Quote of the day
"It's important, from my perspective, to light a fire under [the Advisory Board on Radiation and Workers Health] and let them know we expect them to provide a just decision and do it quickly."
Barack Obama, regarding survivor benefits for families of Cold War-era arms workers who were exposed to radiation
Costs Spur Jockeys to Reorganize Efforts to Find Coverage
California horse jockeys, concerned over the rising costs of insurance offered by the national Jockeys’ Guild, are looking elsewhere for alternative coverage while continuing talks with the guild. California is one of only five states to provide workers’ compensation to jockeys. By Claire Novak, Blood-Horse
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Obama Spotlights Plight of Radiation-Exposed Arms Workers
U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., calls on the Advisory Board on Radiation and Workers Health, a division of NIOSH, to help families of Cold War-era weapons workers who were sickened or died as a result of exposure to radioactive materials. By James Kimberly, Chicago Tribune
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Perata Healthcare Plan Would Operate Like Workers’ Comp
The healthcare reform plan proposed by California state Sen. Don Perata, D-Oakland, would operate much like the workers’ compensation system, and would cover roughly 4 million of the nearly 7 million uninsured Californians at an annual cost of between $5 billion – $7 billion. KESQ-TV (Palm Springs)
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CHSWC Announces Election of Commissioner, Release of ‘Report Card’
The California Commission on Health and Safety and Workers’ Compensation announces the election of Commissioner John C. Wilson as chairman for 2007 and that it has released “Selected Indicators in Workers’ Compensation: A Report Card for Californians.” Workers’ Comp Executive
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Constitution State Rates to Stay Stable
Connecticut’s workers’ compensation rates will remain stable next year, dropping less than 1 percent on average, as claim trends remain relatively favorable. “The market overall is healthy and stable,” says Laura Backus Hall, a state relations executive at the National Council on Compensation Insurance. By Diane Levick, Hartford Courant
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Boston-Area Nursing Home Owners Deny Charges
Former owners of one of the Boston area’s largest nursing home operations plead not guilty to stealing tens of thousands of dollars from patients and their families. Employee paychecks reportedly often bounced and some homes lacked workers’ compensation coverage for months. By Sue Reinert, Patriot Ledger (Quincy, Mass.)
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Aussie Union: Switch to Federal Scheme Will Hurt Workers
As more major Australian employers get the green light to self-insure for workers’ compensation, the Australian Council of Trade Unions adamantly opposes the move from state schemes to a federal workers’ comp regime, contending it will result in lower payouts to injured workers. ABC News Online (Australia)
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State Farm’s Net Worth Jumps 14 Percent
Aided in part by lower workers’ compensation claims and a tamer-than-expected hurricane season, State Farm Insurance Cos.’ net worth has grown 14 percent, or $6.8 billion, so far this year. By Scott Miller, Bloomington (Ill.) Pantagraph
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