Underwriter - Property & Casualty

State of the States june 06, 2025. State of the States July 10, 2026. National - The National Safety Council (NSC) released findings from its 2024-2025 MSD Solutions Lab grant programs, highlighting how emerging technologies can help prevent musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), the most common workplace injuries. The research showcased innovations such as augmented reality tools for ergonomic visualization, AI-driven risk assessments, smartphone-based motion analysis, and wearable or sensor-based safety technologies. Across pilot programs, these tools improved risk visibility, worker engagement, and targeted interventions to reduce injuries. The NSC emphasized that combining data-driven innovation with frontline worker input is key to creating scalable, effective workplace safety solutions. The Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced the availability of $12.787 million in FY 2026 Susan Harwood Training Grant Program funding to support workplace safety and health training initiatives. The funding will be awarded through two grant opportunities: Targeted Topic Training grants and Training and Educational Materials Development grants, both aimed at helping employers and workers recognize, prevent, and address occupational safety and health hazards. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov by July 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET. The Susan Harwood program, administered by OSHA, supports organizations providing education and training to workers, particularly those in high-hazard industries and underserved populations. The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) released a report, the Relationship Between Benefits and Wages, examining how wages relate to workers' compensation losses, finding that payroll remains an effective and practical exposure base for ratemaking, despite variations across different wage levels. The analysis found that indemnity claim severity generally increases wages before leveling off at higher earnings, while medical claim severity tends to rise more consistently across all wage tiers. At the same time, claim frequency typically decreases as wages increase, creating differences in how closely benefits and wages align. Integrated Specialty Coverages (ISC) announced the launch of its workers' compensation platform. The platform will provide workers' compensation coverage through independent agents in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Indiana, and is accepting submissions for policies effective October 1, 2026, and later. The program will offer monoline workers' compensation insurance and serves industries including construction, manufacturing, retail and wholesale, agriculture, service businesses, and financial services. State and local governments are taking a more active role in regulating workplace heat exposure as federal OSHA's proposed heat standard remains unfinished. New York City recently directed agencies to develop heat illness prevention plans, while Colorado expanded its workplace temperature protections to cover a broader range of industries. Experts say employers should proactively address heat risks by providing water, shade, rest breaks, training, and written prevention plans, as heat-related hazards can affect both outdoor and indoor workers. The growing patchwork of state and local requirements signals that heat illness prevention is becoming a significant compliance and workplace safety issue nationwide. Nevada - Nevada's Workers' Compensation Section (WCS) announced four free training sessions for July, scheduled for July 8, 15, 22, and 29. The sessions will cover a range of topics, including Workers' Compensation and Nevada Employers, C-4 Form Healthcare Provider Responsibilities and the Coverage Verification Service (CVS), a Deep Dive into the D-35 Form, and Medical Billing. The training courses are designed for stakeholders seeking guidance on Nevada workers' compensation requirements and processes. While attendance is free, advance registration is required. Oregon- Oregon's Workers' Compensation Division will hold a virtual hearing on July 23 at 11 a.m. regarding proposed rule changes implementing HB 4040. The proposal modifies multiple workers' compensation rules to change how nurse practitioners and physician associates are addressed in the system, including removing the term "authorized nurse practitioner," eliminating certain time-based limitations, and allowing these providers to serve as attending providers and authorize time loss in specified circumstances. Written comments will be accepted through July 30 and can be sent to [email protected]. Pennsylvania - SB 1398 was referred to the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee late last week and is currently awaiting a hearing. The bipartisan bill would establish a Firefighter Cancer Screening Program within the Department of Insurance to cover the cost of screenings. To qualify, firefighters must have responded to at least 15 fire or rescue emergencies during the previous calendar year. Participants would be required to undergo at least one screening within three years of becoming eligible. The bill provides $50 million to launch the program, with ongoing funding to be determined through future General Fund appropriations. The program is intended to cover annual cancer screenings not paid for under firefighters' health insurance policies. Download the State of the States Stay connected to all relevant information in workers' compensation and pharmacy by subscribing to its weekly newsletter. For the previous wrap-up, please click here. Stay up-to-date on what's happening at this blog and get additional content about the benefits of subscribing.

Integrated Specialty Coverages, a California-based insurance programme administrator, has appointed Sima Patel as Chief Compliance Officer. Patel will lead the firm's enterprise-wide compliance strategy and oversee operations across licensing, regulatory filings, surplus lines tax compliance and governance. Patel brings nearly 20 years of insurance regulatory and compliance experience. She previously served as Senior Vice President and Head of Compliance at Everspan Insurance Group, where she built enterprise compliance functions across a multi-carrier platform. Before that, she held regulatory roles at QBE North America. The appointment supports ISC's expansion across US admitted and excess and surplus markets. CEO Matt Grossberg said Patel's experience building scalable compliance organisations would prove instrumental as the company grows its operations.

Integrated Specialty Coverages (ISC), a US-based managing general agent, has appointed Michael Ferber as chief operating officer. Based in Colorado, Ferber will oversee technology, platform, data and customer-facing operations whilst building the enterprise operating model to support the company's growth. Ferber brings over 30 years of operational and technology leadership experience. Most recently, he served as president of Victor Small Business at Marsh McLennan, where he drove growth in net operating income and launched Marsh's first customer-facing AI capability. Previously, as chief information officer at ICAT, he led operational and technology turnaround efforts. In his new role, Ferber will focus on scaling ISC's platform, advancing its AI strategy and ensuring consistency across business units.