A new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) investigates patterns of medical care access and utilization that are specific to workers’ compensation during the first quarters of 2020 to understand how the timing and delivery of medical treatment were impacted by the pandemic. “In our previous work, we examined the effect of the spread of COVID-19 along with…
The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act provides for a bunch of benefits that have to be provided and one benefit that can be provided but doesn’t have to. In simpler terms, if you are hurt at work in Illinois, your employer has to be for your time off of work and 100% of your medical care. No co-pays, nothing out of…
Among the havoc dished out by COVID-19 emerged two major hits on workers’ comp: A significant drop in net premiums written and presumptions covering workers that contracted the virus. That’s according to Jeff Eddinger, senior division executive at the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI), who tells PropertyCasualty360.com: “Specifically, net written premiums dropped 10% for calendar year 2020. This was…
A man who developed iron deficiency anemia failed to show his condition was caused by repetitive exposure to hazardous chemicals in the workplace. In Balensiefen v. Illinois Workers Compensation Commission, the Illinois Appellate Court, Third District in Ottawa on Monday affirmed an arbitrator’s ruling that the worker failed to show a causal connection to his condition and the workplace. John…
Numerous states have enacted COVID-19 presumptions for first responders and essential workers, while many others are considering enacting similar legislation. These presumptions allow employees who contract COVID-19 to meet their burden that the contraction arose out of and in the course of employment. Several states, including Minnesota, New Jersey, California and Alaska, have enacted COVID-19 presumption statutes but have not…
An insurance provider claims it has no duty to defend in a construction injury suit that involved two workers who were allegedly injured by collapsing trusses. Artisan and Truckers Casualty Co., filed a complaint May 18 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois against the Burlington Insurance Company, Southern Truss Inc., Douglas Forrest, Gaylon Cruse, individually…
Prescription payments per medical claim decreased by 15% or more in many states, but per claim payments remain high in some areas of the country, according to a report released Tuesday by the Workers Compensation Research Institute. In its study of pharmaceutical costs per workers compensation claim in 28 states, the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based WCRI found that states saw the median…
Workers on construction sites across Indiana can be found nailing plywall from atop scaffolds, scaling roofs or painting newly built homes. But what isn’t evident is whether those workers are part of a shady trend construction industry experts say is a serious concern — payroll tax fraud. Certain contractors in the construction industry will misclassify workers, falsely listing them as…
Employees with mental distress cost employers nearly $5,000 per person a year in work days lost, as well as increased turnover and health care costs, according to research from the National Safety Council and the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago. Employers with workers who are experiencing mental health issues spend more than $5,500 on average in…
The demand for COVID-19 shots has stalled in the U.S., prompting some employers to implement mandates to get their staff fully vaccinated. However, experts warn that under such mandates, injuries or illnesses reported by employees from the vaccine can lead to workers compensation claims and recordable incidents on Occupational Safety and Health Administration logs. After first leaving the decision up…
