Former Texas Workers' Compensation Commissioner Ryan Brannan has been hired as a consultant to the Association for Responsible Alternatives to Workers' Compensation, a national group that advocates for opt-out programs.

Ryan Brannan

Brannan is the second high-profile workers' compensation professional hired on by the alternative comp advocacy group this year. In September it announced the appointment of Jeff Pettegrew, former head of the California Self-Insurers' Security Fund, as chief policy officer.

Brannan said that opting out does not mean workers are left without protections, and his experience as commissioner will be valuable in the new role.

“As commissioner, I helped improve the marketplace for Texas businesses and their employees. For example, during my tenure, we significantly increased the percentage of employers and employees in the workers’ comp system," he said in a statement. "Only 5% of Texas workers remain completely bare, with no workers’ comp or injury benefit plan coverage. Now, I look forward to furthering coverage for more employees with the Association for Responsible Alternatives to Workers’ Compensation.”

Brannan was appointed comp commissioner by Gov. Rick Perry in 2014 and reappointed twice by Gov. Greg Abbott. He stepped down earlier this year to launch a lobbying and consulting business.

“Workers’ comp has greatly improved in Texas, and now I get to focus on the other side of the house,” Ryan says. “I want to be a part of expanding coverage to more Texas workers, and an exciting new challenge to polish both sides of the Texas workers’ compensation model.”

ARAWC, with national offices in Virginia, describes itself as a national organization formed to promote innovative employee injury benefit plans that deliver improved medical outcomes to injured workers.