Quote of the day
"As West Virginia enters the private market era, the Office of Insurance Commissioner believes that insurance companies should be permitted to function with routine operating procedures to which they are accustomed nationwide." Rebecca Roush, writing for West Virginia Insurance Commissioner Jane Cline, in a case before the state Supreme Court
Mountain State Case Should Make Nationwide Ripples
Insurers across the country are expected to pay close attention when the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals tackles five workers’ compensation appeals at oral arguments tomorrow. In two of the cases, employers seek to declare files inactive after six months without medical service, while employees are arguing for a five-year wait. By Steve Korris, West Virginia Record
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Ohio Rate Cut First Relief Since Scandals
Owing to fewer legitimate injury claims and lower medical costs, Ohio’s workers’ compensation premium rate cut comes at a time when the state’s Bureau of Workers’ Compensation no longer issues investment dividends that employers had come to count on to offset rising premiums. The dividends stopped in the wake of the investment scandals that began to rock the BWC nearly three years ago.
Go to the full story by Jim Provance, Toledo Blade
Go to the full story in Business Courier of Cincinnati
S.D. Court Gives More Weight to State’s Medical Expert
In a case in which a state employee’s work-related injury was undisputed, the South Dakota Supreme Court last week sided with an administrative law judge who gave more weight to the diagnosis of a state medical expert, rather than that of the injured worker’s medical care providers, in denying workers’ comp benefits. By Roberto Ceniceros, Business Insurance
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Cardiff Council Workers May Strike over Tougher Sick Day Rules
In Wales, Cardiff council employees may strike in response to plans that would make it easier to fire sick workers. The council wants to implement measures it believes would drive down an average illness rate of nearly 13 days per worker, which is nearly double that of private sector employees. icWales.co.uk
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Editorial: Hannah’s Cheating Fan
How did prosecutors find out that a Connecticut corrections officer allegedly collected $5,000 in workers’ compensation benefits despite being well enough to work? Blame Hannah Montana. Jackson Citizen Patriot
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