IL: Special Session Starts Out with a Whimper

• 06/23/17
• Liz Carey

Springfield, IL (WorkersCompensation.com) – Work on the Special Session for Illinois lawmakers seems to be starting off pretty slow, with one day of the ten-day session dedicated to hearings on workers’ compensation reform. ...

Five Things You Need to Know: 6/23, Friday Edition

• 06/23/17
• Dara Barney

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) -  1) PA: Robinson Trucking Owner on the Hook for Hundreds of Workers' Comp Charges   Michael W. Robinson of Robinson Trucking is in some trouble with the state of Pennsylvania, ...

Five Things You Need to Know: 6/22, Thursday Edition

• 06/22/17
• Dara Barney

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) -  1) CA: Solutions Firm Works with Dept. of Insurance in Multi-Million-Dollar Fraud Bust  "Investigation Solutions, Inc. (ISI) worked alongside the California Department of ...

CA: TTD Rates to Rise

• 06/21/17
• Angela Underwood

San Francisco, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) - The State Average Weekly Wage (SAWW) determines the maximum temporary total disability (TTD) rates in California annually. This year, like many other years, they went up.  Releasing the rates this week, The ...

OH: Amendment Banning Benefits for Illegals Removed from Budget

• 06/21/17
• Liz Carey

Columbus, OH (WorkersCompensation.com) – An amendment to the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation budget that would have eliminated benefits for illegal aliens was removed from the budget by the Ohio Senate this ...

Pennsylvania High Court Magnifies Protz

• 06/22/17
• David Langham

In September 2015, I penned As Florida Waits, Commonwealth Court Holds Pennsylvania Statute Unconstitutional. That reference to Florida waiting for its Supreme Court to address any of the then pending constitutional workers' compensation ...

Rousmaniere: Why Insurers Are Happy

• 06/21/17
• Peter Rousmaniere

Workers’ compensation insurers are enjoying profitable and stable years.  People who run and advise them tell me that computer analytics, relatively new to underwriting, has been a gift that will keep on giving.  And it’s ...

The Opportunity to be Heard is Important

• 06/20/17
• David Langham

The Florida First District Court of Appeal rendered a decision in Jiminez v. United Parcel Services, Case no., 1D16-4959 on June 19, 2017. The case is interesting, and reminded me of a case I decided several years ago.  The ...

A Move Toward Federal Influence?

• 06/19/17
• David Langham

In 2016, there was a great conversation about American workers' compensation. It included a great many of the thinkers involved in these many systems which cover millions of workers and their employers. The issues raised at the three summit meetings ...

A Button Labeled 'Codger Mode'

• 06/15/17
• David Langham

On a recent business trip, I encountered first-hand an "intelligent assist" automatic feature on a rented car. I had read about these features, for anti-collision and safety. But the hands-on experience was unpleasant and left me with the ...

Going and Coming Rule Clarified

• 06/23/17
• WorkCompAcademy.com

Sacramento, CA - Yu Qin Zhu was hired as a home caretaker by the the California State Department of Social Services. The Department added Zhu to the registry of qualified workers. Zhu reviewed the registry of patients, contacted persons on ...

Providence Scheduling Fined $100,000 in Kickback Case

• 06/23/17
• WorkCompAcademy.com

Sacramento, CA - Operation Backlash, has been an extensive FBI-led undercover investigation that revealed a widespread workers' compensation kickback scheme, including attorneys, doctors and medical providers who ...

So What's So Unconstitutional About Comp?

• 06/22/17
• WorkCompAcademy.com

Sacramento, CA - Challenges to the Constitutionality of Worker' Compensation programs, or components of such programs seems to be under unrelenting pressure from lawyers seeking to have courts declare the program to be ...

Sleep Apnea Putting CMV Drivers at Risk of Crashing, Researchers Say

• 06/22/17
• National Safety Council

San Francisco, CA – More than 40 percent of commercial motor vehicle drivers may have obstructive sleep apnea, potentially increasing their risk of being involved in a crash, according to a ...

Statement from NYCOSH on Carlos’ Bill Passing NY State Assembly

• 06/22/17
• WorkersCompensation.com

New York, NY (WorkersCompensation.com) -  Carlos’ Bill, sponsored by Assemblymember Francisco P. Moya passed the Assembly on 6/21/17. The bill, named in honor of worker Carlos Moncayo, who ...

Kids' Chance of Florida Changed Some Lives Today

• 06/23/17
• Robert Wilson

It is Thursday afternoon, and I am really, really excited. Elated would be a better term. Basically, I am just so stoked, I cannot contain myself. Nothing has been officially announced, so I must withhold some of the more enticing ...

David's Dash and Life Stories Lost

• 06/20/17
• Robert Wilson

There is a beautiful old cemetery located in Mystic, CT. Established in 1853, Elm Grove was designed in what is described as the Victorian Era of cemeteries, where families were intended to stroll and relax comfortably on the park-like grounds. ...

Social Security Numbers - Moving the Needle or Making It Twitch

• 06/19/17
• Robert Wilson

I received another email while on vacation last week from BJ Dernbach, Division Administrator for the Wisconsin Workers’ Compensation Department of Workforce Development. It was just a courtesy email informing me ...

From the CD Files: In Real Deal Appeal PA Supremes Render Tender Crime Rhyme

• 06/16/17
• Robert Wilson

Bob is on vacation this week, so we are taking this opportunity to dust off some of the more unusual entries from the Cluttered Desk archives. He will be back next week. Originally Published: ...

