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Specialty Lines
I've been out of the office much of April and that will continue through May, as I recover from some surgery. What has been very rewarding is seeing the rest of the insurance staff pitch in and cover meetings and assignments for me. I'm really proud of the team that works on your insurance and risk management needs.
And I know the same is true in your county - you all have those key people who keep the county or your agency running strong - who care about the people you serve and who make sure everyone gets the help they need. Elected officials are important and are often the focal point for much of what goes on in the county, but they are often only as successful as the team they have supporting them throughout all the county departments.
So here's a reminder of the insurance staff who can assist you:
Desiree Nguyen - UC Trust, Health Alliance, PIMCC, COMCARE PRO, NACo programs, SCHRPP
Karen Cohen - Coverage, contract, insurance questions (PCoRP, PComp, PELICAN, Volunteers)
As always, if you are not sure who to contact about something, just pick one of these, or anyone else on the insurance staff, and even if that's not the person who can answer your questions, they will get you to the right person.
Make sure you contact us when you need help with something,
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PComp 2018 Awards Presented
Congratulations to the following counties and individuals who were honored at the Annual PComp Membership Meeting in March:
Risk Management Training Award
Perry and Wayne Counties
Risk Management Award
Karen Lupone, Chief Clerk, Jefferson County
Claims Reporting Award
Marci Strachko, HR Director, Columbia County
Paul Zeigler Award
Dee Robinson, Chief Clerk, Union County
Terry Barham Claims Experience Award
Juniata County
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PComp Celebrates 25th Anniversary, Provides Training Gift for 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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PCoRP June 1 Renewal Set - New Services Approved, Rates Go Up an Average of Two Percent, Grants Continue, Coverage Expanded
Decisions for the June 1, 2018 renewal of the Pennsylvania Counties Risk Pool were made by the PCoRP Board on April 5. Packets for the renewal will be sent to each of the 51 county and 5 county related entity members of PCoRP in early May. The renewal packet will contain details of the renewal. Here are some highlights:
Loss Control Grants - the $20,000 loss control grants will continue, with each member eligible for up to $20,000 (but no more than 75 percent of their PCoRP Loss Fund Contribution), for the June 1, 2018 - May 31, 2019 policy year.
Coverage Enhancements - members will note that most of the changes to the PCoRP Coverage Document for the coming policy year are editorial in nature, to clarify coverage. Coverage for Social Engineering Fraud was added to PCoRP Crime Coverage with a sublimit per claim of $50,000. The entire Crime coverage section of the Coverage Document is being updated to match the new Travelers reinsurance policy, which will result in some coverage enhancements.
New Risk Management Services - the PCoRP Board approved restarting two PCoRP legacy programs, HR Risk Management Review and Prison Risk Management Review (formerly called PREVENT and PREPARE). Additional funding was approved, and the programs will be offered first to those members who have not had the reviews done in the past. Both are attorney-client confidential reports done by firms who provide PCoRP defense counsel services. They are reviews of existing county policies, and will provide suggested changes and updates where needed. Much more information about these services will be coming soon.
Fine Arts Appraisals - the PCoRP Board also approved additional funding to have Industrial Appraisal work with each PCoRP member in the coming year to appraise their fine arts.
Rates for 2018-19 - it was a bad property year for all insurers, and while PCoRP did not suffer any large losses, all property rates are going up nationwide. PCoRP's increase was not too large. However, PCoRP did have some large liability claims settlements which hit our reinsurance layers, and saw a significant reinsurance increase. We did extend our SIR for liability claims from $450,000 per claim to $500,000 and that saved a little money. In addition, the new services noted above expanded our Operating Budget. All told, the increases amounted to about $1 million, which would have been an approximately seven percent average increase to the membership. The PCoRP Board approved allocating surplus funds to make the impact to the members an average of two percent.
As always, what really determines each member's costs will be your individual experience compared to the other members of PCoRP.
Question about the renewal should be directed to
Karen Cohen.
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How to Fund Wellness Programs
Wellness means more than being free of illness just as workplace wellness programs are more than a biggest loser contest. It is an active process of becoming aware of and making choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life. It is a process of change, growth and behavior modification.
Per the CDC, statistics show that employees with chronic illnesses and risk factors have increased absenteeism, decreased productivity and account for 75 percent of total healthcare costs. Workers' compensation claims involving chronic conditions and risk factors cost twice as much, and sometimes even more, as claims without them.
Two chronic diseases that can be managed with wellness are cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Some risk factors for these chronic conditions include:
- poor diet
- lack of exercise
- being overweight
- smoking
Workplace wellness programs to address heart disease, type 2 diabetes and the risk factors typically involve nutritious eating, weight loss programs and contests, increasing physical activity, and smoking cessation.
To fund these programs, utilize free materials. Most health and government organizations, such as the American Cancer Society or CDC, offer posters and flyers that can be used for bulletin board campaigns. Start a lunch time walking club or simply network with co-workers for ideas. Have your vending service company offer healthy options in the vending machines. Your EAP provider and financial management counselors should be available to provide presentations and attend health and benefit fairs.
For programs that require financial assistance, contact your health care provider. Many have wellness coordinators to assist with programming, can offer discounts and cash incentives to entice employees to participate in wellness activities, set up on-site flu shot clinics and biometric screenings, and have grant monies available to help offset the cost of programming, prizes, speakers and more. CCAP Health Alliance members have access to exceptional wellness opportunities.
The PComp Safety Improvement Grant Program provides PComp members with financial support to fund loss prevention projects including establishment and support of wellness programs.
For more information about the CCAP Health Alliance, PComp Safety Improvement Grant Program, or wellness committees and programs, contact your PComp Risk Specialist or
CCAP Risk Control Wellness Nurse.
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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.
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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Risk Managemen Training!
The CCAP Insurance Programs spring workshop season is winding down, but there are still excellent training opportunities for you. There are sessions on major challenges for management in 2018, 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.
For a complete listing of our risk management trainings, dates and location please see the chart below:
MAY
JUNE
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
!
Even though the spring workshop season is not yet over, planning for the fall will be underway shortly! Please send any ideas for topics my way. And 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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New Associate Members
Volkert
Construction, Engineering
Volkert is a leading provider of transportation and infrastructure engineering services to federal, state and municipal government and private industry clients throughout the United States. The firm offers a full range of services, including program management, planning, design and engineering, construction management, asset management, and alternative delivery. These services span a broad range of clients within its four core markets: transportation, energy, water, and environmental.
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Upcoming Events
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
June 8, 2018
PIMCC Board Meeting
CCAP Office, Harrisburg
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Quote of the Month
"Working together in concert more smoothly not only helps us move more quickly; it changes the nature of what we can undertake. When we have the confidence that we can orchestrate the group effort required to realize them, we dare bigger dreams."
-Justin Rosenstein
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