Drop in workman's comp claims cited in report

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Changes in the workers' compensation system in recent years have led to dramatic drops in claims, awards and attorney involvement, a report showed Monday.

The Oklahoma Bar Association report showed only 19,011 workers filed notice-of-injury claims in 2000, a decline of 9,000, or 32 percent, since 1994. Claims per 100 workers are down 44 percent.

Phillip C. Hawkins, chairman of the association's workers'

compensation section, said the cost of delivering worker benefits declined from $1 billion in 1994 to $600 million in 200, a 40 percent reduction.

Hawkins attributed the decline to a series of legislative reforms of the system since 1994, attention to fraud as result of Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin's Commission on Workers' Compensation Reform, and a more conservative attitude on the state Workers' Compensation Court because of appointments by Gov. Frank Keating.

He said Keating has now appointed all 10 of the state's worker comp judges and the result has been a 30 percent drop in the number of partial disability awards, producing a $35 million savings from 1994 to 1999. He said judges denied 20 percent more claims in 1999 than in 1994.

Only 9 percent of injured workers hired a lawyer in 2000, down 20 percent from six years ago.

"The facts support the notion that reform is not only accomplishing its goals but is continuing to develop without the necessity of additional reform," Hawkins said.

He said current changes in the system should be given more time to work and future reforms should reflect the needs of both employees and employees.

Mike Seney, vice president of the State Chamber of Commerce, agreed that progress had been made in cutting costs of the system, but said more changes are needed.

Seney said the chamber will continue to support reforms, including a plan by Sen. Scott Pruitt, R-Broken Arrow, to decentralize the system.

Mike Seney, vice president of the State Chamber of Commerce, said costs have been cut but more changes are needed. He said while the number of awards are down, the size of settlements has risen.

Seney said the chamber will continue to support reforms, including a plan by Sen. Scott Pruitt, R-Broken Arrow, to decentralize the system by abolishing the Workers' Compensation Court and going to an administrative system.

Critics say such a drastic change is not needed because previous reforms are curbing fraud and meritless claims, while not hurting workers who have legitimate injuries.

An increase in workplace safety programs also has been linked to the drop in claims.