From the CD Files: It's a Bad Day at Work When a Meth Lab Explodes in Your Pants

• 06/15/17
• Robert Wilson

Bob is on vacation this week, so we are taking this opportunity to dust off some of the more unusual entries from the Cluttered Desk archives. He will be back next week. Originally Published: ...

Will Opioids Kill the AHCA?

• 06/23/17
• Michael Gavin

As a small group of Senators toil away in secrecy on an effort to recast a sixth of the American economy, one of the sticking points in the legislative negotiation is funding for the opioid crisis. While substantial cuts in Medicaid seem destined ...

County GPS System Defeats Petitioner's Comp Claim on Appeal

• 06/23/17
• John Geaney

A good Global Positioning System can make all the difference in certain kinds of cases. Longstreet v. County of Mercer, A-3361-152 (App. Div. June 20, 2017) illustrates how effective this technology can be for claims ...

Cousineau, Waldhauser & Kieselbach Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

• 06/23/17
• National Workers Compensation Defense Network (NWCDN)

We are pleased to announce that Jim Waldhauser and Tom Kieselbach have once again been selected asSuper Lawyers (2017).  Whitney Teel has been selected as a Rising Star ...

PROTZ ENTOMBS IREs IN PENNSYLVANIA

• 06/22/17
• National Workers Compensation Defense Network (NWCDN)

  PROTZ ENTOMBS IREs IN PENNSYLVANIABy Kevin L. Connors, EsquireEver have one of those days where you just wonder, why bother?Today might be one of those days.In a Homer Simpsonesque Decision, the ...

The Senate Version of AHCA — What to Watch for

• 06/22/17
• Joe Paduda

Senate Republicans are set to release their revised American Health Care Act today – here’s what we know about their version, and what to watch for. An excellent summary is here. Medicaid – the biggest, most ...

Kids' Chance of Florida Changed Some Lives Today

• 06/23/17
• Robert Wilson

It is Thursday afternoon, and I am really, really excited. Elated would be a better term. Basically, I am just so stoked, I cannot contain myself. Nothing has been officially announced, so I must withhold some of the more ...

The UR/IMR Process: Still Good on its Face

• 06/22/17
• Jean Goldstein

The California Supreme Court has determined that it will not review a case involving an injured worker who asserted that the Independent Medical Review (IMR) process was unconstitutional.  This is good news for California payers, ...

PROTZ ENTOMBS IREs IN PENNSYLVANIA

• 06/22/17
• National Workers Compensation Defense Network (NWCDN)

  PROTZ ENTOMBS IREs IN PENNSYLVANIABy Kevin L. Connors, EsquireEver have one of those days where you just wonder, why bother?Today might be one of those days.In a Homer Simpsonesque Decision, the ...

Five Things You Need to Know: 6/23, Friday Edition

• 06/23/17
• Dara Barney

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) -  1) PA: Robinson Trucking Owner on the Hook for Hundreds of Workers' Comp Charges   Michael W. Robinson of Robinson Trucking is in some trouble with the state of ...

Providence Scheduling Fined $100,000 in Kickback Case

• 06/23/17
• WorkCompAcademy.com

Sacramento, CA - Operation Backlash, has been an extensive FBI-led undercover investigation that revealed a widespread workers' compensation kickback scheme, including attorneys, doctors and medical providers who ...

Terry Bogyo

Terry is an active researcher, speaker and commentator on workers compensation issues. Now retired, he was the Director of Corporate Planning and Development for WorkSafeBC. His responsibilities included environmental scanning, strategic planning ...

Read All Terry Bogyo

Dara Barney

Dara Barney comes to WorkersCompensation.com as the Senior Editor of Premium Media. Her previous journalism experience in Idaho and California, along with her former role as Public Information Specialist at the Idaho Industrial Commission, all play ...

Read All Dara Barney

Peter Rousmaniere

Peter Rousmaniere is widely known throughout the workers’ compensation industry, both for his writing and consulting experience. Based in the picture perfect New England town of Woodstock, VT, he is a regular on the conference circuit, and is deeply ...

Read All Peter Rousmaniere

Liz Carey

Liz Carey has worked as a writer, reporter and editor for nearly 25 years. First, as an investigative reporter for Gannett and later as the Vice President of a local Chamber of Commerce, Carey has covered everything from local government to the ...

Read All Liz Carey

Judge David Langham

David Langham is the Deputy Chief Judge of Compensation Claims for the Florida Office of Judges of Compensation Claims at the Division of Administrative Hearings. He has been involved in workers’ compensation for over 25 years as an attorney, an ...

Read All Judge David Langham

Bob Wilson

Bob Wilson is the CEO of WorkersCompensation.com, and author of the award winning blog, "From Bob's Cluttered Desk". Bob is an accomplished presenter for the workers' comp industry, and we are lucky to have him. We don't ...

Read All Bob Wilson

John D'Alusio

John D’Alusio has over 30 years experience in P/C insurance with executive management positions in administration, field operations, and claim technical areas. Mr. D’Alusio has had many articles published in industry periodicals, and is also a ...

Read All John D'Alusio

Heather Schwartz Sanderson

Heather Schwartz Sanderson, Esq., MSCC, CHPE, CLMP, CMSP Heather is Chief Legal Officer for Franco Signor LLC, the nation's compliance authority for Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) matters. She has lectured on MSP compliance to the workers’ ...

Read All Heather Schwartz Sanderson

John Gerboth

John Gerboth worked for many years as a workers' compensation attorney in Ohio. Since relocating to Connecticut, he has taken to "blawging" about various legal topics. He's also a husband, a father and a huge fan of the New ...

Read All John Gerboth