The Ohio BWC has announced some important and beneficial updates for Ohio employers. We wanted to share some of those highlights with you.

First, the Ohio BWC board has approved a rate reduction that will result in a net 7.1% decrease to private employer rates and assessments. According to the BWC website, this will affect nearly 220,000 employers across Ohio and the reduction takes hold on July 1, which is the start of the 2021 policy year. The BWC reports that the reduction in rates is possible due to fewer injury claims, low medical inflation costs and strong fiscal management.

You can read more about this here:

BWC Board approves rate reduction | Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (ohio.gov)

The next bit of good news from the BWC is related to the COVID-19 Indoor Air Quality Assistance Program. This program provides reimbursement to applicants who qualify to help cover the costs of inspections, maintenance, assessments and improvements to indoor ventilation, heating, and air conditioning systems to help control the spread of COVID-19. Reimbursement is also given for devices meant to destroy bacteria, mold, and other viruses.

According to the Ohio BWC website, the following expanded list of private employers are eligible:

• Facilities licensed by the Ohio Department of Health – Nursing homes, assisted living/residential care facilities, hospices.
• Facilities recognized by the Ohio Department of Aging – Senior centers, adult day centers that are Medicaid providers in the PASSPORT, Ohio Home Care, or MyCare Ohio waiver programs.
• Facilities certified/licensed by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services – Substance use disorder residential treatment providers; Class 2 and Class 3 residential treatment providers (adult care facilities).
• Facilities certified/recognized by the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities – Residential Waiver settings (group homes), intermediate care facilities, adult day support providers that are Medicaid providers and have submitted a Provider Assurance Form.

It is important to note that each nursing home, assisted living/residential care facility, or hospice with a separate ODH license is eligible. Also, each adult day center and adult day support provider is eligible per Medicaid number.

It is also important to note that eligible expense is viewed as those incurred in response to COVID-19 for the previously mentioned purposes on or after March 1, 2020, up to and including June 30, 2021.

The funds used in this program were awarded to the State of Ohio as federal financial assistance by the U.S. Department of Treasury. The funding comes from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) Act. Eligible employers may receive up to $15,000 for the duration of the program.

The application form includes a list of eligible expenses and can be accessed on the Ohio BWC website by clicking the link below. This webpage will also answer many questions those who are eligible for the assistance may have:

COVID-19 Indoor Air Quality Assistance Program | Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (ohio.gov)