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Specialty Lines
One of the most important services we provide to you is advice. We get questions about all kinds of insurance, risk management issues, contracts, management and more. Many times we have already received the same question from another county, and that helps us know what advice to provide. Sometimes we have to do some research or ask other CCAP staff members.
For more than 30 years, one place we go for help has been our reinsurance broker, WillisTowersWatson. They have a special unit, Willis Re Pooling, which works with public entity risk pools. While their name has changed over this span of time, the people have not. John Hayden and Colleen Shaner are trusted advisors, and other staff at Willis also pitch in. They have helped us create programs (PCoRP, PComp, Volunteers, Tax Collector Bonds, and PELICAN) and assist us with everyday issues, such as reviewing those applications you send to us for coverage.
While you don't see the work they do, and don't often get to meet their staff, our insurance boards do. They attend all the board meetings and provide information and advice to the boards about reinsurance, coverage and also general operations. They can let us know what other public entity pools are doing, and even get us sample language or policies.
We recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of our PCoRP program, and the 25th anniversary of PComp, and John and Colleen were there to be recognized. That is very appropriate, as we would not have such successful programs without their help. Their expertise makes our programs better, and allows us to stay on top of insurance matters for Pennsylvania's counties.
Make sure you contact us when you need help with something,
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PComp Celebrates 25th Anniversary, Provides Training Gift to Each Member
CCAP's workers' compensation insurance pool - PComp - celebrated its 25th Anniversary on March 19 during the CCAP Spring Conference. More than 110 representatives of PComp's 48 members attended the annual membership dinner meeting.
The PComp Board of Directors announced a special anniversary gift to each PComp member: one free attendee of their choice at the PA Workers' Compensation Bureau Conference, either this June or in June 2019. PComp will pay travel, hotel, meals and registration costs for the attendee. The 2018 conference will be June 7 and 8, and the 2019 conference will be June 3 - 5 and both are being held at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center.
The 2018 Bureau conference will feature a keynote address on medical marijuana. Other conference sessions updates on significant and timely topics are:
- 60 Tips in 60 Minutes
- Opioid Use: Where Are We Now?
- Workers' Compensation Medical Marijuana - Medical
- The Gig Economy: Workers' Compensation and Liability Consideration
- Workers' Compensation Medical Marijuana - Legal/HR
- Opioid Use: The Road to Recovery
- Workers' Compensation Jeopardy
Nearly 1,400 people registered to attend the 2017 conference, representing employers, case managers, third-party administrators, defense/claimant counsel, labor and others. Attendance at this event promises a sharing of practical, useful and timely information, and provides attendees with the unique opportunity to network with other workers' compensation professionals while renewing valuable contacts. Attendees will also have the opportunity to visit with 125 vendors and learn about their workers' compensation-related goods and services.
Linda Rosito will be coordinating the attendance, so contact her for more information. We will take care of registering your attendee for the conference, and will reserve a hotel room.
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Hot Topics
Full Body Scanners in County Prisons
One of the most recent hot issues is the consideration of use of full body scanners, similar to those used by TSA at airports, in county prisons. We've heard from several counties about this, and also met with one of the vendors providing the units. We can understand the help the scanners would provide to limit contraband.
In response to requests inquiring whether PComp and/or PCoRP grant dollars could be used towards the purchase of full body scanners at county prisons, we can affirm that grants may be used towards the purchase of a body scanner. However, given the potential liability and workers' compensation exposure the following documentation will need to be submitted as part of the application process:
- Policies and Procedures which comply with PA DEP rules and regulations (see DEP Fact Sheet link)
- Policies and Procedures which comply with 25 PA Code, Article V, sections 219, 221 and 225 (see #1 below)
- Policies and Procedures which comply with all manufacturer requirements and recommendations for the use and maintenance of scanner (including required inspection documentation and other reports performed by independent third parties)
- Policies and Procedures documenting the deletion of body scans which are negative for contraband (delete at end of shift, work week, 30, 60, 90 days...?) and the protection/prevention of inappropriate disclosure of such scans pending deletion.
- Policies and Procedures related to positive scans for contraband and the protection/prevention of inappropriate disclosure to outside parties (unless requested/required as part of legal proceedings).
Examples of screening practices covered by this standard include the following:
Direct screening of humans to detect objects hidden within an individual's body or clothing. The standard provides requirements specific to the ionizing radiation safety aspects of both the design and operation of these systems. It does not include electrical safety guidelines or any other safety, performance, or use considerations outside the realm of radiation safety. This should be based on an analysis demonstrating that the security benefit outweighs the risk from the radiation exposure incurred by the individuals screened. This standard does not address the evaluation of the societal benefit of security screening. Therefore, screening operations that exceed this standard's dose limits are beyond the scope of this standard and shall not claim compliance with this standard."
Distribution of PCoRP or PComp grant dollars would occur after required policies and procedures have been received.
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New Member Joins the CCAP UC Trust!
