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WSIA President's Column
By
Sherri Phillips, Educational Service District #112
President, WSIA
The fall is already off to a busy start with a variety of Association conferences, training, policy efforts underway. Here’s a short summary of what we’re doing on your behalf:
- We have a new Training Coordinator! Bonnie Ingersoll Prater, formerly of Nordstrom, Inc., will take over permanently for the retired Herb Sherburne. Bonnie comes from an extensive background in claims, training, and with multi-state knowledge. Her thoughtful creativity will be a great asset to the Association. So, when you see her, please welcome her aboard!
- For the first time in a number of years, myself, Past President Therese Baxter, VP for Legislation Donna Egeland, WCAC Representative Rebecca Forrestor, WSIA Lobbyist Kathleen Collins, and WSIA Executive Director Dave Kaplan held a quarterly meeting with DLI Director Judy Schurke and some key personnel from the Department. Topics covered included: legislative issues; problems with ORCA/ORION; the Supplemental Pension Fund assessments; self-insured audits; and the culture at the Department in relation to self-insurers. It was a very frank discussion, and we appreciated the opportunity to have the conversation. We look forward to once again making these meetings regular.
- The Association has been meeting with the Department concerning the huge 17.1% increase in the Supplemental Pension Fund assessment proposed for 2008. We know that this is typically the largest assessment most self-insured employers pay during the year. We are looking to find a long-term solution to the problem of the wild swings in the assessment rate – including consideration of changing the basis for increasing COLA’s (use something other than the change in Statewide Average Wage), setting a floor and ceiling to the amount of the increase, and allowing self-insured employers to either fully fund their pensions or separately pay for the COLA through another methodology. WSIA’s Assessment Committee will be meeting some time this fall to review options, and see if consensus can be reached on potential assessment changes.
- The Association is coordinating efforts to provide feedback on a number of rules governing vocational rehabilitation, “claims suppression,” and a number of other issues which passed during the 2007 Legislative session. When you get asked for your input and feedback, please respond as soon as possible. Your input will help make the crucial difference in potential changes to the rules we have to live by.
- Speaking of rules, the new rules providing for Continuing Education as an option, instead of re-taking the state’s Certified Claims Administrator exam, took effect October 1, 2007. We have already begun to submit our training programs, conferences, and region meetings to the Department for the awarding of credit. Check back at the website for more information as it become available.
- As we’ve hoped to do for many years, we held our first joint conference with the Puget Sound Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers on September 20, 2007. Over 40 professionals attended. The agenda was chock full of great safety related information that was of value to all involved in the workers’ compensation and safety fields. We look forward to continuing our partnership with ASSE, and potentially other organizations, heading into the future.
- A number of WSIA members attended the Meeting of the Minds conference on October 3-4, put on by Project Help for the Washington State Labor Council and the Association of Washington Business. For the first time, over 10 employer representatives were in attendance. The meeting provided a good opportunity to hear from members of the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals on interesting cases, get updates from the Department of Labor & Industries, and to have discussions with labor representatives in a friendly setting.
These are just a few of the many things the Washington Self-Insurers Association is doing on our behalf.
When you get an email from Dave Kaplan, please respond right away. He contacts the membership directly only on significant matters of import that require immediate attention or consideration. Your response is our strength in making the workers’ compensation system better than it would otherwise be.
If you have any questions or comments regarding the Association, please don’t hesitate to contact me at sherri.phillips@esd112.org.
Thanks, and see you at the Winter East Conference in Pasco (“Psych Issues and Pain Management.”)
Sherri Phillips, ESD #112
President
Washington Self-Insurers Association
Updated 10 October 2007
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