Reforms inked into law aimed at keeping Kansas system stable

Gov. Sam Brownback's signature on workers' comp reform legislation is the result of negotiations between labor and business interests concerned about recent case law.

The Division of the Budget estimates the reforms will save the Workers' Compensation Fund more than $30,000.

The Kansas workers' comp system "is a very stable, competitive system," said Terri Robinson, National Council on Compensation Insurance state relations executive for Kansas. "This reform will serve to enhance it further."

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Robinson says the system was not in trouble, but case law issues were causing concern among stakeholders. That was the driving force for the reforms.

Among the changes are that a work accident must be the prevailing factor for an injury or disability to be compensable. The legislation also raises payment caps.

"The change in the benefit caps . . . will increase costs," Robinson said. "Many provisions we believe will largely offset any increases," though the data can't quantify the expected decrease amounts.

Rates have remained flat or decreased for the last three years. The last notable increase in rates was 5.6 percent in 2008.

Read more at the WorkersComp Forum homepage.

May 9, 2011

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