Rate reform continues - Clarification on drug-free program discounts

As we continue to implement different components of our rate reform plan, visit this page for more details, answers to your questions and new processes.

What happened to discounts for drug-free program participants?
After July 1, 2009, the Drug-Free Workplace Program (DFWP) discount will remain in effect only for companies not in a group. Employers participating in group-experience or group-retrospective rating will not be eligible for that discount.

However, employers participating in DFWP or DF-EZ for the Jan. 1, 2009 program year and also participating in group-experience or group-retrospective rating will be eligible to receive a drug-free discount on top of the group credit for the first half of the program year, Jan. 1 - June 30, 2009. To earn that discount a continuing drug-free employer must:

• Complete employee education and supervisor training refreshers by Sept. 30;
• Submit the Drug-Free Self-Assessment Progress Report by Sept. 30.

Now, if employers continue to participate in a group for the July 1, 2009 policy year, they will not receive a drug-free discount stacked on top of the group credit for the second half of the program year, July 1 - Dec. 31, 2009. In addition, those employers will not receive a drug-free discount for any subsequent program years as long as they are participating in a group.

Employers may still apply for drug-free grants if they are participating at level 1, 2 or 3, report payroll and pay premium, apply the program to 100 percent of the company’s work force and meet other eligibility requirements.