WCI News & Insights

WCI news content is provided in partnership by WorkersCompensation.com, the unquestioned leader for relevant and critical information for the workers' comp industry.

Florida Workers’ Comp Fraud Sting

Bruce Burk

Tallahassee, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – The legislature creates laws, not suggestions. Despite this, some businesses either believe...

Experts Get the Conversation Going to Reduce Delayed Treatment

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Workers’ compensation stakeholders cite delayed medical treatment as one of their biggest...

Oklahoma Passes New Opioid Settlement Law

Bruce Burk

Oklahoma City, OK (WorkersCompensation.com0 – There has been no shortage of opioid litigation in the past...

Berkeley Study Suggests Increasing Minimum Wage Has Positive Effects

F.J. Thomas

Berkeley, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – A new study by The University of California at Berkeley economists Anna Godoey and Michael Reich...

Alaska Workers’ Compensation Rates Decline

Chriss Swaney

Juneau, AK (WorkersCompensation.com) – Alaska state officials report that this year’s workers’ compensation rate decline is...

Give Kids The World Newsletter – July 2019

May 2019

What’s Inside? Article 1: Pillow Talk Article 2: Olivia’s Story Article 3: WCI Give Kids the World Service Day...

McDonald’s Responds to Workplace Violence Criticism

nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Ten U.S. senators are asking McDonald’s CEO to “immediately adopt a comprehensive...

PA: Widow’s Attorney Warns County, Husband’s Suicide Was Work-Related

Liz Carey

Westmoreland County, PA (WorkersCompensation.com) – The widow of a former corrections officer says she may file...

Preventable Deaths Ranked by State

Nancy Grover

Itasca, IL (WorkersCompensation.com) – California has the lowest rate of preventable deaths, while West Virginia has...

Ohio Grate Maker Company Faces Over $183K in Fines for Workplace Safety Violations

Toni Sutton-Deangelico

Canton, Ohio (WorkerssCompensation.com)- Ohio Gratings Inc., described as ‘the industry leader in the manufacture of steel...

DEA Licensed Physician Charged For Giving Out Pain ‘Goodie Bags’

F.J. Thomas

Huntington Valley, PA (WorkersCompensation.com) – The US Department of Justice announced that Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Andrew...

Employees Honored as RTW MVPs

Nancy Grover

Durham, NC (WorkersCompensation.com) – Injured workers who can stay at work or return as soon after...

Study Shows Need to Train Drivers on Vehicle Automation Systems

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Technology designed to make driving safer may have the exact opposite effect...

Study Finds American Workers Less Engaged Compared to Other Countries

F.J. Thomas

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – A new study from ADP Research Institute shows that American workers are less engaged than those...

Moving the Goal Post in Workers’ Compensation Litigation

Bruce Burk

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – If you have found yourself dealing with a workers’ compensation claim and...

California Law Aimed At Protecting Gig Workers May Harm Hollywood

Liz Carey

Hollywood, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – A California law aimed at protecting gig workers at companies like Uber...

Oklahoma Court Decision May Spark More Suits Against Employers

Nancy Grover

Oklahoma City, OK (WorkersCompensation.com) – The Oklahoma Supreme Court has effectively expanded the definition of ‘intentional...

LA Lake Closed After Lifeguards Develop Bacterial Reaction

Liz Carey

Los Angeles, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – The Los Angeles Aquatics Division of the Department of Recreation and...

EX Boston Trolley Driver Sentenced To Jail For Staging Attack To Collect WC

Toni Sutton-Deangelico

Boston, Massachusetts (WorkersCompensation.com)- A former Massachusetts trolley driver has been sentenced to three years and one...

Responding to a Defective PFB – Incorrect Dates of Accident

Bruce Burk

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – If you’re an adjuster, then you have probably found yourself trying to...

OSHA Report Alleges Multiple Failures Leading to Miami Bridge Collapse

Nancy Grover

Washington, DC (WorkersCompensation.com) – Structural design deficiencies, failure to recognize the magnitude of widening cracks, oversights...

Efforts to Engage, Retain Workers – Going to the Dogs

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – You may notice something different about the workplace during the next several...

Psychological Injuries Examined in New Oregon Supreme Court Case

Bruce Burk

The concept of rule in/rule out deals with the notion that an injured worker should have...

Sponsor of Immigration Provision in WC Budget Bill Says it’s for Data Collection

Nancy Grover

Columbus, OH (WorkersCompensation.com) – It’s now up to the State Senate to tackle the budget bill...

Heritage Pharmaceuticals to Pay $$7 Million in False Claims Allegations

F.J. Thomas

Philadelphia, PA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Generic drug maker Heritage Pharmaceuticals of Eatontown, New Jersey will pay $7...

Court Says Carpenter’s Injuries Falling Off Bridge Aren’t Covered by Longshoreman’s Act

Liz Carey

Norfolk, VA (WorkersCompensation.com) – A carpenter’s fall off a bridge can’t be considered maritime work a...

DOJ Hanford Workers’ Compensation Lawsuit Update

Bruce Burk

A federal judge is poised to rule on a new lawsuit brought against the state of...

Beat Fatigue to Reduce the Bottom Line

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Having tired workers is more than just a simple annoyance. It’s a...

BWC Pharmacy Chief Clarifies What’s Covered/Not Covered in Oxy Chang

Liz Carey

Columbus, OH (WorkersCopmpensation.com) – Ohio’s workers’ compensation agency said it will reimburse injured workers for various...

Over Half of Road Workers Involved in Accidents

F.J. Thomas

Arlington, VA (WorkersCompensation.com) – A new study released by the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America indicates that...

PTSD Bill on Way to Governor Includes ‘Study’ to Consider Including EMS Personnel

Liz Carey

Hartford, CT (WorkersCompensation.com) – Nearly 10 years after a police officer was denied workers’ compensation benefits...

A TRUE summer blockbuster: National Worker’s Compensation Review: 2019 edition reveal (including spoiler alerts)!

H. George Kagan

What is the NWCR? Brief History and mission statement: One score less six years ago, our...

Prosecution of Pain Med Physicians: Conspiracy Or Truth?

F.J. Thomas

Salt Lake City, UT (WorkersCompensation.com) – Last week, WorkersCompensation.comreported that Allstate had filed suit against two pain...

Survey on Workplace Mental Health Reveals ‘Alarming’ Findings

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Mental health issues can have a significant impact on organizations. They can...

California Business Groups Seek Legislative Help On Independent Contractors

Liz Carey

San Jose, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – While California legislators are working to pass legislation that would redefine...

Dollar Tree Cited Again By L&I For Safety Violations

Toni Sutton-Deangelico

Vancouver, WA (WorkersCompensation.com) – The Washington Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) recently issued one of...

Non-Traditional Lite Duty May Fit the Bill for RTW

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Getting injured workers back to function as soon as possible is a...

California’s DWP Down Again

Nancy Grover

Oakland, CA (WorkersCompenstion.com) – “For the second year in a row total direct written premium in...

Employers Can Prevent Summer-Related Workers’ Compensation Claims

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – As the unofficial start of the summer season, it’s a good time...

Teachers Face Increased Violence in The Classroom

Liz Carey

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – By the end of April, the number of workers’ compensation claims over...

Allstate Sues Well Known Senior Physician Following Fraud Investigation

F.J. Thomas

Detroit, MI (WorkersCompensation.com) – Insurance giant Allstate has filed suit against two pain clinics and two...

