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Friday, March 06, 2015 -
Top Story: Friday, March 6, 2015
BOSTON – When it comes to workers’ compensation fee schedules, how low can you go?
If state regulators are limbo-ing lower than Medicare or group health reimbursement rates, the Workers Compensation Research Institute suggested Thursday, they might be entering the danger zone with respect to access to care. And cutting or freezing… Read more »
A Los Angeles County judge dismissed three of 32 complaints against Michael D. Drobot and Pacific Hospital of Long Beach for allegedly participating in a conspiracy to use counterfeit hardware in spinal fusions performed on patients in hospitals throughout Southern California.
Fredrick Borges, an attorney for Drobot, said that the judge sustained a demurrer that he filed on behalf of Drobot. A demurrer is essentially a… Read more »A New York appellate court on Thursday revived… Read more »
People who hold multiple jobs get injured at work… Read more »
A Florida appellate court revised its decision from earlier this year, finding that a Texas employer could compel arbitration of its former employee's claim that he had been fired in retaliation for filing a petition for workers' compensation benefits.
Case: AMS Staff Leasing v. Taylor, No. 4D14-1387, 03/04/2015.
Facts: Robert Taylor started working as a truck driver for Diamond K Resources in December 2012. When he arrived for work on Dec. 21, a… Read more »An Arizona appellate court ruled that an injured… Read more »
A worker could not assert that his employer had failed to timely answer his claim petition based on the employer's failure to respond to it within 20 days of mailing when the petition hadn't been sent to the employer's correct address, the Commonwealth Court ruled.
Case: Washington v. WCAB (National Freight Industries Inc.), No. 1070 C.D. 2014, 03/04/2015, published.
Facts:… Read more »The Texas Division of Workers' Compensation ordered $424,900 in administrative penalties against insurers, medical… Read more »
Permanent disability awards could not be apportioned for pregnancy, breast cancer,… Read more »
News: WEST
- AZ No Mileage Reimbursement for Worker's Travels from Flagstaff to Doctor in Phoenix
- ID DOL Sues School District for Retaliatory Termination
- CA CAAA Proposes Bill to Prohibit Gender Discrimination in Apportionment Decisions
- AZ OSHA Orders $230K in Back Pay Damages to Trucking Co. Whistleblower
- CA AWCP Offering Course Focusing on rare Injuries
News: NORTH
- NY Court Gives Group Self-Insurance Trust another Shot at Preserving its Entitlement to Reimbursement
- PA Employer Wasn't 'Served' with Claim Petition on Date of Mailing since it Was Sent to wrong Address
- MN Supreme Court Reverses Award of Benefits for Worker's Fall on Stairs
- NY State Fund Simplifies Process for Obtaining Subrogation Waivers
News: SOUTH
- FL 4th DCA Reissues Decision on Employer's Ability to Compel Arbitration of Retaliation Claim
- NC Hog Farm Contractor Accused of Forging Certificates of Insurance
- TX DWC Levies $424,900 in Fines in Q1, including $250K against Ace
- TX DWC Issues Self-Insurance Certificate to SpaceX, Renews 9 other Certifications
- TN TPA Alternative Service Concepts Hires new Asst. VP, Municipal Claims Manager
Yesterday ProPublica published the first in what is apparently a series of articles on the workers' comp systems around the country. This first effort focused on "reforms" and generally indicated these are driven by big employers seeking to cut workers' benefits and medical costs.
There is much coverage of grievous injuries, lost limbs,… Read more »
The Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation said Thursday that it has approved one new certificate of authority to self-insure workers’ compensation claims and renewed self-insurance certificates.
The companies receiving the certificates collectively employ approximately 36,243 employees in Texas, the division said.
The DWC approved a certificate of self-insurance for Space Exploration Technologies Corp., based in Washington, D.C. The company, best known as… Read more »
Employers who have policies with the New York State Insurance Fund can now obtain subrogation waivers easier by requesting a blanket endorsement.
When a workers' compensation policy contains a subrogation waiver, the insurance carrier is barred from suing a third party when an injured worker has a cause of action against that third party, according to a Wednesday press release. Subrogation can be an issue in the construction industry, where developers hire contractors who in turn hire subcontractors who… Read more »
Amerisafe, a workers' compensation carrier specializing in hazardous industries, has named a new chief executive officer.
Janelle Frost, the company's president and chief operating officer, will take over the new position as CEO Allen Bradley steps down on April 1, according to a Wednesday press release. Frost joined Amerisafe in 1992 and in her… Read more »
The Association of Workers' Compensation Professionals is holding a mini-conference March 27 in Northern California focusing on unusual and uncommon injuries.
Course objectives include identifying dental injuries that can occur in workers' compensation cases and recommendations for managing those claims, as well as unique… Read more »
An Arizona trucking firm must reinstate and pay $230,000 in back wages and compensatory damages to a former employee who raised concerns that a driver had exceeded the legally allowed maximum number of driving hours, if an order by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is upheld.
OSHA found that Core-Mark International's… Read more »
Featured Video
Special Report
A new report by Peter Rousmaniere titled Seismic Shifts: An Essential Guide for Practitioners and CEOs in Workers’ Comp, investigates commercial opportunities in a shrinking workers’ comp industry.
David DePaolo presents Intro to Seismic Shifts in Workers’ Comp, a 4-part series of recorded webinars. Listen to David’s Intro FREE! Register today!
(Download report)
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Upcoming Events
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Mar 5-6, 2015
2015 WCRI Annual Issues and Re
The theme of the conference is "Resilience or Renovation." The workers' compensation system has ev …
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Mar 7, 2015
Liens: The View From the Oxnar
The California Workers' Compensation Appeals Board is moving lien claims to the Oxnard district of …
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Mar 8-10, 2015
SCWCEA 36th Annual Medical Sem
Join the more than 800 professionals involved in South Carolina workers' compensation claims who d …
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Mar 9-10, 2015
CSIA's 2015 Annual Meeting and
CSIA is once again returning to the Disneyland Hotel for their Annual Meeting and Educational Conf …