Several states are taking steps to address shortages of qualified mental health professionals in workers compensation by making it simpler for licensed clinical social workers to help injured workers. California enacted a law in 2022 clearing the red tape for licensed clinical social workers to treat in the workers compensation system, and New York, after …
Provider shortages in mental health are a major issue that extends beyond workers comp, experts say. The Health Resources and Services Administration, which tracks available providers, says 37% of the U.S. population lives in areas with mental health provider shortages and that the country needs an additional 6,398 mental health providers to fill the gaps. …
Moves help close gap in mental health provider shortages Read More »
Medical inflation is a top concern in workers compensation this year and adjusting medical fee schedules may be one way to address rising costs, although the appetite for change is limited, comp experts say. While some states have introduced legislation to overhaul their schedules, variations in costs among states illustrate the complexity of the issue, …
A federal appeals court has held a salon in contempt for ignoring a National Labor Relations Board order in a case involving the wrongful termination of an employee who spoke out about COVID-19 workplace safety measures. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit on Monday held Haven Salon + Spa, Inc. in contempt …
Appeals court holds salon in contempt for ignoring NLRB order Read More »
Less coordination of care was found to be a factor in injured workers who relied on “extended” physical rehabilitation post-injury, according to a study released Wednesday by the Workers Compensation Research Institute. According to WCRI, physical medicine services are commonly used in treating workers with lower back pain and other musculoskeletal injuries, and in recent …
Lack of coordination of care for injured workers results in more rehab costs Read More »
A Texas jewelry metal-plating finishing company has been cited by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for allegedly failing to keep employees protected against potentially severe eye injuries. OSHA on Tuesday announced citations against El Paso, Texas-based Arizona Traders Co. for 12 serious violations after workplace safety inspectors in September 2022 found employees were exposed …
Jewelry company cited for exposing workers to eye injuries Read More »
Oregon legislators have introduced bills to require timely reporting of injuries by employers and to permit physician assistants to treat injured workers in comp cases. House Bill 3467, filed Tuesday, would require employers to report to their insurers any workplace injuries that may result in the filing of workers comp claims within five days after …
Employer reporting, physician assistant comp bills filed in Oregon Read More »
Lawmakers in numerous states are seeking to expand the list of cancers and other illnesses that first responders are presumed to have contracted on the job for workers compensation purposes, but the costs associated with the measures are hard to quantify, experts say. Lack of data on first responder claims and the long latency periods …
States look to expand first responder comp cancer presumptions Read More »
A California appeals court reversed a trial court’s dismissal of a 2018 battery lawsuit filed by a fired Hollywood graphics engineer, ruling his claims were not preempted by the state’s workers compensation exclusivity rule. In a decision filed Thursday, the California Court of Appeals, Second District, ruled Iman Sadeghi, former vice president of engineering at …
Hollywood graphics engineer’s battery lawsuit reinstated Read More »
Rust Movie Productions LLC has agreed to a $100,000 settlement with the New Mexico Environment Department’s Occupational Health and Safety Bureau over workplace safety citations that were issued following the on-set death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in October 2021. Ms. Hutchins was fatally shot on Oct. 21, 2021, when a live round was shot from …
‘Rust’ producers agree to $100K settlement after workplace death Read More »