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The Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) Board of Directors have approved the expansion of the agency’s December 2020 $5 billion dividend to approximately 3,000 employers who did not originally meet eligibility requirements.
The expansion was requested by Governor Mike DeWine and allows for approximately $30 million to go to the previously-ineligible employers who, through no fault of their own, could not perform their 2019 “True-Up” in the timeframe for the dividend return.
“Today’s decision by the BWC Board of Directors will give thousands of additional employers the opportunity to invest more in their people and their products,” said Governor DeWine. “This will not only help these individual businesses, but it’ll also help strengthen Ohio’s economy as a whole.”
BWC will communicate directly with eligible employers. BWC will first apply the dividend to an employer’s unpaid premium balance, then send a check for the rest. Employers that receive this dividend may receive an IRS 1099 tax form in January 2022.
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Deadline approaching for Indoor Air Quality Program
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The deadline to apply for BWC’s Indoor Air Quality Assistance Program is October 15, 2021. This federally funded $28 million program provides reimbursement for improvements to HVAC systems at nursing homes, assisted living centers, hospices, and other facilities that serve vulnerable Ohioans. Experts say such improvements weaken COVID-19’s spread.
For an application and more on this program, visit this BWC webpage.
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McCloud returns to BWC as Administrator/CEO after serving ODH
In early August, Governor Mike DeWine announced that Stephanie McCloud would step back into her role as BWC’s Administrator/CEO after serving the Ohio Department of Health. He thanked McCloud for her leadership and service during the pandemic.
Governor DeWine appointed McCloud Administrator/CEO of BWC in January 2019. She leads the largest state-run insurance system in the United States with a staff of 1,627 who serve 246,000 employers and manage over 600,000 open claims.
In November 2020, McCloud went on to become the Director of the Ohio Department of Health. She was chosen for this role by Governor DeWine due to her knowledge of state government and management expertise, which were both needed during the pandemic. She continued as director for 10 months until her return to BWC as administrator Aug. 16.
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BWC is accepting applications for the Workplace Wellness Grant Program (WWGP). The program assists employers with the creation and implementation of a workplace wellness program.
A workplace wellness program consists of a health-risk appraisal (HRA), a biometric assessment, and programs designed to address those risk factors. Employers may receive $300 per participating employee over a four-year period, up to a maximum amount of $15,000 per policy.
Employers that do not have a wellness plan and meet other eligibility requirements may apply. Employers can find more information on the program, including program requirements, and complete an online application.
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Rates drop for public employers
Ohio’s public employers will pay nearly $17 million less in premiums next year to the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) thanks to a rate cut that will go into effect Jan. 1, 2022. This 10% rate reduction was made possible by declining injury claims and relatively low medical inflation costs by Ohio’s counties, cities, public schools, and other public taxing districts.
Approved by BWC’s Board of Directors on Aug. 27, the reduction marks BWC’s 13th rate cut for public employers since 2009. There have also been several rate reductions for private employers in recent years.
The reduction represents a statewide average. The actual premium change for an individual public entity will differ based on multiple factors, including employer type or classification, payroll levels, recent claims history, and their participation in various BWC programs
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The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) is committed to ensuring minority owned businesses including but not limited to: female, African American, Hispanic, Asian and Rural are aware of all the resources, rebate programs, and safety services available in the State of Ohio.
Click here to sign up to receive additional information on minority business opportunities, programs, and grants.
Visit our new Minority Owned Business page to view additional State of Ohio resources, programs, and grants.
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As pediatricians and parents, Dr. Amponsah and Dr. Shepherd, recommend COVID-19 vaccination for kids 12 and older. The vaccines help protect kids, keep our communities safe, and will help us get things back to the way we remember.Click the image to watch.
#InThisTogetherOhio
Brought to you by the Ohio Department of Health.
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News Briefs
Why Masks Work
Whenever someone talks, laughs, sneezes, coughs, or sings, that person sends out tiny respiratory droplets into the air. These droplets are so small that you may not see them, but they are there. If that person is infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, the droplets sent out into the air carry the virus. When someone else is close by (within six feet), that person can breathe in the droplets that the other person is pushing out.
When you wear a mask properly — over your nose and mouth — it blocks the tiny virus-filled respiratory droplets that you push out. That means that there are fewer of those respiratory droplets for someone else to breathe in.
Click here to read more
Check out our blogs!
We encourage you to visit our blog each month to get the latest on news related to workers’ compensation. New stories:
Agriculture safety means continuous focus on doing the right thing
Former doctor sentenced to pay back over $500K
Spine Research Institute partnership aims to prevent back injuries
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Important dates
September 28: Virtual Training: Health Hazards and Toxicology Fundamentals. More info online
September 28: Better You, Better Ohio! Wellness webinar. More info online
September 29: Policy Activity Rebate (PAR) webinar. More info online
September 30: Important deadline for public employers. More info online
September 30: Virtual Training: Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Awareness. More info online
September 30: Employer update webinar. More info online
October 6: MCO Medical Directors Meeting. More info online
October 15: Deadline for Indoor Air Quality Program.
September edition of Safety Update
Check out the latest news from safety and health experts from BWC, NIOSH, and OSHA.
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Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation
Vision: To transform BWC into an agile organization driven by customer success.
Mission: To deliver consistently excellent experiences for each BWC customer every day. Core Values: One Agency, Personal Connection, Innovative Leadership, Relentless Excellence.
Established in 1912, the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation is the exclusive provider of workers’ compensation insurance in Ohio and serves 249,000 public and private employers. With nearly 1,700 employees and assets of approximately $25 billion, BWC is one of the largest state-run insurance systems in the United States. For more, visit www.bwc.ohio.gov.
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