Newsletter Sign-up

A Florida appeals court has agreed to rehear a controversial case involving the time limit of temporary total disability benefits. Workers' comp insurers are hoping the court will alter its decision that could cost the state's workers' comp system upwards of $65 million, according to NCCI.

Despite increases in future workers' comp loss costs, the governor's proposals to reform the workers' comp system should save employers money, predicts the New York Compensation Insurance Rating Board.

State lawmakers reacting to frustration among some practitioners with what they consider the slow pace of cost reductions after recent legislative reforms to the workers' comp system are hoping a state fund might be the answer.

"We believe the dollars we've collected have been spent appropriately and that all Ohio businesses have benefitted and continue to benefit from Bureau of Workers' Compensation programs and services," said a statement from the state's monopolistic workers' comp fund.

Safeway Inc., the third-largest retail grocery company in the country, is home to Bill Zachry. He has been at the company since 2001 and serves as its vice president and risk manager.

Bill Zachry has seen a side of the workers' comp system few in the industry have.

Up to 10 percent of workers' comp medical cost leakage might be prevented by catching erroneous bills early in the claims process, suggests Jerry D. Poole.

Workers' comp stakeholders are waiting to see if the Florida Supreme Court will be asked to consider a controversial decision. As it stands, the state's 104-week limit for paying temporary total disability benefits was struck down for certain claims.

The Family and Medical Leave Act allows employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave from work to attend to a serious health condition -- their own or a family member's -- without fear of losing their jobs.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Family and Medical Leave Act. New research shows the FMLA can ultimately help companies reduce their disability costs and improve the bottom line.

If you're nervous that the $85 billion in federal budget cuts that took effect this month might shake up the workers' comp system, don't be.

There are fewer prescriptions for compound drugs in the California workers' comp system these days. Nevertheless, payers are shelling out more money for them, according to a report by the California Workers' Compensation Institute.

Oklahoma lawmakers are once again considering legislation to allow employers to opt out of the workers' comp system. The bill making its way through the legislature is a tweaked version of last year's rejected proposal.

People in Missouri may be hired more quickly if the prospective employer can look online to see if there is a history of filing workers' comp claims. That's the idea behind a proposed online database for businesses.

Opioids and repackaged medications will be the focus of state lawmakers during an upcoming national meeting. Committees in the National Council of Insurance Legislators will look at model laws for states to adopt.

"Carpal tunnel injury claims are among the most expensive work injury claims in California, with higher than average indemnity and medical payments," says a new report. They typically involve "not only high medical costs, but long periods of recuperation and permanent disability, which push up indemnity costs."

"Motor vehicle accidents make up a slightly above-average share of both claims and losses in the large office and clerical class code," according to a new report. "They also represent a high share of the salespersons, collectors, or messengers class code."

"Workplace driving practices are essential to safety, and employers can play a big part in encouraging safe practices and procedures," says a new research brief from NCCI.

State regulators' annual report on the workers' comp system is not sitting well with some Florida physicians. The Florida Medical Association is taking issue with statements about the effect of physician drug dispensing on system costs.

The Workers' Compensation Court issued a memorandum reminding each self-insured employer and group self-insure association to provide the court administrator with information no later than April 15.