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Private Employers' Rates Lowered, Indoor Air Quality Program Expanded and More!

BWC Board lowers rates for private employers

Private employers covered by the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) will pay $71.5 million less in premiums next policy year thanks to a rate reduction BWC's Board of Directors approved today. The Board approved a net 7.1% decrease to private employer rates and assessments during its regular monthly meeting Feb. 26, affecting approximately 220,000 employers across the state.

The reduction goes into effect July 1, the start of the 2021 policy year.

"Thanks to fewer injury claims, fairly low medical inflation costs, and our strong fiscal management, we're in a good position to reduce these rates," said BWC Interim Administrator/CEO John Logue. "We're especially pleased to pass these lower costs along to our business community amid the ongoing challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic."

See this news release for more.

Fighting COVID-19, BWC expands Indoor Air Quality program

In the continuing effort to weaken COVID-19's spread, BWC's Board of Directors voted Feb. 26 to expand the agency's Indoor Air Quality Assistance Program to include substance use treatment centers, group homes, and others. Prior to the Board's vote, the federally funded $28 million program was limited to nursing homes, assisted living centers, and adult day centers that invested in heating, air conditioning, and ventilation improvements that weaken COVID-19's spread. The Board approved eligible facilities to include:

  • Intermediate care facilities
  • Hospices
  • Senior centers
  • Adult care facilities
  • Waiver settings (group homes)
  • Substance use treatment centers

"The Board's vote expands our ability to fight this deadly virus and protect vulnerable Ohioans," said BWC Interim Administrator/CEO John Logue. "We're grateful to all involved for making this possible."

For an application and more on this program, visit this BWC webpage. The application deadline is June 30.

Employers:  Get ready for true-up!

As the opening of our true-up period for private employers approaches July 1, we encourage employers to review their payroll estimates for the current policy year to avoid surprises in the amount they might owe on premiums.

We recognize the COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted business activity beyond expectations since employers estimated their payroll last year. If business activity and payroll exceeded last year's estimates, for example, employers will likely have a balance due at true-up time. We want employers to be prepared.

Employers can visit www.bwc.ohio.gov/login to compare their estimated annual payroll for policy year 2020 to their current projected actual payroll. From the My policy page, click Premium installment schedule, and then click Show detail to see a breakdown of the estimated annual premium calculation.

For questions, visit our website at www.bwc.ohio.gov or call us at 1-800-644-6292.

Regional mass vaccination sites to open statewide

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced earlier this month that 15 long-term mass vaccination clinics will open throughout Ohio to significantly expand regional access to COVID-19 vaccines.

The state-sponsored mass vaccination clinics will be located in Lima, Maumee, Dayton, Columbus, Akron, Youngstown, Cincinnati, Chillicothe, Marietta, Wilmington, and Zanesville. Four mobile mass vaccination clinics will also make rounds in the areas of northwestern and west-central Ohio (Ada), southeastern Ohio (Athens), north-central Ohio (Mansfield), and east-central Ohio (Steubenville).

These regional sites will be offered in addition to the eight-week mass vaccination clinic, which opened March 17 at Cleveland State University's Wolstein Center.

"Mass vaccination clinics have always been part of our plan, but adequate supply is necessary for larger sites, so it was crucial that we first established local provider sites in all 88 counties to ensure that every citizen in every community has a provider nearby," said Governor DeWine. "Now that we have more than 1,250 local vaccine providers and a significant increase in vaccine supply expected at the end of March, this is the right time to finalize and prepare to launch these large-scale regional clinics."

You can find a complete list of the selected regional mass vaccination clinic sites and associated local partners at governor.ohio.gov.

If you are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, visit gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov to schedule an appointment. The website will serve as a singular location for Ohioans to confirm that they are eligible to be vaccinated, identify nearby providers, and schedule their vaccine appointments.

For more information on Ohio's vaccination plan, visit coronavirus.ohio.gov/vaccine.

COVID-19 - It's okay to not be okay

Click HERE to learn how sometimes it's what you don't see that says the most. If you or someone you know needs emotional support, we can help. Call the Ohio CareLine 24/7 for free help:  1-800-720-9616. Brought to you by the Ohio Department of Health.

March edition of Safety Update

Check out the latest news from NIOSH and OSHA.

Important dates

March 22 – Virtual Training: Electrical Safety Maintenance (NFPA 70B) - Practices for Electrical Equipment Maintenance

March 23 – Webinar: Accident Analysis

March 23 – Better You, Better Ohio! Wellness webinar

March 25 – Employer update webinar

March 31 – Important program deadline for private employers

March 31 – Virtual Training: Confined Space and Assessment

April 5 – Virtual Training: Electrical Safety in the Workplace

April 7 – MCO Medical Director’s Meeting

April 8 – Virtual Training: Safety Series 1: Intro to OSHA and Safety Culture Basics

April 13 – Webinar: Cost-Control Strategies: A Collaborative

April 14 – Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee

April 14 – Virtual Training: Noise and Hearing Half Day

April 19 – Virtual Training: Electrical Hazard Recognition and Abatement

April 20 – Webinar: Engaging Millennials in the Workplace


Established in 1912, the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation is the exclusive provider of workers' compensation insurance in Ohio and serves 249.000 public and private employers. With nearly 1,700 employees and assets of approximately $25 billion, BWC is one of the largest state-run insurance systems in the United States. Our mission is to deliver consistently excellent experiences for each BWC customer every day. Fore more, visit www.bwc.ohio.gov.

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