Workers' Compensation Board
skip breadcrumbsAgency Web Site: http://www.wcb.ny.gov/
Mission
The New York State Workers’ Compensation Board protects the rights of employees and employers by ensuring the proper delivery of benefits to those eligible due to being injured or becoming ill while on the job, and by promoting compliance with the law. To protect the well-being of New York’s labor force, most private and public sector employers in New York are required to carry workers’ compensation and disability benefits insurance for their employees or demonstrate their ability to self-insure. The Board aims to administer an efficient and responsive workers’ compensation and disability benefits system that promotes optimal medical outcomes, prompt wage replacements, and timely resolution of issues.
The Board also administers the Disability Benefits program which includes the recently enacted Paid Family Leave (PFL) law. PFL is landmark legislation which will help New York families who are trying to balance work and financial obligations with caring for an ill family member. The Board is leading the effort to implement the program’s regulations and processes associated with this legislation enacted in 2016.
Organization and Staffing
The Board is headed by a Chairperson selected by the Governor and includes 12 additional full-time members nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate for seven-year terms. District offices are located in Albany, Binghamton, Brooklyn, Buffalo, Hauppauge, Manhattan, Queens, Rochester and Syracuse; with the administrative office in Schenectady. The Board has additional customer service centers located throughout the State.
Budget Highlights
The FY 2018 Executive Budget recommends $191.1 million All Funds for the Workers’ Compensation Board, all of which is funded by assessments on businesses. This amount is unchanged from the FY 2017 level. The Executive Budget projects a staffing level of 1,165 in FY 2018, which is unchanged from the FY 2017 level.
Program Highlights
In August 2013, the Board began a multi-phase project to re-envision the Workers’ Compensation System in New York State. The Business Process Re-Engineering (BPR) began with identifying the needs of stakeholders in the system which included conducting outreach to both internal and external system participants and stakeholders, collecting feedback and recommendations to issues impacting the delivery of benefits and overall operation of the system. The FY 2016 Executive Budget included a $60 million capital appropriation for the Workers’ Compensation Board and this funding continues to enable the WCB to address long standing shortcomings within the current NYS workers’ compensation system and position the Board to meet its emerging needs.
The Board has begun the implementation phase of the project with three key initiatives described below that are expected to leverage technology and utilize performance statistics through data collection to inform and change inefficient processes impacting the delivery of benefits.
Medical Portal & Reporting Portal: Stakeholders will be able to view medical information based upon their role in the workers’ compensation system. The medical portal is anticipated to facilitate resolution of issues concerning Request for Treatment Authorizations, Requests for Variance from the Medical Treatment Guidelines, and optional prior approval. The Medical portal will also enable reports and bills to be submitted electronically which would allow parties of interest to have access to key information about a claim or bill.
Video Conferencing: The implementation of new hearing room technology is being piloted to improve customer service to claimants and other stakeholders who go to Board offices for hearings and expedite the on-site hearing experience. The Board’s videoconferencing equipment will provide opportunities to conduct hearings from virtually any location that has internet access.
Business Information System: The Board, in conjunction with ITS, has formed a working team who will spearhead the procurement of services for a vendor to elicit business and system requirements for the design of a web-based portal that will replace the Board’s aging technology systems.
| Category | Available FY 2017 |
Appropriations Recommended FY 2018 |
Change From FY 2017 |
Reappropriations Recommended FY 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Operations | 191,103,000 | 195,430,000 | 4,327,000 | 0 |
| Capital Projects | 0 | 0 | 0 | 55,678,000 |
| Total | 191,103,000 | 195,430,000 | 4,327,000 | 55,678,000 |
| Program | FY 2017 Estimated FTEs 03/31/17 |
FY 2018 Estimated FTEs 03/31/18 |
FTE Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workers Compensation | |||
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 1,165 | 1,165 | 0 |
| Total | 1,165 | 1,165 | 0 |
| Fund Type | Available FY 2017 |
Recommended FY 2018 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 191,103,000 | 195,430,000 | 4,327,000 |
| Total | 191,103,000 | 195,430,000 | 4,327,000 |
| Adjustments: | |||
| Transfer(s) From | |||
| Special Pay Bill | |||
| General Fund | (2,040,000) | ||
| Appropriated FY 2017 | 189,063,000 | ||
| Program | Available FY 2017 |
Recommended FY 2018 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workers Compensation | |||
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 191,103,000 | 195,430,000 | 4,327,000 |
| Total | 191,103,000 | 195,430,000 | 4,327,000 |
| Program | Total | Personal Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Workers Compensation | 195,430,000 | 4,327,000 | 81,299,000 | (1,451,000) |
| Total | 195,430,000 | 4,327,000 | 81,299,000 | (1,451,000) |
| Program | Nonpersonal Service | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | |
| Workers Compensation | 114,131,000 | 5,778,000 |
| Total | 114,131,000 | 5,778,000 |
| Comprehensive Construction Program | Available FY 2017 |
Recommended FY 2018 |
Change | Reappropriations FY 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Information Technology Program | ||||
| WCB IT Bus Process Design | 0 | 0 | 0 | 55,678,000 |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 55,678,000 |
Note: Most recent estimates as of 1/17/2017