Pennsylvania Announces UI Tax Reduction in 2020
Good news for employers doing business in Pennsylvania!!! See the release below from Governor Tom Wolf on January 8, 2020 and comment from the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry. Governor Tom Wolf today announced Pennsylvania businesses will see a reduction in their unemployment compensation (UC) tax rates, saving an estimated $552 million this year. The Department of Labor & [...]
Congress Enacted and President Signed 7 year TRIA Extension in End of Year Appropriations Bill
On December 19, 2019 Congress enacted the “Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020”HR 1865”. The Act includes a 7 year extension of TRIA. President Trump signed the Act into law on December 20, 2019. UWC has long supported TRIA in recognition that 1) it is difficult to determine an appropriate risk factor for terrorism events; 2) the impact of terrorism can [...]
Michigan Pays Off Bonds and Reduces Employer Obligations for 2020
On Friday, December 20, 2019, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer released a statement announcing that in 2020, Michigan employers will no longer see an Obligation Assessment on their tax rate notice thanks to the early payoff of Michigan Finance Authority bonds by the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA). The UIA with its partners, sought to pay off the Obligation Assessment in 2019, [...]
Bi-partisan “Comp Act” introduced to Clarify Application of MSP
On August 2, 2019, Representative Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Representative George Holding (R-NC) introduced the COMP Act (HR 4161) to clarify the application of Medicare Secondary Payer provisions to Workers’ Compensation. The bill has broad based support from injured worker representatives and workers’ compensation payers seeking to clarify the application of MSP to Workers’ Compensation settlements. HR 4161 would improve [...]
Massachusetts Enacts Extended Benefits for Locked Out Employees
On December 31, 2018 Massachusetts enacted and the Governor signed into law legislation that would provide up to 26 weeks after regular unemployment compensation and other extended benefit and federal unemployment benefits are exhausted. The extension would be up to 26 weeks or for the duration of the lockout, whichever is shorter. Legislation Language The actual language provides: (d) Notwithstanding subsection [...]
CMS Plans to Propose “Guidance” for future medical under Workers’ Compensation
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its 2019 regulatory agenda including a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for a rule that would provide guidance for Medicare beneficiaries with respect to health care choices and Medicare Secondary Payer. The text of the notice is provided below with Notice of Proposed Rulemaking projected for September 2019. The proposal suggests that [...]