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Policy
Name:
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Policy
Activity Rebate (PAR)
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Policy #:
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EP-16-05
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Code/Rule
Reference
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ORC 4123.321; OAC 4123-17-10.
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Effective
Date:
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July 29,
2022
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Approved:
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Rex
Blateri, Chief of Employer Services
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Origin:
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Employer
Policy
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Supersedes:
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Policy
Activity Rebate (PAR) policy effective July 1, 2021.
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History:
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Revised September
7, 2022; October 19, 2021; June 24, 2020; November 7, 2019. New policy issued
January 16, 2019.
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Review
Date:
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N/A
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I. Policy Purpose
The
Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) uses the Policy Activity Rebate
(PAR) as a pilot program to raise employer awareness and understanding of
workers’ compensation matters, including safety, claims, and policy management.
II. Applicability
This
policy applies to BWC Employer Programs, BWC Regional Employer Management
Services, BWC Business Consulting, private employers (PA employers), public
employer taxing districts (PEC employers), and their authorized representatives.
III. Definition
Program year: The policy year for which the employer
seeks to earn the Policy Activity Rebate (PAR).
IV. Policy
A. BWC will be discontinuing the PAR pilot program.
For PA employers, BWC is discontinuing the PAR program effective June 30, 2023.
For PEC employers, BWC is discontinuing the PAR program effective December 31,
2023.
B.
Eligibility
criteria.
1.
Only existing PA
employers and existing PEC employers continuing to participate in the state
insurance fund are eligible for the PAR program.
2.
The employer must be
in an active, reinstated, or debtor-in-possession status as of the enrollment
date.
3.
The following
employers are not eligible for the PAR program:
a.
Alternate employer
organizations (AEOs), unless the AEO and each of the AEO’s client employers
meet all eligibility and program requirements;
b.
Professional employer
organizations (PEOs), unless the PEO and each of the PEO’s client employers
meet all eligibility and program requirements;
c.
Employers initiating
coverage after the enrollment deadline for the program year;
d.
Self-insuring
employers; and
e.
State agencies.
4.
The PAR program is
not compatible with participation in the following programs: Group-Experience
Rating, Group Retrospective Rating, Individual-Retrospective Rating, and Deductible
Program.
C.
Enrollment
requirements.
1.
An employer must
enroll in the PAR program through BWC’s website www.bwc.ohio.gov.
2.
Enrollment
deadlines:
a.
A PA employer must enroll
by the last business day of February for the program year beginning the
previous July 1.
b.
A PEC employer must enroll
by the last business day of August for the program year beginning the previous
January 1.
D.
Operation of
program.
1.
PAR program
requirements. The employer must complete activities during the program year to
be eligible for the PAR.
2.
PAR activity
requirements:
a.
The employer must
complete activities totaling eleven (11) credits for each program year.
b.
The employer must
document and track progress toward completing the employer’s required
activities by using the Policy Activity Rebate Program progress
look-up located on
BWC’s website.
i.
The employer must
retain documentation proving completion of the employer’s required activities.
ii.
BWC will not update
the employer’s progress upon the completion of activities.
c.
Each completed
activity has a credit value. BWC maintains a list of PAR program activities and credit values.
d.
The deadlines for
completing activities and tracking the completion of the activities on the Policy
Activity Rebate progress look-up are:
i.
June 30 of the
program year for PA employers; and
ii.
December 31 of the
program year for PEC employers.
e.
An employer
completing the required number of activities must electronically acknowledge
BWC’s right to audit the employer’s activities.
3.
Training activity
requirements:
a.
Training activities
must be completed by the employer on a policy number basis because each policy
number is considered a separate entity.
b.
Training activities
must be completed by an employee of the employer.
4.
PAR calculation. The
PAR is fifty percent (50%) of the employer’s trued-up premium, up to a maximum
of $2,000, for the program year.
a.
The PAR cannot
reduce an employer’s premium below the amount of the minimum administrative
charge for the program year as set forth in OAC 4123-17-26.
b.
The PAR will not be
reduced by premium based credits already earned, including, but not limited to,
Lapse-Free, Go Green, and Safety Council.
c.
BWC will not make
adjustments to an employer’s PAR for any reason including, but not limited to,
audits, rate adjustments, appealed balances, and changes in lapse status.
d.
BWC will apply the
PAR to any outstanding balance owed by the employer.
e.
BWC will not grant a
partial PAR.
5.
Rebate eligibility.
a.
To have a PAR
calculated, the employer must meet the following criteria at the time of the
PAR calculation:
i.
The employer must
have trued-up premium for the applicable program year of at least $350;
ii.
The employer must be
in an active, reinstated, or debtor-in-possession status; and
iii. The employer must have completed payroll
reporting and premium reconciliation, pursuant to OAC 4123-17-14, prior to the expiration of the
applicable grace period. See the Payroll True-Up policy for additional information.
b.
An employer who
cancels coverage during the program year is not eligible for a PAR.
6.
BWC may conduct a
random audit of an employer’s completed activities. BWC reserves the right to deny
an employer’s PAR if the employer falsifies, or misrepresents, the completion
of program activities.
E.
Exit or removal from
program. An employer may voluntarily withdraw from the PAR program by providing
notice to BWC.
F.
Resolution of
complaints.
1.
Employer complaints are
processed under the General Employer Complaint Policy.
2.
BWC has not
identified any program-specific extenuating circumstances that apply to the PAR
program.