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Montana has the dubious distinction of being number one in a ranking of state workers' comp systems. The latest Premium rate ranking summary from the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services showed the state beat out Alaska as having the highest workers' comp premium rates in the country.

Each of the top 10 highest penalties issued by OSHA in 2010 topped $1 million. Agency officials say the latest Top 10 list of the most frequently cited violations should put employers on notice that they need to take prevention seriously.

The Workers' Compensation Division proposed an amendment to a rule on the drug-free workplace programs.

The Bureau of Workers' Compensation proposed a rule to implement changes to the current procedural terminology codes and the health care procedure coding system Medicare codes in the fee schedule.

California employers will likely see more citations for "serious violations" and find it tougher to appeal them thanks to a law that went on the books this year. The statute clarifies the definition of a serious citation, provides new guidance for the appeals board in cases where the issuance of a serious citation is in question, and establishes procedures for notifying employers of the possibility they may face a citation, regulators say.

The Workers' Compensation Board issued a bulletin announcing the implementation of a new transaction code to allow carriers to close open expired policy terms for limited processing scenarios.

The Workers' Compensation Division proposed changes to rules regarding medical fees and payment and medical services.

The Division of Workers' Compensation issued a memorandum reminding doctors who certify maximum medical improvement and assign an impairment rating of the requirement to provide notice to injured employees of their ability to dispute the determination of MMI and the assignment of an impairment rating by a treating or referral doctor.

Employers seeking to constrain costs and improve productivity may want to take a careful look at the latest Employer Measure of Productivity, Absence and Quality. The annual survey from the National Business Group on Health offers employers a chance to benchmark their efforts against others within their industries and the nation as a whole in several key areas.

A provision of health care reform legislation that's stuck in the craw of many workers' comp insurers, as well as other small businesses, is the subject of new congressional proposals. Calls to repeal the new 1099 reporting requirements are being heard yet again in the halls of Congress.

Citing the concerns raised about this proposal, OSHA has pulled its noise control interpretation for now. The proposal would have resulted in increased enforcement of workplace noise standards for general industry and construction.

Subcontractors in the construction industry can still opt to go without workers' comp coverage, but they must register with the state. That's part of a new law that took effect this year.

The 96th Illinois General Assembly adjourned in January before taking action on workers' comp reform. Employer groups and others are already at work to get a new proposal in front of lawmakers, especially in light of the approved tax increase.

The state that once had the highest workers' comp insurance rates in the country is now a "competitive market," according to the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. The comments came in the OIR's 2010 Workers' Compensation Annual Report.

Nevada

Texas' workers' comp system used to be cited as one of the most troubled in the nation. But legislative reforms enacted in 2001 and 2005 have helped turn things around, according to the latest annual report from the Texas Department of Insurance Division of Workers' Compensation.