Quote of the day
“This is another example of the kind of lawlessness these people perpetrate thinking they are above the law and regulators. They said it in the original patent, they act like this in court and now maybe it’s coming home to roost.”
Larry Lichtenegger, attorney representing scores of employers aggrieved by Applied’s illegal EquityComp program
Flash: Holy Moly! CDI Didn’t Approve Applied Sale
Did Applied Underwriters and Berkshire Hathaway defy California regulators in moving forward with the change in ownership? We’ve got the official statement from the Department in this developing story. Get the details here. Workers’ Comp Executive
Flash: Yawn: Berkshire Finally Unloads Troubled Applied Underwriters
The delayed sale of Applied Underwriters is finally complete. What conditions did the regulators impose? Get the details here. Workers’ Comp Executive
New York: Cortland negotiating workers’ comp with county
Cortland, New York is one of several municipalities that have recently threatened to leave a shared workers’ compensation plan over complaints about its price efficiency and the county’s willingness to shop around for better options. WXHC (Homer, N.Y.)
Maryland: Workers’ comp battle, valor award marked late officer’s career
A Montgomery County, Maryland police officer who died this week in a death ruled suicide pursued a worker’s compensation claim several years ago related to a rare infection he claimed he contracted from wearing a “redman suit” used for activities such as canine training and baton training. Bethesda Magazine
Study links opioid epidemic to $205 billion in excess healthcare costs over four years
An analysis by the Society of Actuaries has found the opioid crisis has cost the nation at least $631 billion over the past four years, and nearly one-third is attributable to excess healthcare spending. The analysis projects costs for the opioid crisis in 2019 will range from $172 billion to $214 billion, depending on key metrics such as prevalence of opioid use disorder and number of opioid overdose deaths this year. HealthLeaders