Bill Johnson

Simpson Investment Company
President, WSIA

The Washington Self-Insurers Association has been the self-insurance community’s advocate on worker’s compensation issues with both the state Legislature and with the Department of Labor & Industries for over 35 years.  By and large we’ve done a good job.  However, as chef and television personality Emeril Lagasse says … “time to kick it up another notch.”

As you know, when WSIA decides to pursue something, we remain relentless in our pursuit of what we know is right.  It took a decade, but we now have legislation requiring the Department to collect our claims data.  It took a decade, but the Department is now issuing wage orders on our claims.  And it took a decade, but we successfully got through rule changes allowing for Continuing Education Credits as an alternative to having to re-take the Claims Administrator Certification Test.  None of those things would have occurred without our relentless determination to make them happen.

That same determination will be exhibited in the 2008-09 year – hopefully with shorter turn-around times for the changes we would like to see.

Despite what may be yet another disappointing political environment in Olympia, our Association is committed to additional steps to help make things happen for positive change in the administration of workers’ compensation claims and in the laws surrounding self-insurance and workers’ compensation in general.

You will see a number of new and additional efforts in promoting our Legislative agenda.  You will see more time and effort spent in lobbying the Department to give our concerns on administrative issues more thorough and objective consideration.  You will see greater efforts in educating legislators regarding our issues and their effects on the system.

Whether it is through lobbying, filing amici briefs, or legal challenges to administrative problems that seem not to be adequately addressed, WSIA is prepared to work even harder to make Washington’s workers’ compensation system fairer and easier to administer for BOTH employers and injured workers.

Our Legislative Committee, ably chaired by Donna Egeland of Alaska Airlines, held its first meeting on July 30th.  A number of issues were discussed, not the least of which were: wage simplification/wage calculation; final settlement agreements; pension related issues & self-insured assessments; medical provider networks; and self-insured claims authority.  Further research and discussion will continue on these issues, particularly as we work with the Employer Coalition to achieve our goals.

The last piece of “kicking it up a notch” is doing so on the political (campaign) end of the spectrum as well.  Legislators know who contributes (and who doesn’t) to campaigns.  It’s just a sad fact of politics that money gets attention, rather than solely the needs of constituents.

To overcome this hurdle, the WSIA Legislative Fund needs to raise as much money as possible to support thoughtful legislative candidates, candidates for statewide office (including Governor), and candidates for the Washington State Supreme Court.  Without your support, our goal of being heard … no matter what our other efforts … may fall on deaf ears.

PLEASE, tell your organization’s key people to have the organization donate to the WSIA Legislative Fund.  And if you’re with a non-profit or governmental self-insured employer, we know they can’t give directly … but YOU can and the key personnel can!  Even small amounts go a long way toward our goal, so please respond when you receive something in the mail.

As with all of the fine people who have served as President of WSIA over the years, I want to hear your thoughts and concerns.  Please don’t hesitate to contact me at bjohnso@simpson.com to let me know what’s on your mind.

Updated 7 August 2008

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