September 12, 2005

CONTACT: Eric J. Oxfeld 202-637-3463

WASHINGTON, D.C. -– UWC's National Foundation for Unemployment Compensation and Workers’ Compensation announced today the release of the Foundation’s annual bulletin ranking states by workers’ compensation cost, entitled Fiscal Data for State Workers’ Compensation Systems, 1993 - 2003. Noting that “employers and public policymakers need comparative statistics on state workers’ compensation costs,” Eric Oxfeld, President of UWC and its National Foundation, explained that the bulletin makes it easy to see state cost trends at a glance.

The Fiscal Data Bulletin for State Workers’ Compensation Systems provides the latest information available and is routinely used by employers and government officials to assess costs. The bulletin ranks states using the “benefit cost rate” (total benefits per $100 of payroll). Its 37 tables include information on total benefits paid; a breakdown between cash benefits and payments for medical care; and the market share for insurance, self-insurance, and state insurance funds. Figures are provided for 2002 and each year back to 1993.

“The economic burden of workers’ compensation continues to vary greatly by state,” Oxfeld said, “and the growth of spending on medical benefits is a universal problem.” Medical benefits increased more than 3 times faster than cash benefits between 2002 and 2003 and are up by $8.76 billion, almost 55%, between 1996 and 2003.

“State rankings have been extremely volatile over the last 10 years,” Oxfeld noted. “Colorado and Rhode Island improved their rank the most, while the District of Columbia and Virginia once again topped the chart for low costs, and West Virginia and California continued to anchor the bottom,” he continued. However, he cautioned that “it may be several years before the results from recent California and West Virginia reforms affect their standing compared to other states.”

Electronic copies are available at no charge to UWC Members, online at www.UWCstrategy.org/Members/index.shtml.

Print copies are available for $20 for UWC members and $25 for nonmembers (includes shipping and handling). Print out an order form from the UWC website. Click on UWC Bookshop and then “Other National Foundation Publications.” Or click on “Online Bookshop” to order electronically by credit card. Call (202) 637-3464 to place an order by phone.

-UWC/National Foundation-