Rancho Mesa Hosts Workers' Compensation Anti-Fraud Workshop

Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa clients gathered at the Fraud Within the CA Workers' Compensation System Workshop on Thursday, August 10, 2017 held at the San Diego Christian College campus in Santee.  ICW Group’s, Christopher Dill from the Special Investigations Unit, gave an informative presentation.

ICW Group' Special Investigations Unit has been nationally recognized for its significant contribution towards the prosecution of, what California Department of Insurance deemed to be, one of the largest cases of Workers’ Compensation health care fraud in state history.  

Christopher provided an overview of the elements of the cases which made up “Operation Back Lash,”  the role of advanced analytics in the identification of patterns associated with the criminal schemes,  and what can potentially be learned from those patterns.

To learn more about Fraud within the CA Workers' Compensation System, contact Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc. at (619) (619) 937-0164

Mobility & Stretch Program Workshop

Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

On Thursday, June 22, 2017, Rancho Mesa clients gathered to learn about the Mobility & Stretch Program designed to reduce employee injuries and workers' compensation costs at a workshop held at San Diego Christian College.

Drew Garcia, the NALP Program Director, introduced the crowd to the mobility and stretch program. He provided data to support the idea that prevention of injuries through a mobility and stretch program can reduce workers' compensation costs for employers.

Personal Trainer and developer of the program, Collin Dawson, was on site to demonstrate the program and answer questions from the participants.

The Mobility & Stretch Program is offered in both English and Spanish.

Watch the Mobility & Stretch Program Instructional Video.

Employee Spotlight: Drew Garcia Addresses Reducing Workers' Compensation Costs in NALP Magazine

Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

"NALP’s Safe Company Program is relevant and critical to improving your risk profile and helping you control your insurance costs."

Rancho Mesa's Drew Garcia, NALP Program Director, was recently published in The Landscape Professional May/June 2017 issue. The magazine is a bi-monthly publication produced by the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP).

In the article, "Ways to Keep Workers' Compensation Costs Low," Drew discusses specific ways employers can actively work to reduce their costs. Some of the ideas he provides include:

• Winning safety awards
• Offering health benefits
• Offering employees the ability to grow within the company
• Timely claim reporting
• Thorough accident investigation techniques
• Establishing a return-to-work program
• Having Landscape Industry Certified employees on staff
• Instituting good hiring practices, including: pre-employment physicals and drug testing, reference checks and review referrals.

He also describes how an underwriter may award credits to companies who have implemented safety programs like the Safe Company Program offered by the NALP.

To read "Ways to Keep Workers' Compensation Costs Low," download the digital copy, today.

^{Reproduced with permission from the National Association of Landscape Professionals.}

Contact Drew Garcia if you have questions about lowering your Workers' Compensation cost or the NALP Program.

If you liked the "Ways to Keep Workers' Compensation Costs Low" article and would like to receive the full bi-monthly news magazine, The Landscape Professional, consider signing up for NALP membership.

Rancho Mesa “Rocks” the Landscape Industry

Author Drew Garcia, NALP Program Director, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

On March 1st 2017 Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc., The National Association of Landscape Professionals, and Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies will introduce a unique National Workers Compensation solution designed to cater the needs of Landscape Contractors and Lawn Care Professionals. 

The Agency

Rancho Mesa is a 10 Time National Best Practices Agency out of Santee, California with over 30 years’ experience in The Landscape Industry.  As the program manager, Rancho Mesa will look to challenge and develop the growth of the program to better protect its members.

The Carrier

Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies has the Highest AM Best rating of A++(XV) “Superior” rating of financial strength, and is the one of the largest specialty Work Comp Carriers in the Country.

The Association

The NALP is the only National Organization built by the collaboration of landscape and lawn care industry professionals and has pushed the boundaries for Professionalism in the Landscape Industry to new heights through; Education, Certification and Legislation.  As the voice for 100,000 landscape professionals the NALP passionately advocates for the economic, social and environmental benefits of the landscape industry.

The Program Highlights include:

• 6% discounted rates for NALP members where allowable. Lowest available base rate in states that do not allow rate deviation.
• Multiple workers compensation options guaranteed cost and small to large deductible.
• Flexible payment plans including stipulated, pay as you go (zero deposit) and monthly payroll reports.
• Quarterly safety webinars specific to the injuries arising out of the landscape industry.
• Dedicated service team with experience in the landscape industry.
• Underwriting team only evaluating NALP members.
• Claims handling dedicated to NALP members with lower caseloads.
• Loss control with regional representation and managed nationally by a dedicated coordinator.

For more information contact Drew Garcia, the Program Director at NALP@ranchomesa.com.

Division of Workers' Compensation Posts Updated Time of Hire Pamphlet

The Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) has posted an updated time of hire pamphlet on its website. The pamphlet now has the new predesignation of personal physician and notice of personal chiropractor or acupuncturist forms that are effective on July 1, 2014. The Office of Administrative Law (OAL) approved changes to the current regulations concerning Predesignation of Personal Physicians and Reporting Duties of the Primary Treating Physician. The amended regulations were filed by OAL with the Secretary of State on February 12, 2014 and take effect on July 1, 2014.

The time of hire pamphlet, which is posted in English and Spanish versions, meets the requirements under Labor Code section 3551 to notify new employees about California workers' compensation rights and benefits either at the time of hire or by the end of the first pay period. The time of hire pamphlet was created in 2011 to help employers and claims administrators ensure employees know what to do in case of workplace injury. It was modified in 2013 to reflect changes made to California's workers' compensation system by SB 863.

This pamphlet can be customized as long as the text meets the "time of hire" legal requirements. Title 8, California Code of Regulations section 9883 allows insurers, employers or private enterprises to prepare and publish the pamphlet upon prior approval of the form and content of the pamphlet by the Administrative Director. An entity may no longer use a previously approved pamphlet with the old predesignation forms. A revised pamphlet should be submitted for approval with the new forms. Claims administrators will be provided a grace period until September 1, 2014 to send an updated pamphlet.

2014 Hourly Wage Threshold Increases

The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB) has just released the 2014 filings and there are some changes that may impact your business. Effective with your 2014 renewal, the following hourly wage thresholds have been increased. These changes could directly affect your overall premium cost so please review the table below for the potential impact to your company.

Classification Code	Description	2014 Wage Threshold	2013 Wage Threshold
5183/5187	Plumbing / Refrigeration Equipment	$26.00	$24.00
5190/5140	Electrical Wiring	$30.00	$28.00
5484/5485	Plastering/Stucco Work	$27.00	$25.00
5538/5542	Sheet Metal Work	$27.00	$25.00
6218/6220	Grading/Excavation	$30.00	$26.00
6307/6308	Sewer Construction	$30.00	$26.00
6315/6316	Water/Gas Mains	$30.00	$26.00

Please feel free to give your broker a call should you wish to discuss these changes and their impact to you in greater detail.