California Division of Workers Compensation Proposes Guidelines for Opioid Prescription Coverage The California Division of Workers Compensation has posted proposed changes to the guidelines concerning workers comp coverage of opioid prescriptions used to treat worker injuries. “Opioid misuse is a national concern. California is on the forefront of providing appropriate care and improving outcomes by issuing these guidelines,” said Department of Industrial Relations Director Christine Baker. The guidelines were posted on the DWC’s online … [Read more...]
Omaha Store Manager Receives Full Workers Comp for PTSD
April 18, 2014 by
PTSD, Anxiety Treatment Covered Under Workers Comp for Store Manager The Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Court ruled last year that a store manager who was shot 9 times for reporting an earlier robbery should receive temporary total disability benefits and workers comp to help his treatment. As of Friday, April 11th, of this year, the decision has been upheld by a higher court after the workers comp ruling was appealed. Matthew Kim is, according to courts, entitled to workers comp and disability benefits to help treat his post-traumatic … [Read more...]
Tina Fey Fined for Failing to Pay Workers Comp
April 4, 2014 by
New York Court Rules Tina Fey to be Fined for Failing to Pay Workers Comp Comedian and television star Tina Fey has been fined by New York workers comp court for lapsing on required employee insurance since 2012. The New York State Workers Compensation Board ruled on Friday, March 28th, that the writer and actress owed $79,000, reportedly for both lapsed workers comp coverage and “penalties.” The bill reportedly covered the period between November 20th, 2012, and February 2nd, 2014. However, the bill was sent to an outdated office … [Read more...]
Arizona Workers Comp Bill Shelved Until Next Year
March 28, 2014 by
Arizona Shelves Workers Comp Bill Until 2015 Session A bill in Arizona that proposed to prohibit workers from filing workers comp lawsuits if they were denied workers comp payments has been shelved for one year, until 2015. The proposed bill, HB 2455, passed the House Committee on Insurance and Retirement 4-3, and will advance to the Rules Committee. HB 2455 proposes to give exclusive jurisdiction of bad faith claims against workers comp companies to the Industrial Commission of Arizona. If the Industrial Commission determines that the … [Read more...]
Newton Police Officer Requests Workers Comp for PTSD
March 19, 2014 by
Police Officer Requests Workers Comp for PTSD from Newton School Shooting A Newton police officer has suffered such severe PTSD after responding to the Sandy Hook School shootings in 2012 that he has not yet returned to work, and says he will need workers comp to help him while he continues to recover. Thomas Bean, a 38-year-old husband and father of two, says he faces an uncertain financial future because he does not believe he can return to his law enforcement career. “I can’t even touch a gun,” he said. Bean stood before members of … [Read more...]
Medical Marijuana Legalization Raises Workers Comp Questions
March 9, 2014 by
States with Legal Medical Marijuana Use Struggle to Understand Workers Comp Impact Although marijuana is still technically legal at the federal level, 20 states and Washington DC have passed laws allowing marijuana to be used for medical reasons (additionally, Washington State and Colorado allow recreational marijuana use). However, with marijuana dispensaries becoming more common, state regulators are now beginning to question whether medical marijuana should be covered under workers comp insurance. “I think that most insurance companies … [Read more...]
WA State Landscaper Charged for No Workers Comp
February 28, 2014 by
Landscaper in Pierce County, WA Charged for Failing to Purchase Workers Comp A landscaper in Pierce County, Washington has been charged by Labor & Industry (L&I) for failing to purchase workers comp insurance to cover his employees, when one of his employees was injured on the job. Kenneth Ivan Winters, 49, faces one count of doing business without workers comp insurance, along with seven counts of making false reports to the Department of Labor & Industries, according to the filed complaint. Each charge carries five years in … [Read more...]
Proposed Bill in Arizona Would Ban Workers Comp Lawsuits
February 26, 2014 by
Arizona Bill Would Ban Lawsuits Against Workers Comp Insurance Companies for Bad Faith, Delays A bill that is currently making its way through the Arizona House of Representatives would ban lawsuits against workers comp insurance companies for denying claims in bad faith. The proposed bill, HB 2455, passed the House Committee on Insurance and Retirement 4-3, and will advance to the Rules Committee. HB 2455 proposes to give exclusive jurisdiction of bad faith claims against workers comp companies to the Industrial Commission of Arizona. If … [Read more...]
Ohio Workers Comp Bureau Carefully Monitors Prescription Drugs
February 6, 2014 by
Ohio Creates Better Monitoring System for Prescription Drug Abuse in Workers Comp Cases The Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation has created a system to better monitor prescription drugs, especially pain and anti-anxiety medications, to help prevent drug abuse. Starting in January 2014, the state-run workers comp insurance provider said it will no longer cover prescriptions for injured workers unless the provider enrolls in an automated reporting system, so the workers comp company can monitor potential abuse of opiate … [Read more...]
Firefighter Speaks Out About Denied Workers Comp
February 4, 2014 by
Indiana Firefighter Gives Impassioned Plea for Better Workers Comp Coverage A firefighter from Evansville, Indiana spoke out on behalf of other first responders on Monday, January 27th, pleading for better workers comp coverage for those who put their lives on the line. Shawn Oglesby spoke to the Evansville City Council, describing his on-the-job complication which should have been covered by workers comp. While responding to a fire, the veteran firefighter reportedly had a life-threatening allergic reaction to something in the building, … [Read more...]