March 1 is an exciting date for the CCAP UC Trust. The program welcomes its newest member, Central Susquehanna Regional 911 System (CSR 911) and its new claims administrator, Corporate Cost Control! With the addition of CSR 911, the CCAP UC Trust is 47 members strong! CSR 911 is a new entity founded by Snyder and Union Counties, and becomes the 47th member of the UC Trust.
The new claims administrator comes after an extensive RFP process to find ways to enhance service to the UC Trust members. Since late last year, CCAP staff have been working with the membership and Corporate Cost Control to ensure a smooth transition. We are pleased to report that the membership has been actively engaged with Corporate Cost Control in educational webinars introducing them to their claims management system, Hamlet. To date, the transition has been a positive one and we look forward to this new relationship which we are confident will enhance the service experience for our members.
For more information on the CCAP UC Trust or to request a proposal, please contact Desiree Nguyen, Deputy Director, Insurance Pool Operations at (717) 736-4779 or dnguyen@pacounties.org.
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Grant Programs
Did you know that some of CCAP's insurance programs have grant programs that are offered to program members? CCAP's PCoRP, PComp and PELICAN programs offer grants to their members. In addition to other member benefits, these three insurance boards set aside funds for the grant programs to provide members with financial support to fund loss prevention projects. There are many projects that members have completed using the grant programs. Bedford County has recently used PCoRP and PComp grant funding of up to $40,000 for bullet-resistant glass in various county buildings. To read the full article,
click here.
A reminder, PCoRP's Loss Prevention Grant Program for 2017-18 ends on May 31, 2018. Make sure to complete the application and contact your risk control specialist with any questions!
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Watch Your Step
We are wrapping up the Watch Your Step campaign with a checklist that our members may use to help recognize slip, trip and fall hazards in their workplaces. Checklists are an antidote to the unknown. Completing checklists during routine inspections makes sense. They allow you to act quickly and confidently. A checklist also helps with those times when you may not even know what you don't know.
Why are some people resistant to checklists? One of the reasons is that many of us race through our days just trying to get things done. It is sometimes hard to take the time to stop and reflect on what works and what doesn't. It's is harder still to take the time to document it. Unfortunately when an incident happens we are forced to stop and think about what went wrong.
Please, take the time to complete this checklist at your workplaces.
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Spring Workshop Season!
CCAP's insurance programs have excellent training opportunities for you this spring. This season we are offering sessions on defensive driving, major challenges for management in 2018, policies and procedures, employee performance issues and our popular HR Boot Camp and Prison Risk Management Workshop.
As a reminder, the workshops are FREE to attend if your county or county related entity is a member of the sponsoring insurance program. Please check out the membership listing!
For a complete listing of our risk management trainings, dates and location please see the chart below:
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to
contact me
, Risk Management Training Director at (717) 736-4728.
Thank you for your continued support of the CCAP Insurance Programs trainings! And I look forward to seeing you this spring!
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National ADA Symposium
Make plans to attend the National ADA Symposium in Pittsburgh, June 17-20th. The Symposium includes six pre-conference sessions, 100 breakout sessions, five advanced workshops and more! Click here to find out more about the National ADA Symposium.
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Nationwide 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan
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17th Annual Workers' Compensation Conference
June 7-8, 2018
Make plans to attend the Pennsylvania's Department of Labor & Industry, 17th Annual Workers' Compensation Conference which will be on June 7-8, 2018 at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center. Experts in the field of workers' compensation, including representatives from the Bureau of Workers' Compensation, the Office of Adjudication, the WC Appeal Board, the insurance industry, employers, claimant and defense counsels, labor and the health care industry come together to share their knowledge and experience with the workers' compensation community. Nearly 1,400 were in attendance at the 2017 conference, and each year's event includes knowledgeable and experienced speakers, respected in their field, who provide the latest information of Pennsylvania's workers' compensation program. Attendees may also visit with 125 vendors in the exhibit hall to learn about their workers' compensation-related goods and services.
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New Associate Members
Trane
Construction, Energy
Trane is an industry leader in commercial HVAC solution. Our solutions reliably improve indoor environmental quality while providing energy efficient air conditioners, chiller systems, and controls plus HVAC parts and supplies. Trane not only provides solutions for new systems, but also provides HVAC service, temporary cooling with equipment rentals, chiller upgrades, performance contracting, advanced building controls and more.
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Upcoming Events
April 5, 2018
PCoRP Board Meeting
CCAP Office, Harrisburg
May 4, 2018
2018 CCAP Solicitors' Conference
CCAP Office, Harrisburg
May 11, 2018
UC Trustees Board Meeting
CCAP Office, Harrisburg
May 30-31, 2018
2018 CCAP County Administration Conference
The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel, State College
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Quote of the Month
"Try to keep your mind open to possibilities and your mouth closed on matters that you don't know about. Limit your 'always' and your 'nevers'."
- Amy Poehler
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