- Kentucky accuses McKesson of helping fuel opioid epidemic
(Reuters) — Kentucky’s attorney general on Monday accused drug distributor McKesson Corp. of helping fuel the opioid epidemic by failing to halt shipments of suspiciously large or frequent orders by pharmacies.
- N.Y. physicians suspended from treating injured workers
The New York Workers Compensation Board has suspended two physicians from treating injured workers.
- Delaware sues opioid manufacturers, distributors over epidemic
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Workers Compensation Press Updates
- Employer can’t claw back mistaken payment to attorney: Court
- Cleaning company owner pleads guilty to workers comp fraud
The owner of a Hudson, Ohio-based cleaning business must serve 30 days under house arrest and pay $14,000 in restitution to the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation after pleading guilty to workers comp fraud.
- Calif. retailer sentenced to prison for tax, workers comp fraud
The owner and operator of a Southern California retail chain was sentenced to two years in prison for sales tax evasion, false income tax returns, failure to pay taxes and workers compensation fraud, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced Wednesday.
- Specialty insurer appoints chief operating officer
Specialty insurer ProAssurance Corp. said Wednesday it has promoted Edward L. “Ned” Rand Jr. to chief operating officer.
- Indiana bill proposes a closed drug formulary
An Indiana bill would require the adoption of a closed drug formulary for injured employees by next year.
- Comp insurer completes $150 million acquisition
CopperPoint Mutual Insurance Co. has completed the $150 million acquisition of Pacific Compensation Insurance Co. from Alleghany Insurance Holdings L.L.C., the insurer announced Thursday.
- Health care environment named top concern in comp survey
Rising costs, advances and uncertainty in health care were named top concerns for 2018 among workers compensation executives surveyed recently, the National Council on Compensation Insurance announced Wednesday.
Workers Compensation Press Updates
- Pa. governor declares opioid epidemic a statewide disaster
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf issued a disaster declaration for the state as a response to the opioid epidemic.
- Vet independent medical reviews for quality to help control comp losses: RIMS
Malingering, exaggerating injuries and comorbidities are some of the issues that can complicate an already complex workers compensation claim, which is why hinging a claim on a quality independent medical review can help mitigate losses, the Risk & Insurance Management Society Inc. says in a white paper.
- Missouri lawmaker introduces wide-ranging workers comp legislation
A bill introduced in the Missouri House of Representatives this month would amend current workers compensation law in several ways.
- Data breaches for comp insurers inevitable, preparedness key: Experts
The workers compensation sector should anticipate and be prepared for data breaches, as it’s not a matter of if, but when, they will be breached.
- Trump administration’s impact on OSHA minimal so far: Experts
OSHA has not pulled back from conducting inspections and imposing rising penalties against employers for workplace safety violations despite the Trump administration’s deregulatory agenda.
- Hypertension comp claim for cop with PTSD rejected
A Florida workers comp judge has ruled against a police officer with post-traumatic stress disorder stemming from the Pulse Nightclub shooting who wanted to attach hypertension to his injury claim
- Former hospital owner sentenced in multimillion-dollar kickback scheme
The former owner of a California hospital was sentenced to 63 months in prison for leading a fraud scheme involving kickbacks to medical professionals in exchange for referring workers comp patients for spinal surgeries.
Workers Compensation Press Updates
- Calif. suspends 7 medical providers for fraud or loss of license
California’s Division of Workers Compensation on Thursday said last week it suspended seven more medical providers from participating in California’s workers compensation system.
- Presumptive comp bill for nuclear site workers revived in Wash. state
A bill that would cover cancer and other illnesses under presumption for former workers of the decommissioned Hanford nuclear site in Hanford, Washington, was revived by the Washington state House Rules Committee on Tuesday.
- Endo subpoenaed for information on opioid painkillers
- Sedgwick notes workers comp trends to watch in 2018
Finding alternatives for pain management, expanding autonomous claims processes and controlling the opioid crisis are among the issues and trends that employers should watch for in 2018, says Sedgwick Claims Management Services.
Workers Compensation Press Updates
- N.H. bill would allow comp benefits to be paid by direct deposit
A New Hampshire bill that would allow payment of workers compensation benefits by direct deposit passed in a 14-9 Senate vote January 3.
- OSHA cites chain-link fence maker for multiple violations
U.S. federal workplace safety regulators have cited and proposed $199,996 in penalties against a chain-link fencing manufacturer for multiple safety violations at a New Jersey facility.
- Investors propose taking AmTrust private
- Q&A: Artemis Emslie, MyMatrixx
Artemis Emslie, CEO of MyMatrixx, discusses her intentions to continue working in the pharmacy benefit management field after recently announcing she will leave the PBM in May.
- Industry praises New York’s move toward comp drug formulary
The proposed workers comp drug formulary in New York is key to curbing dangers to injured workers caused by inappropriate pharmaceutical prescriptions, insurance trade associations say.
- ‘Gig economy’ contributes to a new landscape for injury, illness tracking
Federal agencies should collaborate to improve injury and illness reporting, including to account for a shift in the traditional workforce toward a “gig economy” and collect information on race and ethnicity to identify vulnerable worker populations, according to a new report.
- Builder faces manslaughter charges over trench death
The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office filed criminal manslaughter charges Friday against the owner of a Seattle, Washington-based construction firm.
Workers Compensation Press Updates
- Judge affirms safety citation against defense contractor
An administrative law judge of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission upheld a serious citation issued against a defense contractor and a $4,125 penalty proposed by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
- Workers comp renewal rates flat, slightly lower
- Day laborers included in California workers comp bill
Day laborers in California hired on a one-time basis would be covered by the state’s workers compensation laws under amendments to a year-old bill intended to extend coverage to more workers.