Ohio Rebates Most Of Employers’ Workers’ Comp Premiums

Liz Carey

Reynoldsburg, OH (WorkersCompensation.com) – Ohio’s Bureau of Workers’ Compensationhas proposed rebating almost all of employers’ workers’ compensation...

Treating Physicians Share Their WC Concerns

Nancy Grover

Orlando, FL (WorkersCompenstion.com) – There are roughly 3,000 board certified occupational physicians in the country. With...

Construction Company Owner Arrested for Fraud

Liz Carey

Jacksonville, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – The owner of a Florida construction company has been arrested in a...

Concord Contractors Fined By OSHA for Safety Violations That Resulted In Death

Toni Sutton-Deangelico

Concord, New Hampshire (WorkersCompensation.com)- A local contractor was cited by OSHA for over $40,000 in fines...

Connecticut Proposal Offers First Responders Benefits For PTSD

Hartford, CT (WorkersCompensation.com) – Legislation to provide extended benefits to first responders who develop work-related Post...

Unprecedented Positive WC Stats Give Experts Pause

Nancy Grover

Orlando, FL (WorkersCompenstion.com) – “We’re in an atypical environment right now,” said NCCI’s Chief Actuary Kathy...

Alliance of Women in Workers’ Compensation

The Workers’ Compensation Institute is excited to announce a partnership with the Alliance of Women in...

Spread of Measles a Potential Concern for Organizations

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – At least 764 individual cases of measles have been confirmed in the...

Tennessee Employers May Be Immune To Mental Anguish Claims

F.J. Thomas

Nashville, TN (WorkersCompensation.com) –A new amendment to Tennessee’s Healthy Workplace Act may offer employers protection from lawsuits for...

State Presumptive Laws Don’t Go Far Enough, FF Advocates Say

Chriss Swaney

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – While states are increasingly considering and/or adopting legislation to provide workers’ compensation...

Give Kids The World Newsletter – May 2019

May 2019

What’s Inside? Article 1: Gallagher Bassett is Giving it Their All! Article 2: WCI’s GKTW Silent Auction Returns...

Quest Authors Offer Suggestions for Employers in States with Marijuana Laws

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompenstion.com) – Employers concerned about the increasing use of marijuana among their workers, especially...

OxyContin Suits and Potential Legal Implications

Bruce Burk

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – OxyContin has become somewhat of a four letter word with the advent...

Pain Hampers Productivity, IBI Researcher Says

F.J. Thomas

San Francisco, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – “There’s a very high proportion of people using prescription pain relievers...

Injured Workers Increasingly Being Treated As Consumers

Chriss Swaney

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – A pervasive trend for stakeholders in the complex workers’ compensation arena is...

NY Farmers Say New Workers’ Comp Laws Could Put Them Out Of Business

Liz Carey

Albany, NY (WorkersCompensation.com) – A New York state proposal that would make farmers subject to overtime...

Lag Times Cost Money, Report Shows

Nancy Grover

San Francisco, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Employers/payers spend an extra $50.47 on medical-only claims for each day...

Understanding the Basics Can Prevent ADA Non-compliance

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Trying to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act can seem like...

Company Whose Worker Died In Trench Incident Had Prior Violations

Toni Sutton-Deangelico

Sugarcreek Township, Ohio (WorkersCompensation.com) – Earlier this month a worker died in a trench collapse at...

CT Teachers out on WC due to Alleged Mold Exposure

Bruce Burk

Stamford, CT (WorkersCompensation.com) – Mold exposure is no laughing matter. In fact, some research links exposure...

Audit of KY Workers’ Comp Insurer Finds Questionable Expenditures

Liz Carey

Frankfort, KY (WorkersCompensation.com) – Among the purchases made by the Kentucky workers’ compensation agency the Kentucky...

Study Shows Healthcare Workers Not Cleaning Their Hands Between Tasks

F.J. Thomas

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) issued a news release stating...

Truck Driver Finally Settles, Years After TBI Claim

Toni Sutton-Deangelico

Middletown, CT (WorkersCompensation.com) – 35-year-old truck driver Jairo Solis has settled his workers’ compensation claim with...

Employers Struggle With Leave of Absence Issues

Chriss Swaney

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Balancing the various paid leave of absence laws can make for confusing...

Workers’ Comp Fund For Drivers Used For Lobbyist, Political Contributions

Liz Carey

New York, NY (WorkersCompensation.com) – A fund set up to pay for injuries to for-hire drivers...

Gig Economy IPOs

Bruce Burk

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – With the prevalence of the gig economy sweeping across the nation, naturally...

WCI 2019 Theme Announcement!

WCI 2019 Theme: Coast to Coast The Workers’ Compensation Institute is very excited to reveal the...

FDA Issues Label Changes to Prevent Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms

Nancy Grover

Washington, DC (WorkersCompensation.com) – “The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has received reports of serious harm...

Court Ruling Affirms NCAA Athletes Are Not University Employees, Expert Says

Liz Carey

Minneapolis, MN (WorkersCompensation.com) – With Virginia’s win over Texas Tech last night for the national title,...

Pro Wrestlers Seeking Employee Status Get Hope from Newly Formed Organization

Toni sutton-Deangelico

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – The topic of workers’ compensation for athletes can be quite interesting; going...

Tennessee Undocumented Worker Case Not Necessarily Clear Cut

F.J. Thomas

Nashville, TN (WorkersCompensation.com) – A recent case heard by the Tennessee Supreme Court highlights some complexities...

Insurer Sees Improved Outcomes, Lower Costs with Workers’ Recovery Approach

Nancy Grover

Des Moines, IA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Being nice can pay dividends. Workers’ compensation managers at Continental Western...

Ability + Curiosity = Success for WC Professionals, NCCI Board Chair Advises

Nancy Grover

Boca Raton, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – A commitment to lifelong learning is critical for industry professionals going...

Bakery Owner Out of a Large Sum Of Dough for Going Without WC Insurance

Toni Sutton-Deangelico

Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA(WorkersCompensation.com) – It’s imperative that business owners stay on top of their workers’ compensation policies;...

NY Takes $2 Million from Racing Purses for Workers’ Compensation

Liz Carey

New York, NY (WorkersCompensation.com) – Legislators in New York have authorized a $2 million transfer from...

Presenteeism Can Cost You

F.J. Thomas

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – If your employees are coming to work sick, it might be costing...

Open Office Space Design Wave of the Future

Chriss Swaney

Some workers may hate the growing trend for open office design, but it’s probably here to...

Expert Use Best Practices to Protect Patients, Healthcare Workers from Opioid Effects

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Mussels in Puget Sound have tested positive for opioids. That finding last...

Key Congressional Committee Approves Safe Harbor for Medical Marijuana Payments

Nancy Grover

Washington, DC (WorkersCompensation.com) – A dilemma for insurers and self-insured employers about whether and how to...

Oxycontin Maker Settles With Oklahoma For $270 Million

Liz Carey

Tulsa OK (WorkersCompensation.com) – The maker of OxyContin will pay out an estimated $270 million in...

Enforcement of Medicare Payments

Bruce Burk

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Medicare is always on the minds of those who work in the...

WCI 2019 Entertainment & Keynote Speaker!

#WCI2019

Jake Owen to perform at WCI 2019! We are excited to announce that chart-topping, singer/songwriter Jake...

