Workers compensation patients who undergo lumbar surgeries have higher percentages of reoperation and readmission compared to those undergoing similar surgeries in group health, the Workers Compensation Research Institute reported in a study released Thursday. Cambridge, Massachusetts-based WCRI researchers examined 30- and 90-day reoperation and readmission rates for injured workers who underwent lumbar spine surgeries in 18 states from October 2015…
A construction company that appealed the Indiana Workers Compensation Board’s award of medical and disability to a worker who fell through the roof not only lost its appeal, but saw the worker’s award increased by 5% by the court. In KNK Group v. Sarver, the Indiana Court of Appeals on Monday affirmed the board’s ruling that the company did not…
An Edwardsville paving and asphalt company is being sued after one of its employees allegedly caused a collision while driving under the influence. Sara Zaricor and Patricia Hannah filed a complaint Oct. 6 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Gregory Blue Eldridge and Gregory C. Eldridge, doing business as Eldridge Paving, Asphalt & Maintenance, alleging negligence. According to…
A Wal-Mart shopper claims an employee dropped a metal sign on her child’s head during repair work. Rosetta Freeman, individually and as next-of-kin to Myah Taylor, a minor, and Myah Taylor filed a complaint Oct. 13 in the Madison County Circuit Court against Wal-Mart Stores Inc., and an unknown John Doe, alleging negligence. According to the complaint, the plaintiffs were…
The increase in facility costs for hospital emergency room visits has “significantly” outpaced medical inflation, with facility costs growing approximately three times faster than the hospital outpatient producer price index, according to an analysis of workers compensation emergency room costs released Friday by the National Council on Compensation Insurance. The Boca Raton, Florida-based ratings agency said in its report that…
Despite substantial reductions in recent years, opioids continue to be widely dispensed to workers with work-related injuries in several states, according to a study released Thursday by the Workers Compensation Research Institute. The Cambridge, Massachusetts-based institute studied factors that are associated with longer-term opioid use, finding that the strongest predictor of such use is opioid prescribing early in a claim….
A motorist claims a Ford Dealership did not properly reassemble his vehicle’s airbags, resulting in traumatic brain injuries when the airbags did not deploy in a Belleville crash. Aaron Van Horne filed a complaint Sept. 29 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Auffenberg Belleville LLC, Auffenberg Dealer Group Inc., Auffenberg Ford Inc., and Auffenberg Motors of Illinois Inc.,…
A patient claims his defibrillator was defective and the battery began to deplete prematurely. Robert Box and Jeanie Box filed a complaint Oct. 1 in the Madison County Circuit Court against Abbott Laboratories. According to the complaint, Robert Box underwent surgery at Anderson Hospital in Maryville on May 15, 2012, where he had a St. Jude cardioverter defibrillator device, also…
Heath D. Shelton, a 36-year-old Smithton man, has pleaded guilty to a single count of making a false statement to receive federal disability compensation under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act. Shelton was working for the US Postal Service as a letter carrier when he injured his back in 2012. He started receiving federal disability payments for his injury. Later on,…
The Indiana Supreme Court has ruled that Allstate must pay $25,000 in uninsured motorist benefits to the estranged husband of a woman who died while riding as a passenger in a car crash after moving back in with her parents. The high court found that Shelina Glover was covered under her parents’ policy as a “resident relative.” The court rejected…
