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Cowlitz County reports small drop in workers’ compensation claims; officials stress injury prevention
Summary
County risk management reported nine open workers' compensation claims as of May 31, 2025, a slight decline from 2024, and said lowering injuries remains the primary way to reduce costs. Officials also noted most liability claims are in litigation.
Kathy Funk Baxter, Cowlitz County finance director, told the Board of Commissioners that the department’s financials for risk management were “virtually unchanged from last month,” and she did not present a full report to save time.
Risk analyst Scott (identified in the transcript as Scott) presented workers’ compensation trends, saying the county had 13 new claims as of May 1 and, after some closures, nine open claims as of May 31. He said the mix includes a “large proportion” of older, more severe claims that drive annual cost averages. “From what we're doing, the only…
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