Give Kids The World Newsletter

March 2019

What’s Inside? Article 1: The Sedgwick Effect: An Inspiring Interview with Dave North of Sedgwick! Article 2: An...

Report: Federal Black Lung Fund Threatened

Liz Carey

Coeburn, VA (WorkersCompensation.com) – A tax increase that was not renewed during the budget showdown in...

OSHA Cites Pet Food Maker for $95K

Toni Sutton-Deangelico

Miami, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – A premium pet food manufacturer was stunned last week when it was...

Gene Testing Could Provide More Accurate Prescribing for Injured workers – Someday

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Imagine going to your physician and getting the exact medication and dosage...

Employers Are Stymied by Worker Overdoses

Chriss Swaney

Sarasota, FL (WorkercCompensation.com) – For the first time in U.S. history, a person is more likely...

Workplace Fatalities Decrease Overall But Increase for Older Workers

F.J. Thomas

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – The diligence of employers providing a safer work place has paid off...

New Bill Proposal for Workers’ Comp in FL

Bruce Burk

Tallahassee, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – With the start of a new administration and a new legislative session,...

Pennsylvania Firm Penalized By OSHA For Exposing Employees To Trenching Hazard

Toni Sutton-Deangelico

Warminster, PA (Workerscompensation.com)-Early last week, OSHA cited Etna Construction Inc. for unsafe conditions at one of...

Illinois Passes Legislation Seen as Threat to Exclusive Remedy

Nancy Grover

Springfield, IL (WiorkersCompensation.com) – Legislation on its way to Illinois’ governor would allow some workers to...

How Safe Are Today’s New Commercial Aircraft?

Chriss Swaney

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – For years, the FAA has essentially allowed airplane manufacturers to sign off...

TX: Study Shows Decrease In Number Of Small Businesses With WC

Liz Carey

Dallas, TX (WorkersCompensation.com) – A study released in February shows that nearly a third of small...

Don’t Mess with the Client’s Money

Judge David Langham

The Florida Bar News recently reported on the disbarment of an attorney in December 2018. This happens periodically,...

What is Disability, Really?

Bob Wilson

It is an issue we struggle with, and a difficult one to solve. Much of the...

Producers Of A Hit TV Show Cited By OSHA After Stuntman Gets Injured

Toni Sutton-Deangelico

Atlanta, GA (WorkerCompensation.com)-Unless there is a lawsuit of some sort, or it is sexy, or there...

Why We’re Still Talking About Opioids

Nancy Grover

Phoenix, AZ (WorkersCompensation.com) – A lot of people – including workers — are taking pain meds....

The Ranks of the First Responder Special Class is Growing

Robert Wilson

Legislative bills in Montana and Idaho that will grant certain benefits and presumptions for first responders appear to be headed...

Great Public Harm – and Social Media

Judge David Langham

The Florida Bar filed a Petition for Emergency Suspension recently in a case styled The Florida Bar...

Orlando Apollos Hoping to Get WC in Florida

F.J. Thomas

Orlando, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Last week the Orlando Sentinel reported that the Orlando Apollos would be practicing in Kingsland, Georgia...

OH BWC Eliminates Oxycontin from Drug Formulary

Liz Carey

Columbus, OH (WorkersCompensation.com) – Board members for the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation have voted to...

Florida WC Judges Seek Fair Pay from Legislature

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – We hear a lot about attorneys’ fees in Florida’s workers’ compensation system,...

Perspectives: Status Woe – Outdated Regulation Impedes Healthcare Innovation

Sandy Shtab

As a college student, I interned with my U.S. Senator, an experience that provided an early...

Who Are Our Leaders For Artificial Intelligence?

Peter Rousmaniere

We can see it coming — very incrementally at first. Then there will be large disruptions....

Whistleblower: Grand Canyon Employees Exposed To Uranium In 5-Gallon Tubs

Liz Carey

Grand Canyon National Park, AZ (WorkersCompensation.com) – A safety manager with the National Park Service said...

Opioid Scripts Down, But CWCI Warns Against Replacing One Drug Problem with Another

Nancy Grover

Oakland, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Opioids previously comprised nearly one-third of the medications prescribed in California’s workers...

Subrogation in Workers’ Compensation Claims

Bruce Burk

Sarasota, FL (workersCompensation.com) – When a workers’ compensation accident happens, one of the first things which...

Tennessee Businesses Are Optimistic Despite Lack Of Workers And Higher WC Costs

F.J. Thomas

Johnson City, TN (WorkersCompensation.com) –In early January, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) released a Job Report that indicated...

E-Scooters Could be the Death of Your Company

Bob Wilson

Colorado workers’ compensation insurer Pinnacol Assurance issued a news release recently urging employers to reconsider their employee’s...

Can a Medicare Advantage Plan Assert a Greater Right of Recovery for Conditional Payments than Traditional Medicare? Optum Seems to Think So

Heather Schwartz Sanderson

The Non-Group Health Plan (NGHP) industry is not only experiencing increased recovery demands from Medicare Advantage...

Gun Violence: A Growing Threat in the Workplace

Liz Carey

Minneapolis, MN (WorkersCompensation.com) – As the snow fell on I-35 Tuesday, Feb. 4, Kenneth Lilly allegedly...

Put Workers At the Center of Claims Process for Best Outcomes, Experts Advise

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Starbucks has a unique way of reporting injuries; they let injured workers...

New Insights Into Modified Duty’s Benefits

Peter Rousmaniere

Do modified duties work to reduce workers’ compensation costs? Aside from anecdotal evidence, we haven’t had...

CMS Releases Proposals that Will Increase Medicare Advantage Plan Growth

Jean S. Goldstein

Recently, CMS released Part II of a set of proposals that CMS indicates “will take significant...

Distracted Driving in Workers’ Compensation

Bruce Burke

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – With more and more people getting smart phones, texting and driving is...

Benzos: The Next Drug Crisis

Nancy Grover

Sarastoa, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) A dangerous class of drugs is increasingly being prescribed for back aches and...

Medical Experts Offer Thoughts, Advice for Physician Burnout

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompenstion.com) – An increase in administrative burdens, frustrations with new technological requirements and less...

Three Huge Mistakes That Could Essentially Destroy a Workers’ Compensation Claim

Toni Sutton-Deangelico

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Nobody ever expects an employee to be injured at the work-place, but...

Mega Claims Show the Value of Workers’ Compensation

Nancy Grover

(Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – The idea of a $10 million workers’ compensation claim would have been...

Disability Accommodations Cost Employers Less Than You Think

F.J. Thomas

Tallahessee, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – A recent study released by the Florida Chamber Foundation shows that more employers are...

Report Shows Uber Investigators ‘Suicidal’ From Workload

Liz Carey

San Francisco, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Experts say managing employee stress levels is key to employee health,...

Telecommuting and Injured Workers: Who Pays?

Bruce Burk

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Telecommuting is on the rise on a global basis. More and more...

NY’s Revised Formulary Proposal ‘Nuanced’ and ‘Complex’

Nancy Grover

New York, NY (WorkersCompensation.com) – New York’s Workers’ Compensation Board may be hoping the third time...

New York’s New Virtual Hearings App Comes at Just The Right Time

Toni Sutton-Deangelico

New York, NY (WorkersCompensation.com) – Traveling to workers’ compensation hearings is often inconvenient, especially at this...

