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Physicians, hospitals and other providers that treat Illinois’ injured workers are in a severe crisis. In recent years, workers’ compensation insurers have exploited loopholes to avoid complying with basic requirements of Illinois law. It’s time to eliminate these loopholes. The issue is enforcement of current laws requiring timely workers’ compensation insurer approvals and health care provider reimbursement — these profitable…

A Sacramento business is alleged to have failed to pay a premium for an insurance policy. Zurich American Insurance Co. of Illinois filed a complaint on July 28 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California against Vforce Inc., doing business as Vforce Staffing Solutions, and Does 1 to 100 alleging breach of contract. According to the…

A Wyoming based mail hauler has been indicted by a Stark County Grand Jury for allegedly defrauding the United States Postal Service of $1.9 million in insurance premiums. The indictment was filed July 13, 2018 and a warrant for arrest was issued. Keith A. Ratcliff, 53, has been charged with multiple felonies including theft by deception, a Class X felony,…

Prescribing in the workers compensation industry is down across the board, including a 65.1% drop in the costs for compound medications, according to a report released Tuesday by Coventry Workers Comp. The third in a series covering workers comp drug trends, Downers Grove, Illinois-based Coventry reported on the state of opioids and compound medication prescriptions for injured workers. According to…

Illinois' workers' compensation laws are so outdated that it costs taxpayers more than in any other state in the region and hinders the state’s economy, according to the Illinois Policy Institute (IPI). A July report by the institute states that workers’ comp insurance and income injured workers receive while out of work costs state and local government $1 billion annually.…

With the start of the NFL’s 99th season barely a month away, today we tackle how workers compensation applies to cumulative injuries on the field that later result in disability. In a recently published decision, the California Court of Appeal rejected former defensive tackle Larry Tripplett’s attempt to get California workers compensation for cumulative trauma (CT) he sustained during his…

High-performing workers compensation claims organizations use predictive modeling eight times more frequently than firms with less success in closing claims, according to recent research on a practice that experts say has grown swiftly over the past decade. “I think we are at a tipping point, at least in terms of using predictive analytics to improve claims management and claims practices,”…

A government corruption watchdog group has voiced its support for efforts to move Chicago's workers' compensation program out from under the control of a powerful city alderman. "Chicago is the only major city to pay injured workers out of its legislative body," Rachel Leven, policy manager at the Better Government Association, wrote in Crain's Chicago Business this week. "The way…

The owner of a trucking company that contracts with the U.S. Postal Service to help distribute mail was charged with pocketing more than $1.9 million by requesting reimbursement for workers’ compensation coverage that he never purchased, Illinois’ top law enforcement official announced. Keith A. Ratcliff, 53, faces three felony counts of theft, one count of mail fraud and one count…