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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 thing I would say that would bring your cost down is avoiding injuries altogether,” Scott said.
Scott walked the commissioners through year-by-year paid totals and per-claim averages through May 31, noting peaks in 2021 and 2022 driven by a small number of high-cost claims such as major surgeries. He said costs per claim can rise because a year with fewer claims inflates the per-claim average even when total dollars decline. Scott highlighted administrative work to shorten the time claims remain open and reported “substantial gains” in closing claims within two weeks in recent months, though he said severity often determines total costs.
The presentation broke claims out by department. Scott said the jail had three injuries in the first quarter of 2025 compared with none in all of 2024; the sheriff’s office had one more injury than last year. He said lower-risk departments such as clerks and the coroner’s office showed declines in claims. On liability claims handled through the county’s risk pool, Scott said 11 were open as of May 1 and most were in litigation.
Board members asked whether the county can deny coverage when employee negligence is involved. Scott said workers’ compensation coverage generally applies even when a worker did not follow a safety procedure; disciplinary or administrative action would be a county responsibility while LNI would typically cover the medical claim unless there is evidence of a falsified claim.
No formal action or vote on policy changes was taken at the meeting; the presentation was a staff report and discussion.
Less critical details: Risk management staff said the department is using new-hire orientation and a periodic newsletter to promote safety and wellness among county employees.
