Florida Roofers Seek Rate Hold, No Decrease

Florida’s roofing trade leaders are urging state regulators to freeze the roofing industry’s rates, rather than approve a decrease that would take effect in 2025.
Officials from the Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association made their argument during a hearing held by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation to consider a proposal to reduce rates for employers by an overall average of 1%.
The group has its own self-insurance fund.
“FRSA believes that considering recent hurricanes and those over the past few years, we will begin to see more inexperienced labor hired as contractors struggle to keep up with the growing demand for work,” Lisa Pate, the association’s executive director, said. “Many older workers are retiring, and the pull for younger employees who want to work on roofs is dwindling. This trend will place more inexperienced workers on roofs and job sites and open contractors up to additional exposure. It’s only a matter of time before injuries and claims increase and rates swing in the opposite direction. Consistency in the rates will help mitigate this exposure.”
In August, NCCI proposed an overall average 1 percent decrease for 2025, seeking to continue a string of years of reduced rates.
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An Arizona Appeals Court ruled last week that Just because a worker doesn’t report his injury “forthwith” doesn’t automatically mean his workers’ compensation claim won’t result in benefits.
In Moreno v. Industrial Commission of Arizona, No. 1 CA-IC 23-0032 (Ariz. Ct. App. 10/10/24), foundry worker Roman Moreno didn’t file a report of injury until about five months after an on-the-job incident.
The foundry and its carrier, Travelers, argued that the injury was not reported “forthwith” as required by statute. An administrative law judge agreed. An appeal followed.
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Encinitas, California-based Empatha announced it has secured a “substantial” capital raise from institutional investors.
The behavioral health services company focused on the workers’ compensation industry did not disclose the amount of money raised nor the names of the investors.
The company said it expects to make targeted acquisitions of small and mid-sized businesses in the workers’ compensation space.
The funding will also support the expansion of Empatha’s national provider network and enable the hiring of key clinical and sales personnel.
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WellRithms said it is expanding its workers’ compensation bill review platform to target “the silent corrosion from inflated medical bills.”
The Portland, Oregon firm said its new Comp42 offering is the industry’s only indemnity captive, transferring balance-billing risk and guaranteeing savings for clients.
It will use advanced analytics and physician expertise to address prevailing medical cost complacency to address overbilling.
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