Officer Paralyzed on Duty Could Lose Workers Comp Benefits in Ruling A police officer from Fort Worth, who was paralyzed from the chest down, could lose her workers comp benefits, or see her benefits cut in half, in a city council vote on Tuesday, July 9th. Lisa Ramsay was shot in the chest 10 years ago while trying to arrest a suspected drug dealer. The injury paralyzed her from the chest down, leaving her with huge medical bills and constant health problems. Although Ramsay is able to work part-time, she says that she needs benefits, … [Read more...]
Former NFL Coach Joins Pro Athletes’ Workers Comp Fight
July 4, 2013 by
Former Coach Fights for Athletes’ Workers Comp Rights in California As California workers comp bill AB 1309 makes its way through the legislature, intense debate has sprung up about whether or not the bill is fair to professional athletes. The bill – AB1309, proposed by Assemblyman Henry T. Perea (D-Fresno) – changes the rules for professional athletes to file for workers comp in the state of California. The current “loop-hole” in California workers comp law allows retired professional athletes to file in the state – regardless of where … [Read more...]
Study Shows Workers Comp Hospital Payments Higher Than Group Health
June 26, 2013 by
New Study Shows that States Could Save Money on Workers Comp Payments A new study that surveyed 16 states shows that in half the states shows that hospital outpatient surgeries on shoulders for workers comp injuries were at least 43% - about $2,000 – higher than private insurance payments, ie group health payments. The study was called Comparing Workers Compensation and Group Health Hospital Outpatient Payments, and is the first study to compare private insurance/group health payments to workers comp. The study compared 16 large states … [Read more...]
Jim Carrey Paid Workers Comp After All
June 14, 2013 by
Clerical Error Leads to Accusations, but Comedian Paid Workers Comp Accusations last week that actor and comedian Jim Carrey is a “bad boss” turned out to be false - he does, in fact, pay his workers comp premiums. Breaking news from TMZ last week accused Carrey of failing to pay for workers comp for his employees at his New York City art studio, Church of the FFC. Turns out, however, that Carrey did pay the premiums, and a clerical error from his workers comp insurer led to the confusion and a massive fine. Reportedly,the New York State … [Read more...]
Ohio Supreme Court Rules Workers Comp Does Not Cover Mental Health
June 11, 2013 by
Workers Comp Can Go To Mental Health Only When Related to Physical Injury The Ohio Supreme Court decided on June 5th that workers comp could only cover mental health problems if they were related to a physical injury that occurred on the job. In a 5-2 decision, the Supreme Court sided with the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation against former truck driver Shaun Armstrong, who worked out of Cincinnati. Originally, Armstrong filed a workers comp claim for post-traumatic stress disorder related to a vehicle accident that occurred in 2009 … [Read more...]
Ohio Workers Comp Board OK’s $1 Billion Rebate to Employers
June 5, 2013 by
Workers Comp Board in Ohio Grants Massive Rebate to Local Employers After a flurry of activity in the last week of May, on Friday, May 31st, the Ohio Workers Comp Board officially granted $1 billion rebate to 210,000 Ohio employers. In a separate, but also interesting, action, the Ohio Workers Comp board passed a 2.1% reduction in base workers comp rates for employers. “This rebate is possible largely because of the excellent results we’ve gotten on our investments,” said Nicholas Zuk, the BWC Board of Directors chairman. According to … [Read more...]
Jim Carrey Accused of Being a “Bad Boss” – Does Not Pay Workers Comp
June 4, 2013 by
Comedian’s Infamous NYC Art Studio Has No Workers Comp TMZ reports that Jim Carrey’s now famous art studio, Church of FFC, does not pay their workers comp premiums to New York City. Carrey launched the Church of FFC back in 2011, and has already had a legal battle with the Big Apple over the “street art” on the front of his studio. City officials painted over his original artwork on the front of the studio, so Carrey later hand-spray painted the letters “FFC” and a figure he calls “Baba” onto the front. The city took him to court. The … [Read more...]
Wisconsin Town Shocked by Lack of Workers Comp Insurance
June 3, 2013 by
First Responders in Wisconsin Towns Find Troubling Lack of Workers Comp A number of local government officials in Wisconsin are trying to determine how much money they will need to pay for their workers comp insurance premiums, which they believed the county was paying for them. This is a particularly troubling situation for first responders. Two Wisconsin counties are currently reeling from the lack of workers comp insurance for their emergency medical staff. Towns in both Washura and Door counties believed that county government paid for … [Read more...]
Workers Comp Industry Improving in the US
May 24, 2013 by
According to NCCI, Workers Comp Premiums Went Up for Second Year After several hard years, workers comp premiums went up for the second consecutive year, according to a survey conducted by the National Council on Compensation Insurance. Net written premiums for the US workers comp market increased 9% this past year, or $39.63 billion. This is a huge improvement over the cumulative 27% decline from 2006 to 2010. “By many measures, the industry condition is indeed improving,” said Steve Klingel, NCCI president and CEO."While we are pleased … [Read more...]
Missouri Updates Workers Comp to Help Disabled Workers
May 24, 2013 by
Missouri Lawmakers Pass Legislation to Replenish Insolvent Worker’s Comp Fund On Thursday, May 16th, Missouri lawmakers gave final approval for a measure that would double fees charged to businesses so that they can replenish an otherwise insolvent fund meant for workers who need workers comp after becoming disabled on the job. The legislation currently waits for Governor Jay Nixon’s signature. If the legislation passes that final step of approval, then, in the next year, payments to disabled former workers who have waited a long time … [Read more...]
