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Comp Quotes | Summer 2023

Workers’ comp news for SAIF’s agents

In this issue:

Common questions about NCCI’s ER Mod changes; Proposed effective date is 1.1.24

Why is NCCI making changes?

During a periodic review, NCCI has indicated that they have found opportunities to improve plan performance that they believe will result in:

  • A more accurate and predictive ER Mod
  • More equitable determination of primary and excess losses across states
  • More comparable plan performance in states with claim costs that vary from the nationwide average
  • ER Mod being less sensitive to large outlier claims without sacrificing predictability
  • More consistent calculation of each employer’s expected claim count
  • Recalibrated credibility parameters underlying the weight and ballast values to increase equity across employers
  • Elimination of complex calculations that don’t add value

See how NCCI plans to accomplish this.

What is NCCI’s predicted impact?

  • No statewide premium impact is anticipated from the changes proposed. The overall average ER Mod in each state is not expected to be impacted by these changes.
  • Impacts to ER Mods at the individual employer level will vary, and may be offset by changes in loss experience and routine updates to rating values. ER Mods are expected to change by less than +/-5% for most employers.
  • Overall, the proposed changes are expected to produce Plan performance that is both improved and more comparable across states and across individual employers.



Claims system modernization goes live in October

As technological change accelerates, it's essential for SAIF to put the right technology in place to enable new and better ways of doing business. That’s why, as we’ve mentioned here before, we’re modernizing our claims system.

We’re pleased to announce that in October 2023 we’ll roll out that new system, Guidewire’s ClaimCenter product. Together with our current Guidewire BillingCenter & PolicyCenter, this modernization will allow us to better use data, increase efficiency, and improve outcomes for policyholders and injured workers.

We recognize that our success is only made possible through our collaboration with, and commitment to, our network of partner agencies. While there will be no significant operational changes to how you will continue working with us, we want to make sure you’re aware and included in our modernization journey.

As we move forward towards our go-live date for ClaimCenter, you can expect clear and constant communication from our team members. Please contact your agency marketing representative with questions: Erika Meier (erimei@saif.com), Julie Tremblay (jultre@saif.com), or Kim Turner (kimtur@saif.com). 



Customer experience team is improving policyholder onboarding

The customer experience (CX) team has been busy collecting feedback and creating new resources to improve the policyholder onboarding process.

Here are the highlights of our recent surveys:

  • Acquisition survey to new policyholders | First quarter of 2023
    93% of survey participants said it was very easy or easy to get insurance from SAIF.
  • Renewal survey to policyholders | 60 days ahead of renewal
    Results indicated 86.9% of survey participants are extremely satisfied or satisfied with SAIF.
  • Spanish policyholder survey | December 2022
    Conducted in Spanish to self-identified Spanish-preferred policyholders. Results showed higher satisfaction levels than the general population and a desire for more Spanish information, especially safety content and claims notices.

The CX team has also been working to streamline the onboarding experience for new policyholders and new policyholder contacts with several new resources:

Thank you for your partnerships and for making the experience of insuring with SAIF easy and positive!



We’re improving safety consulting

SAIF’s Safety and Health Services is working on two projects this year: strategic alignment of workflow (“SAW”) and the professional consulting series (“PCS”). The SAW project is a revision of how the division documents our work. The PCS project focuses on our consulting approach with policyholders.

The purpose of the SAW project is to bring consistency to our internal process and clearly demonstrate our contribution to the safety and health success of policyholders and SAIF. It moves us to a structured approach for staff to follow, with clearer and more actionable recommendations for our policyholders. This project also includes a ‘snapshot assessment’ --  a safety diagnostic tool for policyholders offering concise analysis.

The purpose of the PCS project is to provide consultants with the training necessary to increase the impact of their consulting with policyholders. SAIF has been working with Debra Ringold, Professor at the Atkinson Graduate School of Management at Willamette University, to create a custom course for our consultants. Part of this training focuses the consultant on identifying the values and goals of the policyholder.

PCS is the expectation for how we work with our policyholders, and SAW is the documentation of that work and communication to stakeholders. Together, they’ll help us create clear expectations for consultants and clear guidance for our policyholders, strengthen collaboration with our stakeholders and business partners, and move us closer to our vision of making Oregon the safest and healthiest state. 

We’ll share more information with you as these projects proceed. We anticipate agents and policyholders will be contacted by consultants in the late fall. Policyholders will work with consultants to better understand the policyholder’s values, and consultants will follow up to see what action the policyholder has taken as a result of a safety visit.

If you have any questions, please contact Paula Jones (paujon@saif.com), SAIF regional safety and health manager.



Oregon workers outside Oregon: Payroll reporting by jobsite

Some employers have Oregon workers who perform work outside of Oregon. Those workers could be subject in more than one jurisdiction, commonly referred to as “dual subjectivity,” for workers’ comp benefits.

Workers outside of Oregon may need a policy in the states where they work to meet regulations and ensure they’re covered appropriately. Obtaining a policy through SAIF’s other states coverage program (a partnership with Zurich) protects employers and makes claim processing and payroll reporting more efficient. However, employers may also secure a policy with another carrier for those states.

We understand that, for employers with locations or jobsites near a state border or in multiple states, reporting all dual-subject workers’ payroll to one state is not feasible. We have noted in our Oregon workers outside Oregon guide that SAIF will not usually charge employers for payroll reported to another state insurer unless there is a claim we have to accept. For these employers, we can match payroll reporting by location or jobsite when payroll is reported by location or jobsite to another state, carrier, or SAIF’s other states coverage program.

If you have any questions, please contact your underwriter or the SAIF service center.



Changes to medical fee schedules and payments

WCD recently made changes to the administrative rules governing medical fee schedules, payments, and related procedures.

The changes were prompted by inflation, supply chain disruption, steep increases in commercial property costs, and increases in salaries for skilled medical workers.

Most of the changes are increases in the fee schedule for medical payments and procedures. They include:

  • 18% increase in payments for provider office visit codes
  • 14% increase in payments for the major surgery category
  • 10% increase in payments for chiropractic manipulation, and
  • 8.7% increase in durable medical equipment such as orthotics, prosthetics, and supplies
  • There was no increase to the fee schedule for physical therapy.

You can find more information on the WCD rules website.

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