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The Chicago City Council voted Wednesday to give up control of the city's troubled, $100 million-a-year workers' compensation program. The Council's Finance Committee, which for years had controlled the compensation program under the watch of Chairman Ed Burke, voted Tuesday to restructure the program under the Finance Department in the executive branch, and bring more accountability and transparency to it.  On…

Value-based care, political party changes in several states, and a more holistic view of patient injuries will impact the workers’ compensation industry this year, according to two experts hosting a workers’ compensation webinar series, Out Front Ideas. Mark Walls, vice president for communications and strategic analysis with Safety National, and Kimberly George, chief healthcare officer for Sedgwick, kicked off the…

Value-based care, party changes in several states, as well as a holistic view when it comes to patient injuries will have a significant impact on the workers’ compensation industry this year, according to hosts of the Out Front Ideas webinar series, Mark Walls and Kimberly George. The two workers’ comp industry experts continue their monthly webinar series, kicking off the…

A Republican Indiana state representative has introduced a bill that would increase maximum fines for a workplace safety violation that results in death, to $100,000 from $7,000. Rep. Martin Carbaugh, R-Fort Wayne, introduced House Bill 1341 on the anniversary of the death of Shacarra Hogue, a 23-year-old factory worker who died after she was crushed by a press that the…

With some of the highest auto insurance rates in the nation, Michigan’s no-fault insurance laws — much maligned by the insurance industry and business interests — are sure to be a target for legislative reforms. Insurance trade associations, including the Property Casualty Insurance Association of America (PCI), along with the Michigan Chamber of Commerce and other business groups, have said…

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has ordered an outside audit of a $100 million-per-year workers' compensation fund that was controlled by a longtime City County member accused of trying to shake down the owners of a major chain of fast-food franchises. The move marked the latest fallout from the case against Alderman Ed Burke, who was charged last week with attempted…

Injured workers in mining and construction, those in rural counties or those who suffer fractures, carpal tunnel and neurologic spine pain are among those more likely to receive prescriptions for opioids than workers in other industries or locations or with other injuries. Also, younger works are less likely to be prescribed opioids than older employees. A new study, Correlates of…