News

Workplace Wellness Programs: Are They Accomplishing Their Goals?

The article below was originally produced by CEO-level QEI Patron Willis Towers Watson  and is republished below with permission. In 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced the results of a 2017 study reporting that almost one-half of all U.S. worksites offered some type of health promotion or   wellness   program .   The study, conducted by the CDC and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Gillings School of Global Public Health, was the first government survey of workplace   wellness   programs in 13 years. The study surveyed almost 3000 diverse workplaces, including for profit, non-profit and government ...
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Pooling Community Resources (Jan. 9, 2020)

The resources below were featured in the Jan. 9, 2020, issue of AGRiP eNews and may be of interest to pools. SCHOOL LIABILITY VSBIT's   Harassment, Hazing, & Bullying Toolkit   includes resources geared towards superintendents, school board and staff members, principals and designees. The Kansas State Department of Education’s new   Suicide Prevention, Response and Postvention Toolkit   can help schools mitigate risks of suicide among students. VRSA provides   ten school safety tips   and looks at   eight types of hazards and risks   that affect schools. SAM CLAIMS CAJPA provides an   overview of California’s new SAM ...
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‘Miracle on the Hudson’ Captain Sullenberger to Keynote Governance Conference 2020

Capt. “Sully” Sullenberger will deliver the keynote address at   AGRiP’s Governance Conference 2020   in Orlando, FL. One of the most captivating American heroes of our time, Capt. Sullenberger’s preparation and leadership enabled him to safely guide US Airways Flight 1549 to an emergency landing in New York City’s frigid Hudson River on Jan. 15, 2009. Capt. Sullenberger’s   keynote presentation   will underscore the importance of preparing for any situation through   lifelong learning, specialized risk management and innovation.   This is a particularly meaningful message for pool staff charged with problem-solving and for governing body members ...
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PAID Act Would Help Pools Resolve Medicare Secondary Payer Claims

The Provide Accurate Information Directly (PAID) Act (S.1989/H.R.1375) is a bill that would help settling parties (e.g., pools) promptly reimburse injury claims for Medicare beneficiaries covered by a privately administered Medicare Advantage (MA) or Medicare Part D plan. When a Medicare beneficiary is injured by another entity, Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) obligates the liable entity’s insurance provider to pay for the resultant expenses. Though Medicare may initially bear these costs, Medicare is entitled to seek reimbursement from the liable party’s insurer, which may be a public entity risk pool. This reimbursement obligation becomes complicated ...
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AGRiP’s 2020 Annual Membership Meeting

AGRiP’s 2020 Annual Membership Meeting will be on Monday, March 2, at 12:30 p.m. (during lunch at Governance Conference 2020 ) at the Hyatt Regency Orlando in Orlando, FL. No official AGRiP business is currently anticipated at this meeting. AGRiP will provide an overview of major programs and its financial position.
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How Pools Can Respond to Extended Statutes of Limitations for Sexual Abuse and Molestation

In recent years, several states have retroactively extended their statutes of limitations for sexual abuse and molestation (SAM) claims, leading to questions about whether such claims against public entities might become more frequent.  To help pools proactively manage the implications of these statutory changes, AGRiP recently held two meetings for pools to discuss shared SAM claim experiences.  These discussions generated several recommendations for pools with potential or actual claim exposure resulting from changes to SAM statutes of limitations. Pools not currently affected by such extensions should take these suggestions into consideration as well. ...
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Updates to Pooling Best Practices: Claims Management, Coverage and Underwriting

AGRiP maintains comprehensive guidelines pools can use to review their governance, policies and operations: the   Advisory Standards for Recognition . We recommend all pools refer to the Advisory Standards as a framework to regularly examine their practices and procedures. Two of the standards have been updated and one new standard added to better reflect current industry best practices. The   claims management standards   have an updated focus on data systems and litigation management practices. The   coverage standards   include additions on documentation, regular legal review, change management and resolving disputes. The new   underwriting ...
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U.S. and Canadian Pools Face Similar Challenges

Several Canadian public entity reciprocals participate both in AGRiP and in the Canadian Association of Insurance Reciprocals (CAIR) . Because cultivating opportunities for pool-to-pool learning can help pools prepare for future trends and needs, AGRiP routinely supports Canadian public entity reciprocals and training efforts through CAIR. As evidenced by conversations at CAIR’s 2019 Annual Members Meeting in October, public entity risk pools in the U.S. and Canada face similar risk and operational issues: The need to diversify services offered to members Methods to simplify coverage documentation for members Increasing frequency ...
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Pooling Academy Development Begins

AGRiP is beginning active development of   Pooling Academy,   a comprehensive and interactive online learning center for the public entity pooling community. Pooling Academy will include an updated   Pooling Basics   curriculum as a foundation as well as in-depth content on core pooling functions. Through multi-modal courses appropriate for professional learners, Pooling Academy will: Introduce key pooling concepts to newcomers, including governing bodies and staff serving pool operations Train up-and-coming pool leaders in subjects unique to public entity pooling Provide continuing education for experienced pool professionals Initial ...
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Dues Increasing in 2020

AGRiP dues are increasing across all membership types in 2020. Pools pay dues based upon a rate factor applied to total assets plus a $750 flat fee. Effective on annual renewal dates after Jan. 1, 2020, the dues rate will increase by 10 percent. A pool’s effective dues increase will depend upon its own asset size and asset changes. AGRiP’s largest pools (those with total assets in excess of about $155 million) will also be impacted by an increase in the maximum dues cap from about $7,700 to $11,500. All other AGRiP members, including QEI Patrons and Partners, will also have increased dues in 2020. Dues increases will support the totality of AGRiP member ...
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Lessons from Lloyd's of London

