Worker's Compensation

Columbus, OH – A $1 billion rebate for Ohio workers’ compensation customers has been proposed by Gov. John Kasich (R).

Cambridge, MA – Workers who are concerned about being fired after suffering an injury on the job may remain on disability longer than those who feel secure, according to multiple studies from the Workers Compensation Research Institute.

Opioid painkillers increasingly are being prescribed to treat chronic pain, and their use among injured workers may be dangerous if the drug is unwarranted or misused. What should employers and workers know to help encourage safe use of opioids?

Cambridge, MA – Narcotics are frequently prescribed within the workers’ compensation system to help relieve pain among injured workers, and the prescribing frequency varies from state to state, according to a new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute.

Washington – Firefighters who work for federal agencies and contract certain diseases on the job would be ensured federal workers’ compensation coverage under newly introduced bipartisan legislation.

Los Angeles – California state Sen. Ron Calderon (D) has been indicted for taking bribes in connection with a workers’ compensation fraud scheme.

Washington – A new publication from NIOSH is intended to help public health researchers better understand workers’ compensation insurance and how records can be used to help prevent workplace illnesses and injuries.

Washington – Dog bites, falls and vehicle collisions were the leading causes of injuries among U.S. Postal Service employees in 2012, according to a Government Accountability Office report released Sept. 26.

The workers’ compensation system in the United States has been changing for the past two decades, but the debate – which began a century ago – remains the same: Exactly what benefits are injured workers entitled to? Does the system favor employers?

Tumwater, WA – The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries on Sept. 16 proposed an average increase of 2.7 percent for 2014 workers’ compensation premiums.