Quote of the day
"Under no circumstances was a patient ever dissuaded from health care. Under no circumstances was care compromised in order to fulfill the employer's wish."
Ernesto Alvero, CEO of Pinnacle Corp., denying allegations that the company helped a Salinas box manufacturer carry out workers' comp fraud
Monterey County Prosecutors Add Charges in Workers’ Comp Case
Three new insurance fraud charges are part of the case against managers of the Smurfit-Stone cardboard box manufacturing plant in Salinas. Some workers have claimed that they were encouraged to lie, and to file claims for work-related injuries, with their private insurance policies; others have reported they were suspended without pay after injuring themselves on the job.
Go to the full story by Virginia Hennessey, Monterey County Herald
Go to the full story by Victor Calderon, Salinas Californian
Minnesota Firehouses May Have Zero Tolerance Drinking Policy
With an eye toward controlling workers’ comp costs, the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust is recommending a zero tolerance alcohol and drug policy that determines which firefighters will be able to respond to individual fire calls. By Ron Larsen, Journal via Firehouse.com
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Honolulu 911 Operators’ Ball Game Spurs Lawsuit
A game played during work hours by Honolulu Police Department emergency telephone operators resulted in an operator suffering a detached retina after she was struck in the eye by a ball thrown by another operator, according to a lawsuit by a civilian employee of the city police force. By Jim Dooley, Honolulu Advertiser
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Benefit Costs Put Dent in Auto Industry, Says New Center’s Director
A new center at Ohio State University aims to help the automotive industry design processes to both protect worker health and optimize new vehicle production. “Estimates show that $2,000 per vehicle goes toward worker benefits and healthcare costs. It’s killing automakers in terms of being able to compete,” states Bill Marras, the director of the new center. Reliable Plant
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