News Digest 6-30-2020

Quote of the day

“The COVID crisis is serious. It’s affected all of us. We need to offer protections to our business community and our health-care community.”

Georgia House Majority Whip Trey Kelley

Savannah Morning News

 

Note to our valued subscribers: Workers’ Comp Executive will be taking its annual summer starting Friday, July 3, 2020. We will resume daily publication Monday, July 20, 2020.

 

COVID-19 lawsuit protections passed for Georgia businesses, hospitals

Georgia lawmakers passed legislation aimed at shielding Georgia businesses and health-care providers from lawsuits brought by people who contract COVID-19 during the final hours of this year’s legislative session on Friday evening. The law was passed largely along party lines. Democrats argued the protections the bill offers to businesses would come at the expense of employees. Savannah Morning News

 

Texas doctor, two others charged with federal drug crimes, insurance fraud

A federal grand jury has indicted three Dallas-area healthcare professionals for drug crimes and fraud. The defendants are charged with submitting falsified claims to health insurers, including the Texas Workers’ Compensation system. CBS DFW

 

Ohio employees filing for COVID-related workers’ comp

Hundreds of Ohioans have filed for workers’ compensation alleging they contracted COVID-19 on the job. The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation says it has created a special team to review and evaluate COVID-19 claims to ensure that workers who were sickened on the job get the payments and benefits they are entitled to. Governing

 

Practical considerations for the post-shutdown workplace

Now that your business is reopened, what happens if an employee contracts COVID-19? Are you required to grant an employee’s request for leave related to COVID-19? Are you still required to accommodate requests to telework? TCBN