Support HB 2950 for Good Workers' Compensation Reform

With bipartisan sponsorship, HB 2950 contains the three critical reforms to the state workers' compensation that employers are backing this year. Jason Hagey summarizes nicely in Olympia Business Watch:

... the bill would not diminish protection or care for injured workers. Rather, it would lower the cost of the state's industrial insurance system through a number of targeted changes, including:

• authorizing voluntary medical provider networks
• allowing voluntary settlement agreements
• changing the definition of occupational diseases to make sure it only covers conditions that are primarily work-related.

The Washington Research Council's policy brief on workers' comp released last week provides more information on why these reforms make good policy sense for injured workers and their employers.

Contact your legislators and let them know that this bill provides essential reform and should be passed this session.