- Judge upholds citations against builder in worker’s fall into pit
An administrative law judge of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission has affirmed citations against an Indiana construction company after an employee was injured after falling through an unguarded hole and assessed $6,500 in total penalties.
- Former NHL player suing Nashville Predators for medical benefits
A former National Hockey League player is suing his former team for medical benefits and compensation under Tennessee’s workers compensation system.
- OSHA proposes fines against contractor after rock kills worker
U.S. federal workplace safety regulators have cited and proposed penalties totaling $212,396 against a Virginia-based specialty foundation contractor after a 2,600-pound rock fatally struck an employee.
- OSHA cites production company in stuntman’s death
U.S. federal workplace safety regulators have cited and proposed a fine of $12,675 against a Virginia-based production company after a stuntman was fatally injured during the filming of the television show “The Walking Dead.”
- More safety penalties set for review
The Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission may be ready to tackle some of the toughest workplace safety issues now that it has three commissioners after years of being short-staffed.
- Largest workers compensation insurers
Workers Compensation Press Updates
- State officials vow to challenge Justice Department’s marijuana enforcement memo
Officials in several states that have legalized the use of medical and recreational marijuana condemned the U.S. Department of Justice’s decision to double down on enforcement of marijuana laws, with several vowing to defend their rights to legalize marijuana use.
- Cal/OSHA issues citations following fatal bee attack on tree worker
California Occupational Safety and Health Administration said Thursday that it has issued citations to Thermal, California-based Hadley Date Gardens Inc. for serious workplace safety and health violations following a bee swarm that stung and killed a tree worker.
- Justice Department doubles down on federal marijuana law
The U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday issued a memo on federal marijuana enforcement policy, telling all U.S. attorneys to enforce the Controlled Substances Act, which classifies marijuana as an illegal drug.
- Ohio court affirms additional benefits in trench death
An industrial firm must pay additional death benefits to the family of a worker killed in an incident involving trench safety violations in an excavation project, according to a Supreme Court of Ohio ruling issued Tuesday, affirming a Tenth District Court of Appeals ruling from 2015.
- Florida bill would raise pay for workers comp judges
A Florida Senate bill would increase the pay of workers compensation judges to the level of county court judges.
- Former restaurant manager in Seattle charged in disability scam
Workers Compensation Press Updates
- OSHA proposes fines against Ohio roofing contractor for fall, eye hazards
U.S. federal workplace safety regulators have cited and proposed penalties totaling $91,629 against an Ohio roofing contractor for exposing employees to falls and other safety hazards.
- Calif. suspends 28 medical providers for fraud or loss of license
California’s Division of Workers Compensation on Tuesday said in December it suspended 28 more medical providers from participating in California’s workers compensation system.
- Calif. workers comp lawyer named shooter in murder-suicide
Police are calling Friday’s murder-suicide at a workers compensation law firm in Long Beach, California, an act of “workplace violence” that left two men dead and one injured.
- OSHA increases civil penalties to adjust for inflation
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s civil penalties for workplace safety violations have risen to adjust for inflation, effective Tuesday.
- Judge delivers mixed ruling on safety citations against energy company
An administrative law judge of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission partially affirmed one safety citation issued under the general duty clause against an energy company, but vacated another citation issued by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration under its walking-working surfaces standard.
- Court rulings challenge workers comp sector in 2017
The workers compensation industry contended with several state Supreme Court decisions in 2017, most notably a Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling that upended the state’s workers comp system.
- Flight attendant not eligible for comp for post-dinner fall
An Ohio-based flight attendant who injured herself in a fall following a dinner out while on a layover in New York is not eligible for workers compensation as she was deemed by the court to be on a personal errand.
- Pennsylvania OKs 6.06% hike in workers comp premiums
Jessica Altman, Pennsylvania’s acting Insurance Commissioner, has approved a 6.06% increase in workers compensation premiums.
- New York seeks public comments on drug formulary
The New York State Workers Compensation Board is seeking public comments on a proposed drug formulary that limits new opioid prescription to seven days for injured workers.
Workers Compensation Press Updates
- Most read workers comp stories in 2017
- 1. California attacks workers comp fraud
- 2. Broker executives switch firms
- 3. Solar eclipse raises safety issues
- 4. SAIF ordered to reinstate CEO after replacing him
- 5. Golf proves hazardous to employee health
- 6. Off-duty cops denied comp for Las Vegas shooting claims
- 7. Comp insurer ordered to stop selling policies
- 8. Exclusive remedy withstands legal attacks
Workers Compensation Press Updates
- Industry challenge to OSHA silica rule rejected by court
- Alabama construction company penalty for trenching hazard affirmed
An administrative law judge of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission has upheld a citation and penalty against an Alabama construction employer for a trenching hazard.
- OSHA fines Ohio tile maker, deems severe violator of safety rules
U.S. federal workplace safety regulators have issued proposed fines totaling $514,236 against an Ohio manufacturer of luxury vinyl tile and deemed the company a severe violator of workplace safety regulations.
- Florida construction company owner arrested after $733,549 comp scam
A Jacksonville, Florida, construction company owner who allegedly provided fictitious information when applying for workers compensation insurance coverage to obtain a lower premium was arrested Dec. 7, the state’s Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis announced Wednesday.
- Ontario boosts fines for workplace safety violations
- California suspends 16 more medical providers
- Firefighter cancer presumption bill gains steam in Missouri
Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens has announced his support for a bill that would clear the way to provide workers compensation benefits for firefighters who get cancer.
- North Carolina seeks public comment on proposed opioid rules
- US life expectancy fell as opioid overdoses surged: CDC