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County reports higher workers’ compensation payouts; state buyout fund being drawn down
Summary
The county’s workers’ compensation director told the committee that July payouts rose year over year and that a $4.2 million 2021 state buyout fund has been partially spent as claims are settled.
The Director of Workers’ Compensation told the Jericho County Human Resources Committee that the county paid $435,686 in workers’ compensation benefits in July, up from $336,905 in the same month last year, and reported 41 new claims for the month. The director said the county currently has 185 open claims, up from 173 at the same point last year.
The report noted the county has expended 54% of its workers’ compensation budget so far this year, compared with 46% at the same time last year. The director said the county continues to use a $4,200,000 buyout fund the state provided in 2021 to resolve long-term claims: of 31 claims covered by that fund, 14 have been settled and two were closed because the claimants died. The director said those settlements have produced roughly $674,000 in savings to the county and that about $2,250,000 remains in the buyout account.
The director also said that staff member Wendy continues to work with PMA, the county’s third-party administrator, to try to settle remaining long-term claims. The presentation was given as an informational report; no formal action was taken.
Committee members did not record further motions related to the workers’ compensation figures during the meeting. The director’s figures and the continuing use of the 2021 state buyout fund were presented as the basis for ongoing claims-management work.
The committee moved on to other agenda items after the report.
