Workers comp rates for code 8870: Hospice Care - Professional
NCCI class code 8870 covers Hospice Care - Professional in the healthcare industry. The filed rate in California is $0.940 per $100 payroll, per the state's most recent rate filing.
Also known as: Hospice nurses · Hospice counselors
What does NCCI class code 8870 cover?
Class code 8870 classifies employees performing Hospice Care - Professional, also known as Hospice nurses, Hospice counselors. The NCCI classification system groups occupations by similar workplace exposure, loss-experience patterns, and operational characteristics. Code 8870 falls within the healthcare industry group and is filed in California.
NCCI's governing classification rules state that a single-classification employer with at least 51% of payroll in this occupation generally classifies all employees under code 8870, with two standard exceptions: clerical office work (segregated payroll records required, reported under code 8810) and outside sales / collectors (code 8742). If your operation has multiple distinct activities, ask your underwriter about a multi-class split before accepting a single-code rating.
Why code 8870 only appears in California
Some class codes are state-specials: classifications a single rating bureau maintains for an occupation that other states fold into broader codes. Code 8870 currently has a filed rate only in California ($0.940 per $100 payroll). If you operate in another state, your insurer will classify the same work under a different code, use the class-code finder to locate the equivalent for your state.
How to use this code 8870 rate data
- Identify the right state filing. Use the table below to find your state's filed rate. If your carrier is quoting at a higher rate, the difference is either schedule debit, EMR, deductible loading, or a state-fund surcharge, ask which.
- Calculate your effective rate. Effective rate = base rate × EMR ± schedule credit/debit ± deductible loading. Two carriers quoting code 8870 at the same base can vary 30%+ on effective rate after these adjustments.
- Build a 3-year EMR strategy. A 0.85 EMR cuts base rate by 15%; the difference between 0.85 and 1.25 EMR on the same code is a 47% premium difference. Frequency control (preventing every claim, even small ones) drives EMR more than severity control.
Code 8870 rates in all 1 states
| State | Code | Rate per $100 | vs peers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 8870 | $0.940 | - | view |
Bottom quartile (cheap) Mid Top quartile (expensive)
What types of claims drive code 8870 rates?
Workers comp rate filings for code 8870 reflect what's actually happening on the job, not just generic occupation hazard. NCCI publishes loss-cost analyses showing which injury categories account for the bulk of indemnity (lost-wage) and medical claim cost. For Hospice Care - Professional, the top drivers are typically:
- Patient-handling injuries, lifting and transferring patients, drive 35-50% of healthcare claim cost.
- Workplace violence, increasingly cited in ER, behavioral health, and long-term care, is the fastest-growing healthcare claim category.
- Sharps and bloodborne pathogen exposure, including needlestick injuries, produce long-tail surveillance claims.
- Slips, trips, falls on wet floors are persistent frequency drivers.
Targeting these drivers in your safety program produces the largest EMR improvement. Frequency control (preventing every claim, including small medical-only incidents) drives the modifier more than severity control. A documented written safety program addressing the top two drivers above is typically the highest-ROI intervention for employers paying for code 8870.
FAQs about NCCI 8870
What occupation is NCCI class code 8870?
Class code 8870 is "Hospice Care - Professional" (also known as Hospice nurses, Hospice counselors), in the healthcare industry. The code is filed in California.
What is the average workers comp rate for code 8870?
In California, the filed rate for code 8870 is $0.940 per $100 of payroll, per the state's most recent rate filing.
Why does code 8870 cost more in some states than others?
Workers comp rates reflect each state's loss experience for that occupation, the rating bureau's methodology (NCCI vs. independent), schedule rating credits, and the state's medical-cost inflation. Some states are monopolistic (only the state fund writes coverage) while others are open competitive markets.