The newest program offerings for this year’s Workers’ Compensation Educational Conference, to be held from Aug. 23–26, 2015, in Orlando, are the breakout sessions for agents and brokers sponsored by the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI).

The sessions have information for everyone who has a role in the workers’ compensation system regardless of their state or jurisdiction, even though the sessions are designated for agents and brokers.

This cutting-edge series will begin with an overview of the current and anticipated workers’ compensation marketplace, which only NCCI as the designated rating organization in a majority of states is in a position to provide. NCCI findings and predictions will be supplemented by regulatory and industry spokespersons. The sessions will give you and your fellow conference attendees a unique opportunity to learn aspects of the workers’ compensation system that are rarely discussed with the general public—information that’s essential for having a complete understanding of the workers’ compensation industry, no matter where you’re located.

Obtaining coverage for work-related injuries is mandatory in most states. This coverage requirement can be met through a variety of sources, including an insurance policy, self-insurance, or coverage through such alternate methods as participating in a professional employer organization (PEO). Each of these mechanisms will be discussed with an emphasis on ratemaking, premium or assessment determination methods, and overall regulatory oversight.

Of particular interest to all workers’ compensation stakeholders is a complete understanding of NCCI’s procedures (adopted in whole or in part by 34 states plus the District of Columbia) for calculating rates for employer classification codes (in general) and particular employers within those class codes (experience modification calculation). Whether you’re an employer, risk manager, agent, broker, adjuster, claims representative, safety professional or anyone else within the system, it’s essential that you have a complete appreciation of your role in affecting the ultimate workers’ compensation costs and that you understand NCCI’s processes for determining those costs. The sessions in this breakout will provide in-depth information on how these cost calculations are made.

Numerous NCCI handouts will be available for distribution or purchase, and experts from NCCI will be around to answer your questions. As requested in the registration forms, be sure to pre-register your planned attendance at these sessions to ensure that enough handouts are available for distribution. Many of the courses have been approved for continuing education credits, and specific information is available here.