Report Links Big Pharma Marketing to Opioid ODs

Liz Carey

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – According to a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association,...

WC Pain Experts Weigh In on Opioids, Chronic Pain Draft Report

Nancy Grover

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Are best practices for treating chronic pain the best we can do?...

Virtual Visits May Top Office Appointments for Care Quality, Experts Say

FJ Thomas

Boston, MA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Not only is telemedicine convenient, it may actually produce better outcomes —...

New Year Changes in Workers’ Compensation

Bruce Burk/Liz Carey

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – New Year Changes in Workers’ Compensation The November 2018 elections saw a...

Second Mining Death of 2019 Kills Surveyor

Liz Carey

Bell County, KY (WorikersCompensation.com) – A Tennessee surveyor is dead after a coal mining accident in...

Hartwig Ponders Potential Impact of Shutdown on Worker Safety

Nancy Grover

Washington, DC (WorkersCompensation.com) – More than 800,000 federal employees are working without pay during the government...

Swedlow: Change in Leadership ‘One of the Most Significant’ in Quite Some Time

Nancy Grover

Sacramento, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – All eyes are on California to see what, if any changes Gov...

Tennessee Program Gives ‘Hope’ to Injured Workers Post Settlement

Nancy Grover

Nashville, TN (WorkersCompensation.com) – Injured workers who settle their claims often share a common feeling: despair....

New Year Sees Workers’ Compensation Rates Drop in FL – Again

Liz Carey

Tallahassee, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – With the new year comes yet another decrease in Florida businesses’ workers’...

More States Move To Cover PTSD For First Responders

Liz Carey

Tallahassee, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Frequent shootings in 2018 prompted some lawmakers to protect first responders suffering...

Corrections Officer Suspected of Worker’s Compensation Fraud

Toni Sutton

Buffalo, NY (WorkersCompensation.com) – A New York corrections officer who worked at a Wyoming correctional facility...

WCRI finds opioid dispensing more prevalent in rural areas; small businesses

Liz Carey

Cambridge, MA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Injured workers in mining and construction, as well as workers employed at...

Could (Would) I Write you a Recommendation Letter?

Judge David Langham

A unanimous Florida Supreme Court decided Inquiry Concerning a Judge NO. 18-108 RE: Deborah White LaBora on November...

Rousmaniere: A WCRI for our times

Peter Rousmaniere

An Opinion Piece by Peter Rousmaniere The models for research which the Workers Compensation Research Institute...

Injured Food Service Workers Out on Average 30 Days, Report Says

Liz Carey

Editor’s Note: This story is a follow up to a report that originally ran here on...

Governor Hutchinson Appoints Scott Willhite to the Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission

Staff Report

Little Rock, AR (WorkersCompensation.com) – Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson announced Thursday his intent to appoint Scott...

Trucking Deaths Up for 2017, Expert Blames Truckers

Liz Carey

Washington, DC (WorkersCompensation.com) – According to a recent report, trucking deaths on the job reached a...

New York Governor Vetoes Paid Family Leave Revision to Workers’ Comp

Staff Report

Albany, NY (WorkersCompensation.com) – In the waning days of 2018, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo vetoed...

Encouragement for Pain Sufferers

Becky Curtis

This article was originally published on PainPathways.org by Dee Emmerson, TCC Writer. The old ballad, “Home, Home on...

MD: Cafeteria Worker Attacked by Students at East Baltimore High School

Toni Sutton

Baltimore, MD (WorkersCompensation.com) – Baltimore school cafeteria worker Tina Hill was injured after an alleged assault...

4-1-1 on Comp: Update on Work Comp Attorneys’ Fees in FL

Bruce Burk

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – With the November election in the review mirror, many are speculating on...

Rousmaniere: How PTSD Laws are Changing

Peter Rousmaniere

Sandy Hook… Parkland… Las Vegas… Pittsburgh… incidents of mass carnage shock the country. Many workers are...

4-1-1 on Comp: Private Firefighters in CA

Bruce Burk

Butte County, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – California has recently had the worst set of wildfires in history....

Raging Retail? Recent Report Ranks States by Risk of Violence from Black Friday

FJ Thomas

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – A report ranking states by risk of violence during Black Friday was recently released...

TN Experiences Ongoing Drug Shortages

FJ Thomas

Knoxville, TN (WorkersCompensation.com) – Some hospitals in east Tennessee have recently sent out notification to providers...

‘Deep Fakes’ and What It Could Potentially Mean for Work Comp

FJ Thomas

Sacramento, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – According to common definitions, the term “Deep Fakes” is an AI-assisted technology,...

Five Tips for Getting Through the Holidays with Chronic Pain

Becky Curtis

I look forward to the holidays when friends and family gather for food, fun and laughter....

4-1-1 on Comp Defenses: Major Contributing Cause vs. Exacerbation of Pre-Existing Condition and Return to Baseline

Bruce Burk

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – We hear a lot about the defense of major contributing cause in...

OH Initiates Program to Help Recovering Addicts Return to the Workplace

Kenneth Davis

Columbus, OH (WorkersCompensation.com) – Similar to many states struggling with this topic, the nationwide opioid epidemic...

NY: Unbridled Workers’ Compensation Rates Slow Thoroughbred Racing Industry

Chriss Swaney

Albany, NY (WorkersCompensation.com) – The winners’ circle, and even racing in general, may remain elusive for...

4-1-1 on Comp: Poll Workers and Work Comp Claims

Bruce Burk

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – With the elections in the rearview mirror, most people are done thinking...

An Update on Work Comp Rates for Employers

FJ Thomas

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – October was the month of reductions in work comp employer costs for...

OH Court Awards Work Comp Benefits to Data Entry Clerk

Toni Sutton

Twinsburg, OH (Workerscompensation.com) – An Ohio appellate court has ruled to uphold an award of benefits...

Resilience Defined

Mark Pew

I had the privilege of closing out the annual conference for the Oklahoma City chapter of...

TX Dept. of Insurance Study: High Percentage Of Injured Workers Have Previous Claims

FJ Thomas

Houston, TX (WorkersCompensation.com) – According to a study released in May 2018 by the Texas Department Of Insurance...

4-1-1 on Comp: Traumatic Brain Injuries

Bruce Burk

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Traumatic brain injuries or TBIs are dealt with regularly in the workers’...

4-1-1 on Comp: CT Man Charged with Work Comp Fraud

Bruce Burk

Manchester, CT (WorkersCompensation.com) – Manchester, CT resident Ronald Gordillo was recently arrested on a warrant after...

Rousmaniere: Time to Rebalance Workers’ Comp

Peter Rousmaniere

It’s passed the time when workers’ comp should be striking a better balance between cost reductions,...

Exploring the Safety Net for Non-Traditional Employees

Chriss Swaney

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – If you are a jockey, small business owner, agricultural worker, freelance writer...

Five Foods to Help Fight Chronic Pain

Becky Curtis

Some of you may wonder why I am including recipes in my chronic pain blog. In...

NYC Law Dept. Report: Taxpayers Are Footing the Bill for More Work Comp Claims

Liz Carey

New York, NY (WorkersCompensation.com) – New York City taxpayers are paying more than ever for city...

Study Links Opioids to Workers’ Compensation

Liz Carey

Baltimore, MD (WorkersCompensation.com) – A new report has found that 30 percent of injured workers prescribed...

