Quote of the day
“We’re on the front lines, and we have an increased risk of contracting the virus because we don’t have the proper protective equipment.”
Maureen May, president of the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals
Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Commission to remain closed
The Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Commission and the Court of Existing Claims will continue to close their offices in Oklahoma City and Tulsa through March 27. Journal Record (Oklahoma City, Okla.) [may require registration]
Louisiana agency issues emergency rule on workers’ compensation
Workers’ compensation claimants will have an easier time getting prescription medication refills and access to treatment facilities amid the coronavirus pandemic in Louisiana as the result of an emergency order by the Louisiana Workforce Commission. The directive requires insurance companies to accept documentation from the state for more than 30 days, especially if treatment facilities are closed, and is effective March 19 through April 13. The Advocate
Insurer reverses position on COVID-19 coverage for Arizona firefighters
An insurer reportedly has admitted making a mistake when it initially said it would not cover Arizona firefighters who contract COVID-19 on the job. Fire departments, however, are standing by for that confirmation. azfamily
Pennsylvania nurses say hospitals won’t guarantee paid leave for COVID-19
Frontline nurses in Pennsylvania aren’t guaranteed paid leave for their time in isolation due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to the nurse’s union representing 8,500 across the state. Direct care workers are often wearing the same single-use face masks for days, according to a nurse at Temple University Hospital. Billy Penn