Idaho Man Who Did Not Pay for Workers Comp Coverage for Business Will Serve Jail Time The owner of a fishing shop in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho served five days in jail, and his business was closed for three days, because he did not pay for workers comp insurance for his business and his employees. Joe Roope, Jr, owner of Joe Roope’s Castaway Fly Shop, Inc, was ordered by the District Court of Idaho to serve jail time for violating a court order, which prohibited him from operating his business without a workers comp policy in effect for his … [Read more...]
Updated California Workers Comp Bill Passes Senate
September 16, 2013 by
Controversial California Workers Comp Bill Passes Senate Vote, Will Return to Assembly The updated version of the controversial California workers comp bill has passed a Senate vote, and will return to the Assembly on September 13th for another vote before heading to the governor’s desk. The update to California workers comp will close a loophole that allowed out-of-state retired professional sports players to file for workers compensation in the state if they had ever played a game in California. Former professional NFL players … [Read more...]
AMA’s Reclassification of Obesity as Treatable Disease Could Affect Workers Comp
September 9, 2013 by
Workers Comp, Especially in California, Could Be Affected by Reclassification of Obesity In July, the American Medical Assocation (AMA) reclassified obesity as a treatable disease. A study just one month later, conducted by the California Workers Compensation Institute, suggested that the classification could have a significant impact on workers comp costs in the state. “The result could be an increasing number of claims that include obesity as a comorbidity, as well as an increase in cases in which obesity is claimed as a compensable … [Read more...]
New Jersey Senate Fails to Revive First Responders Workers Comp Bill
August 28, 2013 by
After Veto by Governor Chris Christie, NJ Senate Cannot Bring Back Workers Comp Bill The Thomas P. Canzanella Bill, aka S1778, was vetoed by Governor Chris Christie in July. Now, officially, the New Jersey Senate has failed to revive the workers comp bill that would expand the ability to apply for benefits for first responders. The bill was named for Thomas P. Canzanella, a firefighter from Hackensack who spent several weeks at Ground Zero after 9/11. He championed workers comp coverage for occupational diseases endemic to first responders … [Read more...]
Oregon Insurance Regulators Threaten to Decertify Workers Comp Group
August 5, 2013 by
If Employers Cannot Come Up with Funds, Regulators Will Shut Down Self-Insurance Workers Comp Trust On Monday, July 29th, insurance regulators in Oregon said they had taken the first steps to decertifying a self-insurance trust, and would completely shut it down next week, if employers did not come up with $750,000 for workers comp. According to the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services, the Oregon Employers Trust Inc must increase its security deposit to $3.95 million, based on membership growth and estimated claims … [Read more...]
Compromise Reached in California Workers Comp Legislation
July 17, 2013 by
Bill Restricting Pro Athletes from Filing Workers Comp in California Reaches a Compromise The controversial California workers comp bill aimed at professional athletes has been updated in a compromise, according to state legislators. AB 1309 was proposed by Assemblyman Henry T. Perea in February as a way to help prevent exploitation and reduce problems in the California workers comp system. The workers comp system in the state currently allows professional athletes and other non-residential workers to apply for workers comp if they have … [Read more...]
Paralyzed Fort Worth Officer Could Lose Workers Comp Benefits
July 14, 2013 by
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...]