CA: Five Charged in Work Comp Referral Scheme

Liz Carey

Orange County, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Four chiropractors and a fifth man believed to be a conspirator...

Rousmaniere: The Smart Phone as Curse — and Savior?

Peter Rousmaniere

Distracted driving — driving while distracted by a smart phone or other infotainment gadget — has...

Robots in the Workplace: What Effects Does it Have on Employees, Employers and Work Comp?

Kenneth Davis

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – In this tech-driven age of automation, robots have become a common sight...

Workers’ Compensation Auto Accidents Increasing, Study Shows

Liz Carey

Charleston, SC (WorkersCompensation.com) – Auto accidents on the job continue to be one of the major...

Neck-Up Thinking

Becky Curtis

“Stop the car!” I demanded, “I can’t take this another minute!” We pulled over and I got out,...

TX Resources: Can Responsiveness Determine Long-Term Impacts of Disasters?

FJ Thomas

Houston, TX (WorkersCompensation.com) – The Houston Chronicle recently reported that Harris County allotted $14.5 million to...

TX Study Analyzes Access to Medical Care

FJ Thomas

Austin, TX (WorkersCompensation.com) – A recent study released by the Workers’ Compensation Division of the Texas Department of...

CDC Releases Report on Carpal Tunnel Statistics

FJ Thomas

Sacramento, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – The CDC released a report in early October, regarding carpal tunnel syndrome with data...

Supervisors Beware

David Langham

In 2016 I wrote that Recent Decisions may Caution Supervisors. That post discusses cases on supervisor liability,...

Risky Business: Pizza Delivery Drivers

Liz Carey

This is the next article in WorkersCompensation.com’s “Risky Business” series, as we explore what is it like to...

4-1-1 on Comp: California First Responder Legislation

Bruce Burk

Sacramento, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – California has passed a new law that provides increased workers’ compensation benefits...

Risky Business: Logging Deemed the Most Dangerous Job of 2018, per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics

Liz Carey

This is the next article in WorkersCompensation.com’s “Risky Business” series, as we explore what is it like to...

4-1-1 on Comp: KY Workers’ Comp Reform

Bruce Burk

Frankfort, KY (WorkersCompensation.com) – A new Kentucky Supreme Court Case has prompted the Kentucky legislature to...

Human Nature in the News

Judge David Langham

There is plenty in the news to depress and exhaust us. That came back to mind...

9th Circuit Deals Blow to Gig Workers, But Perhaps Not a Huge One

Liz Carey

San Francisco, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – A ruling by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals means business as...

SC: Officers Shot During Search; One Dead, Six Others injured

Liz Carey

Florence, SC (WorkersCompensation.com) – Officers attempting to serve a search warrant were shot at by a...

New Bill Calls for Consistency in Billing Costs for Air Ambulances

Liz Carey

Atlanta, GA (WorkersCompensation.com) – A 1980s law that deregulated airline traffic shouldn’t be used to allow...

Census Report: Three Quarters of Businesses Have No Employees

Liz Carey

Washington, DC (WorkersCompensation.com) – According to a recently released report from the US Census Bureau, more than 75...

FL Takes on New PTSD Training Initiative for First Responders

FJ Thomas

Tallahassee, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Florida Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis has rolled...

States Trend Toward Digital Conversion in Work Comp

Karen Ridder

Houston, TX (WorkersCompensation.com) – The 24,000-square-foot building that used to house all of the hard-file records...

Ouch! Former CT FedEx Driver is Awarded $160G in Settlement After Vicious Dog Attack

Toni Sutton

Thomaston, CT (WorkersCompensation.com) – Russell Horvath, a former FedEx Ground driver, was brutally attacked by two...

Drug Monitoring Back in the News

Florida Deputy Chief Judge of Compensation Claims David Langham

Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMP) returned to the news in August, but quietly. A website for IT-related health...

Shooting in Baltimore Marks Third US Workplace Shooting in 24 Hours

Liz Carey

Aberdeen, MD (WorkersCompensation.com) – A woman who entered a Rite Aid distribution center and killed three...

A TX Telehealth Law Update

FJ Thomas

Houston, TX (WorkersCompensation.com) – In April, the Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation adopted a new rule, 28...

Update: Workers’ Comp Coverage for Firefighters

Karen Ridder

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Lawmakers across the country continue to be interested in workers’ compensation for firefighters...

Rousmaniere: How Fare Workers Benefit?

Peter Rousmaniere

Private sector employers and their employees are continually challenged to manage health benefits and other non-occupational...

The Hidden Costs of the Gig Economy

Liz Carey

New York, NY (WorkersCompensation.com) – While hiring gig workers may save employers money on benefits, consumers...

Death Toll From Cancer for 9/11 Responders Expected to Outnumber Victims of Attack

Liz Carey

New York, NY (WorkersCompensation.com) – As the nation recognizes the 17th anniversary of the terrorist attacks...

CA: Groups Help Female Janitors with Workplace Safety Improvements

Liz Carey

Los Angeles, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Amid concerns that Latina women may not be reporting assaults at...

Opioids Can Interfere and Complicate

David Langham

In May, WorkCompCentral reported Court Reinstates Denial of PTD Award for Worker With Opioid Addiction. In Borkovec v....

The Smaller Technology Gets, the Bigger Our Opportunities in Workers’ Comp

Bob Wilson (From Bob’s Cluttered Desk)

Three trends in technology are poised to make significant impacts in medical care, and by the...

Familiar Numbers

Julius Young

The recent California Department of Industrial Relations report on IMR (see link below) isn’t full of...

How Movement at Work Can Make a Difference: An Ergonomics Update

Phil Yacuboski

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – It might be the way our workload is changing or the way...

NY: Correctional Dept. Work Comp Claims Are on the Rise

Toni Sutton

New York, NY (WorkersCompensation.com) – While New York City inmates in jails such as Rikers Island...

WA: Amazon Responds to Allegations of Poor Working Conditions

Liz Carey

Seattle, WA (WorkersCompensation.com) – After a month of stories alleging the company provided workers with poor...

CA Company to Offer Work Comp Insurance to the Cannabis Industry

Liz Carey

San Diego, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Program administrator Atlas General Insurance Services will partner with Accredited Surety...

The Search for Ways To Deter Over-Prescription Of Opioids in Work Comp Continues…

FJ Thomas

A recent study released by California Workers Comp Institute (CWCI) indicates that despite efforts to curb opioid use...

CA Supreme Court Upholds Appeals Court Decision in King v. CompPartners

Liz Carey

Sacramento, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – The California Supreme Court has ruled that an injured worker further injured...

The CA Supreme Court Speaks

Julius Young

The California Supreme Court has now issued a decision in the closely watched case King v. CompPartners (see...

4-1-1 on Comp: Update on Independent Contractors

Bruce Burk

Los Angeles, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – We all know that a worker’s status as an employee or...

HI Flood Updates from Honolulu and Hilo

Liz Carey

Honolulu, HI (WorkersCompensation.com) – For hundreds of businesses in Hawaii, safety concerns for employees and customers prompted...

Safe and Sound Week Wrap-Up

Phil Yacuboski

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Businesses and industries across the nation celebrated Safe and Sound Week in...

A Star in Sports: Emmy-Award Winning Sports Caster Keynotes WCI 2018

Dara Barney

Orlando, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Lee Corso, a multiple-award winning ESPN College GameDay analyst, presented to a...

