injured workers News

Ohio Appeals Ruling That Employers Were Overcharged

The state is appealing a court ruling that says Ohio’s state insurance fund for injured workers set up an illegal rating system that resulted in employers being overcharged nearly $860 million over several years. The unanimous decision by the 8th …

OSHA Says Connecticut Commuter Railroad Violated Injured Workers’ Rights

Federal labor officials say Metro-North Railroad violated anti-discrimination law by disciplining seven Connecticut employees for staying home on doctors’ orders. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration said Tuesday that between 2011 and 2013 the commuter railroad issued written warnings to …

Alaska Targets Mid-2015 for Workers’ Comp Changes

A new method of paying medical fees for injured workers under the state workers’ compensation program won’t be in place until mid-2015, and it will take more time for insurance companies to judge any effects on lowering costs so that …

Narcotics Dispensed by Doctors Linked to Poor Outcomes in Workers’ Comp Claims

A new study in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine reveals a negative impact on medical costs, indemnity costs and lost time from work on workers’ compensation claims when physicians, rather than pharmacies, dispense narcotic-related drugs to injured workers …

Indiana Injured Worker Medical Costs Rising: WCRI

The costs per claim of medical care for injured workers in Indiana were higher than most states and growing faster, according to a new 16-state report from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI). The study, CompScopeMedical Benchmarks for Indiana 14th …

Transitional Employment Service Leads to New Skills, Career for Injured Worker

ReEmployAbility, a national provider of specialty early return-to-work (RTW) services and transitional employment programs, has successfully matched thousands of injured workers with temporary modified duty assignments at its partner local nonprofit organizations. In most cases, a successful outcome means the …

Texas Increase in Workers’ Comp Claims Cost Due to Rise in Med Prices

Payments per claim for the medical care of injured workers in Texas grew nearly 8 percent in 2011, largely the effect of price increases from earlier reforms, according to a 16-state study by the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI). The …

Medical Care Costs Per Claim for Injured Indiana Workers Higher Than Most States

The costs per claim of medical care to treat injured workers in Indiana were higher than most states and growing rapidly, according to a recent study by the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI). The report, Benchmarks for Indiana, CompScope 14th …

College Wins $100,000 Grant to Help Injured Workers Return to Work Sooner

The Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) has awarded the University of Washington (UW), in collaboration with Harborview Medical Center, a $100,000 grant to help get injured health-care workers back on the job sooner. The Return-to-Work grant, which is part …

Chicago Program Puts Injured Painters Back to Work

The city of Chicago has inked an agreement with the local painters union to allow injured employees to return to work more quickly, painting fire hydrants and curbs. Mayor Rahm Emanuel said in a statement Friday the Transitional Return to …