Quote of the day
"The bill specifies procedures and imposes unnecessary reporting obligations on employers, which will hurt businesses, especially small businesses, as many do not have staff to undertake this mandatory obligation."
Jim Tollefson, president of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, regarding a workers' comp bill in the state senate
Kansas Court Decision Could Mean Trouble for Aviation Workers
The Kansas Supreme Court makes a significant change to the state’s worker compensation law: injuries to both arms, hands or legs will garner a significantly lower level of benefits. In Wichita, such injuries are not uncommon for assembly line workers in the aviation industry.
Go to the full story in KAKE-TV (Wichita)
Go to the full story by Rebecca Gannon, SBSD-TV (Wichita)
Commentary: S.C. Lawmaker Stands with Business Community
The South Carolina Senate majority leader says small and large businesses in the Palmetto State are clamoring for lawmakers to fix to the state’s workers’ compensation system, which has gone from one of the most effective in the nation to one that has raised premiums beyond the reach of many employers. By Harvey S. Peeler, Jr., Spartanburg Herald-Journal
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Hawaii Chamber: Comp Changes Should Not Go Through
The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii says Hawaii workers’ compensation law “needs some improvements” but urges the state House of Representatives not to adopt changes now before it. Senate Bill 1060 would limit an employer’s ability to terminate benefits and allow employees to extend paid leave for weeks by challenging credentials of company doctors. Pacific Business Journal (Honolulu)
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Commentary: Hawaii Fix Will Have to Wait
A Hawaii state senator argues that with the Democrat-controlled Hawaii Legislature scheduled to adjourn in a month, nothing has been accomplished with respect to workers’ compensation or tort reform. By Sam Slom, Hawaii Reporter
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Florida-Based PMSI Signs Contract with Ohio Casualty Group
Tampa-headquartered PMSI, which works with compensation insurance payers, state workers’ comp funds, employers and third-party administrators to handle workers’ comp claims, signs a two-year agreement with Ohio Casualty Group under which PMSI will provide pharmaceutical management and medical services equipment. Tampa Bay Business Journal
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Coventry Completes Acquisition of Concentra’s Workers’ Comp Unit
Bethesda, Md.-based Coventry Health Care completes its $388 million acquisition of Texas-headquartered Concentra’s workers’ compensation managed care business, which generated $324 million in revenue last year. Baltimore Business Journal
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Philly Teacher Faces Young Attacker at Sentencing
A veteran Philadelphia teacher who is receiving workers’ compensation while he recovers from a brutal attack by two students that left him with a broken neck and a brain injury faces one of his convicted assailants in court. The attack has prompted teachers to tell about assaults and triggered changes in the school district’s handling of dangerous students. By Susan Snyder, Philadelphia Inquirer [With Photos] Go to the Full Story…
BrickStreet Seeks to Raise Minimum Premium Rate
BrickStreet Mutual Insurance Co., West Virginia’s private, exclusive workers’ compensation insurer, has filed a request to increase the minimum annual workers’ compensation insurance premium from $250 to $500 for accounts opened before January 2006, the Offices of the Insurance Commissioner reports. By George Hohmann, Charleston Daily Mail
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