WCI 2018: Why ‘People, Places and Things’ Matter to Work Comp

Dara Barney

Orlando, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Kimberly George, SVP Corporate Development, M&A and Healthcare at Sedgwick; and Mark...

Taking Off to New Planets: Let’s Talk About Workers’ Recovery at WCI 2018

Dara Barney

Orlando, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – While the Judiciary College is on a track available to judges involved...

Beyond the Cookie Cutter: WCI 2018 Brings a Diversity and Inclusion Panel to ‘Walk the Talk’

Dara Barney

Orlando, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – “Diversity and Inclusion – Objective Examples of Meaningful Inclusion” panel member Chikita...

It’s a WCI 2018 Wrap: Taking a Comprehensive Look at What You Missed

Dara Barney

Orlando, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – 1) WCI 2018: Block Chains, EDI, ETL… Oh My! At the tail...

Tower MSA Partners’ WCI-TV Segments to Share Advice on Settling Workers’ Compensation Claims

ORLANDO, FLORIDA (August 10, 2018) — For the fourth consecutive year, Tower MSA Partners is sponsoring...

LA Employers Face Fines Following Misclassification Crackdown

Liz Carey

New Orleans, LA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Employers recently busted in a statewide misclassification audit will face fines...

Construction Site Risks are On the Rise

Chriss Swaney

Pittsburgh, PA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Most construction workers and contractors agree that construction jobs can be dangerous....

OH: Agents to Receive New Bulletproof Vests

Toni Sutton

Columbus, OH (WorkersCompensation.com) – Ohio Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Mike DeWine unveiled a proposal last...

Weather Causes Injury, Concerns on Both Coasts

Liz Carey

Yosemite Valley, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Employers and employees on both coasts face dangers from weather extremes...

West Coast Fires Continue to Take Toll on Firefighters

Liz Carey

Redding, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Fires that rage up and down the West Coast are taking their...

FAIA teams up with WCI for agents track

Dave Newell

The Workers’ Compensation Institute (WCI 2018) Conference is slated for August 19–22, 2018, and FAIA is...

NY: Ruling that Uber Drivers are Employees Could Impact ‘Gig Economy’

Liz Carey

New York, NY (WorkersCompensation.com) – A New York City unemployment board’s ruling that Uber drivers should...

Deadly Degrees: Excessive Heat Is Hazardous to Those That Work Outside

Toni Sutton

North Hills, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Summer is here, and for many, that means sun and fun....

Bullying: From the Backyard to the Boardroom?

Chriss Swaney

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – More than 60 million workers experience workplace bullying every year. Has the...

WA: More than 40 Workers Test Positive for Radiation after Nuke Site Clean-Up

Liz Carey

Hanford, WA (WorkersCompensation.com) – More than 40 workers at the Hanford Nuclear Site have tested positive...

4-1-1 on Comp: Disability in FL Heart Disease and Hypertension Claims

Bruce Burk

The Florida Heart and Lung Bill under F.S. 112.18 provides an evidentiary presumption for first responders...

Spotlight: ‘Secondary Payer’ Sessions at WCI

Michelle Allan of the Medicare Advocacy Recovery Coalition (MARC)

As federal policymakers continue to modernize and improve the Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) and Medicaid Third...

Risky Business: Stunt Doubles

Liz Carey

Los Angeles, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – While throwing oneself off buildings, or intentionally crashing a speeding car...

KY: Federal Officials Charge Mine Operators with Violating Safety Legislation

Liz Carey

Owensboro, KY (WorkersCompensation.com) – A federal indictment handed down this week charges eight former supervisors at...

You Don’t Have to Hire the Psychologist, But You Must Understand the Psychology

WorkersCompensation.com President and CEO Robert Wilson

There are a number of constants in the world of workplace injuries and workers’ compensation. One...

Confusion and Disconnects in Medicine

David Langham

If we are involved in an accident, we each would want the best care possible, delivered...

News at the North Carolina Industrial Commission

National Workers Compensation Defense Network (NWCDN)

Compiled by: Kyla Block Commissioner Myra L. Griffin was confirmed to the Full Commission on June 29,...

WorkersCompensation.com Legislative Update: July 2018

Liz Carey

Providence, RI (WorkersCompensation.com) – This year’s legislative session is over in most parts of the country,...

Work Comp Rebates in OH Join Lower Premiums in Other States

Liz Carey

Columbus, OH (WorkersCompensation.com) – More than 180,000 Ohio businesses should start to see rebate checks from...

Rousmaniere: Faces from 9/11

Peter Rousmaniere

The Sept. 11, 2001 attack on the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center blasted thousands...

CDC: More than 22M People Are Exposed to Noise Risks at Work

Phil Yacuboski

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Hearing loss is America’s most common workplace-related injury, according to the Centers...

The WCIRB Reports

Julius Young

Each year the WCIRB prepares a report on California workers’ compensation losses and expenses during the...

Breakout for Risk Management

Steve Rissman, WCI Program Chair

For some time now, the WCI Conference has boasted of having the best risk management breakout...

Coming to WCI? Help Kids’ Chance Give Kids the World

WorkersCompensation.com President and CEO Bob Wilson (Bob’s Cluttered Desk)

Every year the Workers’ Compensation Institute, as part of their annual educational conference in Orlando, holds...

FL Officials Arrest 12 Unlicensed Contractors in Sting Operation

Liz Carey

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Florida officials announced the arrest of a dozen unlicensed contractors during a...

Risky Business: Fireworks Employees at Much Less Risk than Fireworks Consumers

Liz Carey

Slatington, PA (WorkersCompensation.com) – On June 30, 2017, an ignition malfunction at a Pennsylvania fireworks company...

Rousmaniere: Making Sense of the Turmoil Over Immigration

Peter Rousmaniere

First, take a long view. About every half century since the late 19th century the United States...

Alternative Therapies Gain Ground, But Still Have a Long Way to Go

Liz Carey

Asheville, NC (WorkersCompensation) – As state workers’ compensation commissions and insurance agencies look to combat the...

Industry Keynote Panel

Steve Rissman, WCI Program Chair

Following in the footsteps of last year’s industry keynote, Kimberly George from Sedgwick and Mark Walls...

Major Supreme Court Decision Will Affect Public Sector Employees, and Could Reach Private Sector Workers in the Future

Dara Barney

A big Supreme Court ruling today (5-4) states that public sector employees won’t be required to...

Workplace Shooting at MD Newspaper

Liz Carey

Annapolis, MD (WorkersCompensation.com) – At least five are dead, and two others wounded, in another workplace...

OK Supreme Court Rules On AMA Guide; PPD

Liz Carey

Oklahoma City, OK (WorkersCompensation.com) – The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 opinion Wednesday that...

Risky Business: Circus Performers at Lower Risk of Injury or Accident; but Many Companies Don’t Carry Work Comp, per Industry Expert

Liz Carey

Los Angeles, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – In the nine years that Doug Miller’s company, Zen Arts, has...

Who Will Win This Year’s Theme Contest?

Workers’ Compensation Institute

WCI’s exhibitors went “all in” with last year’s movie theme in the exhibit hall. Many exhibitors...

TX: Former TDI Work Comp Commissioner Passes Baton to Previous Gov. Policy Advisor

Dara Barney

Austin, TX (WorkersCompensation.com) – At just 37 years old, Ryan Brannan has reached new heights on...

