ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Tuesday, December 3, 1996              TAG: 9612030102
SECTION: BUSINESS                 PAGE: B-6  EDITION: METRO 

IN BUSINESS

Workers comp costs going down

Workers compensation costs are going down for most Virginia employers. The state Corporation Commission reduced rates after Jan. 1 because insurance companies selling this type of coverage in Virginia are paying less in claims.

Coal mining companies' rates won't change, however, because of their stable claims history.

The overall rate reduction will be slightly smaller than that requested by the companies. The SCC did not estimate the savings of an average company and advised individual businesses to contact their insurance agents.

-Staff report

Briefly

* Barr Laboratories Inc., Pomona, N.Y.-based maker of generic pharmaceuticals building a factory and distribution complex in Bedford County, said Monday it has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to market Estropipate, the generic equivalent of Ogen, a hormonal agent used to treat moderate symptoms associated with menopause. Barr said it expects to launch the product early next year, making it the third drug company making a generic version.

* U.S. coal production rose 4 percent in the week ended Nov. 23, to 21.7 million tons from 20.9 million tons the week before and 18.1 million tons in the same week last year, the U.S. Department of Energy said Monday. Virginia mines produced 716,000 tons that week, up from 629,000 tons the prior week and 501,000 tons a year ago. Production so far this year is 967 million tons, 4 percent ahead of last year's.

LENGTH: Short :   38 lines