Quote of the day
"The important thing is that [hearing officers will] be out from WSI and under our management. I think that makes a big difference in perception."
Allen Hoberg, director of the North Dakota Office of Administrative Hearings
Go to the full story by Dale Wetzel, AP via Grand Forks Herald
WSI to Resume Using Independent Hearing Officers
Under a new agreement with the state’s Office of Administrative Hearings that takes effect in August, North Dakota’s workers compensation agency, Workforce Safety and Insurance, plans to resume using independent hearing officers to review disputes over workers’ comp payouts. Two applicant attorneys suggest the change was influenced by a pending measure that would affect the agency’s management and appeals process; WSI officials deny that.
Go to the full story by Dale Wetzel, AP via Grand Forks Herald
Go to the full story by Dale Wetzel, AP via Fargo Forum [may require registration]
Oregon Court Rules State Must Pay for Obesity Surgery
If an obese worker is too heavy to be treated for a knee problem, the state may be obligated to pay for gastric surgery to help the worker lose weight, the Oregon Court of Appeals holds in upholding a ruling by the state Workers’ Compensation Board. By AP via KGW (Portland)
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Centennial State Lawmakers Want GAO Probe of Labor Department
One week after the Rocky Mountain News series that detailed how the Labor Department has derailed the compensation claims of sick nuclear weapons workers by concealing reports, constantly changing rules and delaying cases until claimants died, two Colorado congressmen call for the Government Accountability Office to investigate the way the Labor Department administers the program. By Laura Frank, Rocky Mountain News
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Q&A: Cost of Workers’ Comp Claims in Oklahoma
Questions: How widespread and costly are workers’ compensation claims? Are claims on the rise? What are some clues that a claim may be fraudulent? By Jacque Brawner Dean and Paula Burkes, Oklahoman
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Mental Injury Claims Spike in Australia: Report
In Australia, according to new national workers’ compensation statistics, the number of claims for mental health disorder, respiratory disease and neoplasm has jumped. However, infectious and parasitic disease claims, and deafness claims, have fallen significantly. SafetoWork (Australia)
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Counterpoint: Op Piece on West Virginia’s New System Flawed
A commentary about West Virginia’s privatization of workers’ compensation that claims that privatization has brought a 30 percent reduction in cost is unsubstantiated and untrue, contends the director of the Affiliated Construction Trades Foundation, who says that a recent reduction in costs can more accurately be attributed to two significant events. By Steve White, WVNS-TV (Beckley, W.V.)
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Commentary: Province’s Campaign Does ‘Terrible Disservice’
The Saskatchewan Worker’s Compensation Board recently introduced a campaign to reduce lost-time injuries to zero. But the campaign is not affecting the accident rate itself. By Robert Pitzel, Regina Leader-Post
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Virginia to Hold October Hearing on Premiums
The Virginia State Corporation Commission is setting an October 28th hearing to consider adjustments in workers’ compensation premiums, as requested by NCCI. WFVA (Radio) (Fredericksburg, Va.)
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