AIA and PCI Announce Merger Discussions

Liz Carey

Washington, DC (WorkersCompensation.com) – Two of the insurance industry’s biggest professional organizations announced they will enter...

Rousmaniere: How Spinal Cord Injury Care Has Improved

Peter Rousmaniere

Tom, a Colorado firefighter on a rescue mission in 1990, survived a severe work accident that...

WV Supreme Court Rules Insurance Companies Can’t Reclaim Overpayments

Liz Carey

Charleston, WV (WorkersCompensation.com) – The West Virginia Supreme Court ruled this week that insurance companies who...

Black Lung Fund, to Help Ailing Miners, is in Trouble, Per Report

Liz Carey

Washington, DC (WorkersCompensation.com) – While incidents of black lung disease are on the rise, a new...

Technology Integration: Working to Improve Comp Claims

Chriss Swaney

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – New and improved technologies aim to streamline workers’ compensation programs for everything...

AIA and PCI Announce Merger Discussions

Liz Carey

Washington, DC (WorkersCompensation.com) – Two of the insurance industry’s biggest professional organizations announced they will enter...

CA Labor Commission: Cheesecake Factory Liable for Unpaid Wages; Damages to 559 Janitors

Liz Carey

San Diego, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Cheesecake Factory restaurants in Southern California may be liable for any...

First Responders See Progress in 32 States for Comp Coverage

Chriss Swaney

Tallahassee, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Legislative efforts to make it easier for first responders to receive workers’...

4-1-1 on Comp: Marijuana Dispensaries and Workers’ Compensation

Bruce Burk

Honolulu, HI (WorkersCompensation.com) – Even though many states have legalized marijuana on a recreational or medical...

The Burning Question – What can be done to Prevent and Treat Burns?

Dr. Zaydon

Introduction According to the American Burn Association, almost half a million patients go to the Emergency...

Appeals Court Overturns KS Work Comp Rule

Liz Carey

Topeka, KS (WorkersCompensation.com) – The Kansas Court of Appeals ruled Friday that a change to workers’...

Panic Buttons: CA Preps to Add New Protections for Hotel Workers

Chriss Swaney

Sacramento, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – California lawmakers are working to approve a new law (AB1761) designed to...

Celebrities Tapped for Labor Law Violations

Liz Carey

Los Angeles, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Not even celebrities are immune from workers’ compensation and labor law...

4-1-1 on Comp: Social Media and Misrepresentation Defenses in Work Comp

Bruce Burk

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Anyone who’s anyone has a Facebook these days. To most people, social...

Insureon Study: Nearly One Third of Small Businesses Don’t know if They Need Comp Coverage

Liz Carey

Columbus, OH (WorkersCompensation.com) – According to a new poll by Insureon, 26 percent of small businesses...

San Francisco City Attorney Asks Uber and Lyft for Driver Wage Info

Liz Carey

San Francisco, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – In a move some say may be a pre-cursor to deeming...

Another Rate Decrease

Julius Young

Advisory California workers’ comp rates are set to decline effective July 1, 2018 per a recent...

Cracks Found in Bridge Hours Before Deadly Collapse Dismissed by Officials, per NTSB

Liz Carey

Sweetwater, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Cracks found on the Florida International University bridge that collapsed in March...

Engaged Employees Have Lower Accident Rates and Absenteeism, Per a Recent Study

Liz Carey

Williamstown, MA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Manufacturers whose employees are more engaged in their jobs see fewer accidents,...

Building a Better Recovering Worker – The Advocate, The Adversary and The Addled

Bob Wilson

I am in Washington State this morning for the second time in just over 2 weeks....

NY Inspector General Charges 10 Companies with Work Comp/Medicaid Fraud

Liz Carey

‘Corridor of Corruption’ Albany, NY (WorkersCompensation.com) – Rides that were never given. Patient kickbacks. No workers’...

WV Appeals Court Upholds Denial of Work Comp Benefits to Widow

Liz Carey

Charleston, WV (WorkersCompensation.com) – The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals has upheld a Workers’ Compensation...

Italian Hacking Group Attacks NM’s Work Comp Website

Liz Carey

Santa Fe, NM (WorkersCompensation.com) – In mid-May, New Mexico’s Workers’ Compensation Administration (WCA) became the latest...

Expensive Payments and High Insurance Rates

Chriss Swaney

Is Work Comp Under Fire, and What are We Doing About it? Springfield, IL (WorkersCompensation.com) –...

Hospital Violence is on the Rise

Liz Carey

Chicago, IL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Hospital workers say the level of violence directed toward nurses and doctors...

Kids’ Chance of Florida to Support WCI Give Kids the World Service Day

WorkersCompensation.com

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Kids’ Chance of Florida will be supporting the Workers’ Compensation Institute Service...

HI: Kilauea Takes Away Wages, but There’s Been Only One Injury So Far

Liz Carey

Pahoa, HI (WorkersCompensation.com) – After weeks of lava flowing from Kilauea, thousands are out of work...

Liberty Mutual Report: Serious Workplace Injuries Cost Businesses $1B Per Week

Liz Carey

Boston, MA – According to a new report from Liberty Mutual Insurance, serious workplace injuries cost...

TX: Corporate and Personal Injury Attorney Will Spend Ten Years in Prison after Recruiting Niece as ‘Mole’ in $26M Work Comp Fraud Scheme

Phil Yacuboski

Dallas, TX (Workerscompensation.com) – A Dallas area attorney has pleaded guilty to a scheme netting more...

Rousmaniere: Who Are These Injured Immigrants?

Peter Rousmaniere

What is it like to be a low-wage immigrant worker in the US and suffer a...

Eruptions on HI’s Big Island Endanger Workers with Sulphur Gas, Possible Lava Boulders

Liz Carey

Hilo, HI (WorkersCompensation.com) – As the eruption of Kilauea volcano continues into its second week, Hawaii...

What is a Diversity/Inclusion Director, and What Does It Mean for Work Comp?

Cindy Ferraino

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – When the American Disabilities Act (ADA) was created in 1990, it was...

Former NFL Player, Survivor Contestant Heads to Court for Work Comp Fraud

Liz Carey

Los Angeles, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Former professional football player Brad Culpepper will head to court for...

The Conservative Care Debate: Can it Help Address Pain, and Combat the Opioid Crisis?

Cindy Ferraino

Columbus, OH (WorkersCompensation.com) – With a focus on reducing the amount of lumbar back surgeries as...

Teachers Face Violence in the Classroom

Liz Carey

West Fargo, ND (WorkersCompensation.com) – Kijesta Molch, a fifth grade teacher with West Fargo Public Schools,...

Fix to Federal Work Comp Plan Starts with Opioid Restrictions, Panel Says

Liz Carey

Washington, DC (WorkersCompensation.com) – Attacking the opioid epidemic at the federal level starts with limiting the...

Big News at Kids Chance: One Paradigm Exec is Honored with Service Award, and Another Steps Up as Organization’s New President

Dara Barney

Detroit, MI (WorkersCompensation.com) – Kids Chance of America, an organization that works to award scholarships to...

CA Supreme Court Makes It More Difficult to Classify Workers as Contractors

Liz Carey

San Francisco, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – A ruling yesterday in the California Supreme Court could change the...