This October, AGRiP Executive Director Ann Gergen traveled to London with member pool Municipal Insurance Association of British Columbia (MIABC) for liability reinsurance renewal conversations with underwriters from several Lloyd’s of London syndicates and affiliated brokers. While there, Ann was able to gather perspective into the outlook for liability reinsurance renewals throughout North America as well as insight into the current state of the property reinsurance market. She also met with specialists in terrorism reinsurance. Ann’s observations and key takeaways appear in question-and-answer form below. -- Q: What were the most common questions ...
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Five Pools Receive AGRiP Recognition

AGRiP Recognition is a rigorous self-audit process that helps verify a pool is operating according to industry best practices. Pools receiving this distinction must demonstrate compliance with AGRiP’s  Advisory Standards for Recognition , a systematic guide for internal review of governance, policies and operations.  The AGRiP Membership Practices Committee (MPC) regularly reviews applications and grants Recognition to those who meet these pooling benchmarks. At Fall Forum 2019 , five member pools received Recognition:  California Transit Indemnity Pool , which provides stable, cost-effective liability and vehicle physical damage coverage, ...
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Two News Stories Focus on Pool Governance

It isn’t typical for pools to be in the news, so it’s worth taking notice when they are. Although two recent stories are quite different from each other, their common thread is that pool governance was highlighted in a public forum. Given how quickly news spreads in today’s media environment, what happens in one pool can sometimes raise questions in the broader pooling universe – even if borne out of misinterpretation.  Therefore, it’s useful to know when there is news coverage about pool governance or operations and to consider your own pooling practices in light of these media dynamics. A story about pool governance in Iowa was picked up last week ...
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Court Ruling Underscores Importance of Precise Language in Pool Governing Documents

The Michigan Court of Appeals recently analyzed a risk pool’s governing documents, dividend practices and self-governance in   County of Ingham et al v. Michigan County Road Commission Self-Insurance Pool . Although the case is Michigan law, there are several aspects of it that deserve attention from all pools. The Michigan County Road Commission Self-Insurance Pool (MCRCSIP) is a member of AGRiP. Like most pools, MCRCSIP’s governing documents determine what happens when a member withdraws, particularly in relation to the accumulated surplus equity that might have otherwise been paid to them in the form of dividends. On that point, MCRCSIP’s documents ...
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Fall Forum 2019: A one-of-a-kind event designed to energize the power of pool teams

The AGRiP Fall Forum 2019   provides a unique opportunity to learn from and network with people who are just as dedicated to public entity pooling as you are. Where else can you step into a community of people who understand exactly what it is you do and why pooling exists? The Fall Forum includes three learning paths with sessions on key aspects of pooling operations: Underwriting will focus on:  Violent event coverage PTSD presumptions Insurance-linked securities and catastrophe bonds Modernizing underwriting processes Actuarial approaches to cost allocation Evaluating a pool’s retained ...
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How Pools Can Attract Talent in a Candidate-Driven Market

In the old economy, job applicants competed for a limited number of positions. But with unemployment now reaching record lows, organizations are having to compete for candidates’ attention.  This dynamic is especially concerning for the pooling industry, which is expected to see significant retirements by 2022. Even more alarming is the projection that 75 percent of executive-level positions will experience turnover by 2028. The Jacobson Group , a company specializing in insurance recruiting services, recently published an article with suggestions on how to navigate this so-called “candidate-driven” labor market. Though geared towards the commercial ...
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Pools Creating ERM Tool for Members

As pools and their public entity members consider utilizing enterprise risk management (ERM) concepts, they should think both about the value of the process overall and the details of effective implementation. Fortunately, with a tool now being developed by two risk pools, engaging in ERM may soon be an easier and more valuable process for public entities to perform. AGRiP  Executive-Level QEI Patron Origami Risk recently published a  blog post advocating an ERM approach that, among other things, (1) aligns with organizational objectives, (2) includes both the upsides and downsides of risk, and (3) avoids relying on static risk assessment ...
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Pools recognized for innovative work at PRIMA’s Annual Conference

Two AGRiP member pools were recognized at the PRIMA 2019 Annual Conference for outstanding achievement in risk management. Minnesota Counties Intergovernmental Trust (MCIT) was acknowledged for its Quick Takes on Safety program and Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority (MMRMA) received an honorable mention for its Rescue Task Force Model Protocol & Reality Based Training .  Congratulations to MCIT and MMRMA for recognition for outstanding achievement in #IntergovernmentalRiskPooling ! Grateful for your work and leadership! @powerofpooling pic.twitter.com/EpXDAnRcEO — Weiss (@weissacre) June 10, 2019 ...
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The CEO and Senior Staff Institute: A one-of-a-kind event designed specifically for pooling leaders

A unique opportunity to elevate your leadership skills to a new level and gain science-based benefits for your pool is coming up at AGRiP’s CEO and Senior Staff Institute , Aug. 4-7 in Grand Rapids, MI. Top pool leaders who register now can secure their place at this exclusive event and take advantage of early-bird pricing. “The CEO Institute is unlike other conferences in that we are able to take a deeper dive into leadership issues,” says Michelle Voskuil, CFO for Cities and Villages Mutual Insurance Company in Wisconsin. “The CEO Institute has had the most influence over my professional development.” This year’s professional ...
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Corporate Debt Concerns Should Prompt Portfolio Review

Rising business debt and its potential risks to the economy should prompt pools to take another look at the credit risk in their investment portfolios. Dan Byrnes of AAM cites a recent speech by Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on the possible dangers posed by increasing business debt. While not reaching the level of concern that subprime mortgages posed a dozen years ago, Powell said that “business debt has clearly reached a level that should give businesses and investors reas on to pause and reflect.” Powell went on to say that “if a downturn were to arrive unexpectedly, some firms would face challenges.” He noted that the debt is ...
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