ARAWC Member Update: QCARE Public Release on Tuesday, January 21

Association for Responsible Alternatives

to Workers' Compensation

MEMBER UPDATE

January 13, 2020

QCARE PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT

We are excited for the QCARE program to be publicly announced this month! As you know, this program has been in development over the past two years, with this month’s roll out discussed in many ARAWC communications since our 2019 Annual Meeting.

On January 21, 2020 , this article will appear in the Texas Tribune , then be promoted in other major Texas news outlets and by email, social media, and other avenues. The full QCARE promotion plan is being managed by the ARAWC Communications Committee, with professional support from ARAWC consultants and oversight from the ARAWC Executive Committee. Full information is available to all ARAWC members. This roll out will also be a key agenda item at the ARAWC Service Provider Forum in Dallas on Wednesday, January 15.

Consistent with extensive dialogue and collaboration among ARAWC members over the past two years, QCARE promotion will draw a contrast between QCARE-designated programs that meet 10 essential standards and “Opt Out”. Although most of ARAWC’s employer members have received the QCARE designation since the program went live last October, ARAWC recognizes and respects that some of its employer members have not had an opportunity to apply for the QCARE designation or are still considering. Please let us know how we can support your evaluation and completion of this simple, no-cost QCARE designation process as soon as possible.

For ARAWC service provider members, we’ve prepared this sample email message to support your efforts in reaching out to your clients and insured employers about QCARE.

This is an exciting time and the result of your steadfast support of innovation that will sustainably deliver better medical outcomes for injured workers and cost savings for Texas employers. Please let us know if you have any questions or comments about the QCARE roll out, or if we can otherwise support you in any way. Thank you!

SERVICE PROVIDER FORUM - THIS WEDNESDAY

LAST CHANCE - SEATS ARE ALMOST FULL

INVITATION TO ATTEND FOR ALL INSURANCE COMPANIES, LAW FIRMS, CLAIM ADMINISTRATORS AND OTHER SERVICE PROVIDER MEMBERS OF ARAWC

JANUARY 15, 2020, 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

5430 LBJ Freeway

Lincoln Center Tower 3

Suite 300, Room 9

Dallas, TX 75420

Teleconference attendance will be available. Dial-In and video conference details will be provided prior to the Forum.

To RSVP, please email ARAWC's Association Manager, Andrea Bledsoe-Young, andrea@arawc.org, to provide your name, company name, contact information and whether you will be attending in person or via teleconference.

ARAWC GOVERNMENT RELATIONS UPDATE

Farm Modernization

The U.S. House of Representatives late last year passed H.R. 5038, known as the Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2019, which contains a federal mandate related to workers’ compensation for agricultural workers. Specifically, the bill says “if a job opportunity is not covered by or is exempt from the State workers’ compensation law, a registered agricultural employer shall provide, at no cost to the worker, insurance covering injury and disease arising out of, and in the course of, the worker’s employment, which will provide benefits at least equal to those provided under the State workers’ compensation law.” To read more, click here .

Proposals to Prohibit Mandatory Arbitration

Opponents of mandatory arbitration continue to press their case at both the state and federal level. Last year the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal (FAIR) Act, a far-reaching bill that bans companies from requiring workers and consumers to resolve legal disputes in private arbitration. This is the farthest that legislation banning mandatory arbitration, which critics call forced arbitration, has ever advanced in Congress. To read more, click here .

National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL)

The National Conference of Insurance Legislators just announced its 2020 Committee Leadership positions. NCOIL’s Workers’ Compensation Insurance Committee will be led by: Chair Rep. Bart Rowland (KY); Vice Chair Sen. Paul Utke (MN) and Chairman At-Large Sen. Jerry Klein (ND). Over the years, NCOIL has invited ARAWC to make presentations to this committee as a way to educate NCOIL members on Texas nonsubscription. ARAWC values the positive working relationship it enjoys with organizations like NCOIL and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). ARAWC welcomes continued opportunities to educate legislators and regulators from across the country on the benefits of Texas nonsubscription.

TEXAS:

The political races are starting in earnest as we are less than three months away from the primaries in Texas. While there are several interim committee hearings this month, including the House Insurance Committee on January 15th, most of the focus by legislative members that have opponents is winning their primary election. We will keep you updated on closely contested races that are relevant to ARAWC policy issues at the capitol.

Next Government Relations Conference Call

ARAWC’s Government Relations Committee will hold its next conference call Wednesday, February 12 at 4:00 CT. We will provide members with an update on what is happening with state and federal legislative and regulatory developments affecting Texas nonsubscription.

All ARAWC members are welcome to join the call. To RSVP and receive the conference call number, please click here.

ARAWC holds legislative and regulatory update calls once a month. For a schedule of monthly calls, please email ajdonelson@arawc.org .

@ 2019 Association for Responsible Alternatives to Workers' Compensation (ARAWC).