Jackson Will Not Return as President’s Physician; May Face Pentagon Scrutiny

Liz Carey

Washington, DC (WorkersCompensation.com) – Ronny Jackson, President Donald Trump’s former nominee to be head of the...

Social Media Helps Investigators Find Fraud in Work Comp

Liz Carey

Long Beach, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – In 2014, it was social media that helped the California worker’s...

Trump VA Nominee Jackson Steps Down Amid Allegations

Liz Carey

Washington, DC (WorkersCompensation.com) – The Trump Administration’s nominee to head the Veterans Administration withdrew his name...

TX: Home Depot Stands Behind Employee Injured in Shooting; Police Mourn Fallen Officer

Liz Carey

Dallas, TX (WorkersCompensation.com) – Home Depot officials said they were horrified to learn one of their...

TN: Waffle House Employees Mourn Coworkers; Hero Raises Money for Employees and Victims

Liz Carey

Nashville, TN (WorkersCompensation.com) – Employees returned to the Nashville Waffle House where two of their coworkers...

4-1-1 on Comp: Upcoding and Workers’ Compensation

Bruce Burk

Upcoding is the practice of a medical provider billing a medical event on a more expensive...

Don’t Quit Your Day Job: Universal Basic Income Gets a Reality Check

Bob Wilson

This week it was announced that Finland, which had launched an experiment deploying “Universal Basic Income,”...

TN: Waffle House Employee Killed in Shooting

Liz Carey

Nashville, TN (WorkersCompensation.com) – The weekend Waffle House shooting took the lives of four people, including...

Airline Employees Injured While Flying Should Be Covered, According to Some Legal Experts

Liz Carey

Philadelphia, PA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Incidents like Southwest Airline’s engine incident and emergency landing have farther reaching...

Rousmaniere: The Real Gig Problem for Work Comp

Peter Rousmaniere

The “gig economy” term, as usually used, refers to disruption to regular employment. There is a...

As the Gig Economy Expands, Employers Are Cautioned to be Careful

Liz Carey

Philadelphia, PA (WorkersCompensation.com) – While a federal judge ruled recently that UberBlack drivers cannot be considered...

Is ‘Upcoding’ a Trending Practice in Work Comp?

Phil Yacuboski

Scranton, PA (WorkersCompensation.com) – At the Pelicci Pain Relief Center in Scranton, Dr. Leroy Pelicci submitted...

Reveal.com: Tesla Underreported Employee Injuries

Liz Carey

Fremont, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Tesla underreported employee injuries and didn’t follow standard safety procedures, according a...

National: Vaping Bans Become More Common as Companies Assess ‘Smoke-Free’ Workplaces

Liz Carey

Juneau, AK (WorkersCompensation.com) – A statewide smoking ban proposed in Alaska would include provisions to prohibit...

4-1-1 on Comp: Vaping in the Workplace

Bruce Burk

Vaping is the new smoking. Employers are struggling with how to deal with employees using e-cigarettes...

In Texas, Even the Loss of Leadership is Big

Bob Wilson

I was somewhat dismayed this week to hear of the announced resignation of Texas Workers’ Compensation...

MA: Sports Bar Shut Down Over Lack of Work Comp Insurance

Liz Carey

Lunenburg, MA (WorkersCompensation.com) – A Massachusetts sports bar has been closed and its liquor license has...

CA: Most of YouTube’s San Bruno Employees OK after Shooting; But May Struggle to get Needed Work Comp Coverage

Liz Carey

San Bruno, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Although few of the more than 1,100 employees of YouTube at...

Florida Workers’ Comp Fraud Sting Bruce Burk

Experts Get the Conversation Going to Reduce Delayed Treatment Nancy Grover

Oklahoma Passes New Opioid Settlement Law Bruce Burk

Berkeley Study Suggests Increasing Minimum Wage Has Positive Effects F.J. Thomas

Alaska Workers’ Compensation Rates Decline Chriss Swaney

Give Kids The World Newsletter – July 2019 May 2019

McDonald’s Responds to Workplace Violence Criticism nancy Grover

PA: Widow’s Attorney Warns County, Husband’s Suicide Was Work-Related Liz Carey

Preventable Deaths Ranked by State Nancy Grover

Ohio Grate Maker Company Faces Over $183K in Fines for Workplace Safety Violations Toni Sutton-Deangelico

DEA Licensed Physician Charged For Giving Out Pain ‘Goodie Bags’ F.J. Thomas

Employees Honored as RTW MVPs Nancy Grover

Study Shows Need to Train Drivers on Vehicle Automation Systems Nancy Grover

Study Finds American Workers Less Engaged Compared to Other Countries F.J. Thomas

Moving the Goal Post in Workers’ Compensation Litigation Bruce Burk

California Law Aimed At Protecting Gig Workers May Harm Hollywood Liz Carey

Oklahoma Court Decision May Spark More Suits Against Employers Nancy Grover

LA Lake Closed After Lifeguards Develop Bacterial Reaction Liz Carey

EX Boston Trolley Driver Sentenced To Jail For Staging Attack To Collect WC Toni Sutton-Deangelico

Responding to a Defective PFB – Incorrect Dates of Accident Bruce Burk

OSHA Report Alleges Multiple Failures Leading to Miami Bridge Collapse Nancy Grover

Efforts to Engage, Retain Workers – Going to the Dogs Nancy Grover

Psychological Injuries Examined in New Oregon Supreme Court Case Bruce Burk

Sponsor of Immigration Provision in WC Budget Bill Says it’s for Data Collection Nancy Grover

Heritage Pharmaceuticals to Pay $$7 Million in False Claims Allegations F.J. Thomas

Court Says Carpenter’s Injuries Falling Off Bridge Aren’t Covered by Longshoreman’s Act Liz Carey

DOJ Hanford Workers’ Compensation Lawsuit Update Bruce Burk

Beat Fatigue to Reduce the Bottom Line Nancy Grover

BWC Pharmacy Chief Clarifies What’s Covered/Not Covered in Oxy Chang Liz Carey

Over Half of Road Workers Involved in Accidents F.J. Thomas

PTSD Bill on Way to Governor Includes ‘Study’ to Consider Including EMS Personnel Liz Carey

A TRUE summer blockbuster: National Worker’s Compensation Review: 2019 edition reveal (including spoiler alerts)! H. George Kagan

Prosecution of Pain Med Physicians: Conspiracy Or Truth? F.J. Thomas

Survey on Workplace Mental Health Reveals ‘Alarming’ Findings Nancy Grover

California Business Groups Seek Legislative Help On Independent Contractors Liz Carey

Dollar Tree Cited Again By L&I For Safety Violations Toni Sutton-Deangelico

Non-Traditional Lite Duty May Fit the Bill for RTW Nancy Grover

California’s DWP Down Again Nancy Grover

Employers Can Prevent Summer-Related Workers’ Compensation Claims Nancy Grover

Teachers Face Increased Violence in The Classroom Liz Carey

Allstate Sues Well Known Senior Physician Following Fraud Investigation F.J. Thomas

Ohio Rebates Most Of Employers’ Workers’ Comp Premiums Liz Carey

Treating Physicians Share Their WC Concerns Nancy Grover

Construction Company Owner Arrested for Fraud Liz Carey

Concord Contractors Fined By OSHA for Safety Violations That Resulted In Death Toni Sutton-Deangelico