375 Million

By Greg Jones, Western Bureau ChiefThe bulk of more than $2 billion in gross savings from a workers' compensation reform plan negotiated by labor and business leaders would come from eliminating the diminished future earning capacity and age factors when assigning permanent disability ratings, according to a preliminary cost analysis of the draft legislation.The reform proposal will increase permanent disability benefits by between $714 million and $1.035 billion, but cut other costs, resulting in a net savings to employers of between $95 million and $375 million, according to the analysis...