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Vol. 3, Issue 6

Find Solutions & Strategies                          February 6, 2012

Pain ChronicChronic Pain Treatment

 

New attitudes and alternative approaches

In This Issue
-REFORMING PAIN TREATMENT
-PAIN: ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES
-TOP 10 WC ISSUES
-LARSON'S SPOTLIGHT: Course of Employment, Jurisdiction, Heart Attack, Refusal of Medical Treatment
-BLOGS: Fraud, Medicare Set-Asides
-NATIONAL NEWS
-STATE NEWS
-eNEWSLETTER ARCHIVES
A Note From The Editor
Robin Kobayashi 2010

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reforming pain treatment

Stahl, JohnReforming Chronic Pain Treatment: New Attitudes and Better Knowledge Advocated, by John Stahl, Esq. The 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, a.k.a. Obamacare authorized the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to study issues related to chronic pain. One reason for this effort was that chronic pain issues annually cost the workers' compensation system and society as a whole an estimated $635 billion in treatments and lost productivity. > Read more

pain: alternative approaches

Stahl, JohnAlternative Approaches to Treating Chronic Back Pain, by John Stahl, Esq. This is a hard pill to swallow for "pill mill" doctors and pharmaceutical companies that provide their supply, but alternative workers' compensation approaches to managing chronic pain are increasingly popular. A session at the WCRI 2011 Annual Conference demonstrated that a back injury does not always buy a ticket for a magical mystery tour. > Read more

A national expert's year in review

Tom Robinson thumbnailThomas A. Robinson on 2011 Year in Review: Top 10 Issues in Workers' Compensation Law. In this 19-page LexisNexis Emerging Issues Analysis article on sale now at the LexisNexis Bookstore, workers' comp expert Thomas A. Robinson analyzes the top 10 workers' comp events for 2011 on a national level, with an eye to the hot button issues for 2012. His top 10 list covers: 1. Injuries to Telecommuters. 2. Opioid Abuse in Treatment of Injured Workers. 3. Mental Injuries Within the Work Environment. And more. > Read the abstract

Larson's spotlight on recent cases

Tom Robinson thumbnail

Worker's Alcohol Consumption and Nap Defeat Claim for Fall Into Elevator Shaft, by Thomas A. Robinson. To support a compensable claim, it is generally not enough for the employee to show that the injury arose within the time and space limits of the employment; he or she must generally be acting in furtherance of the employer's business. It has long been established that work-connected activity goes beyond the direct services performed for the employer and includes at least some flexibility to attend to the personal comfort and human wants of the employee...> Read more

blogS at the lexisnexis workers' comp law community
Fraud SignWorkers' Comp Fraud Blotter - Fake Bullet Holes Lead To Arrest Of Bus Driver For Fraud and Making False Robbery Report,  by LexisNexis Workers' Compensation Law Community Staff. Read it
 
 

 

Teddy SnyderFour Reasons to Avoid the CMS Approval Process for MSAs, by Teddy Snyder, Esq. Read it.
national news
state news

AK: WCD Posts Filing Rules for Annual Reports, Paying SIF Contributions, WSCAA Fees.

AZ: Kids' Chance Sponsors 8th Annual 5K Run/Walk March 3.

AR: Court Allows Evidence of Facebook Entries to Help Defeat Workers Comp Claim.

AR: WCC to Rectify Worker's Request for Change of Physician After Doctor Dies.

CA: RAND Releases Report on California Injury, Illness Prevention Program.

CA: CWCI Report Based on NAIC Data Shows Insurer Profitability Improved in 2010.

CA: DWC Posts Reports on Alternative Dispute Resolution/Carve Out Program.

CA: DWC Posts Fee Schedule Changes for Outpatient Hosp/Ambulatory Surgical Centers.

CA: 114 Former Cincinnati Bengals' Claims Could Cost Hundreds of Millions.

CO: Task Force Panel Majority Appears Opposed to Pinnacol Privatization.

CO: Governor Agrees to Slow Down Push for Pinnacol Privatization.

CO: Pinnacol to Resume Controversial Ads for Privatization.

CT: Governor Proposes to Consolidate Dept of Labor, Workers Comp Commission.

DE: OWC Posts Updated Medical Fee Schedule, UR Form.

FL: Governor Reappoints Portuallo as Judge of Compensation Claims.

FL: Lawmakers Seek to Stop Ties Between Cash Checking, Workers Comp Fraud.

FL: DWC Proposes Rule Changes Regarding Claims Handling Notices.

FL: DWC Proposes Notice Changes for Apportionment in Payment of Medical Services.

FL: DWC Proposes Adoption of 2012 FL WC Reimbursement Manual for Hospitals.

ID: ICC Posts Workers Comp Advisory Committee Agenda for Feb 8 Meeting.

IL: Workers Comp Attorney Suspended for 30 Days.

IL: Lawmakers Say Workers Comp Reform Not Enough, Want Jobs Talk From Governor.

IN: Governor Signs Right-to-Work Law.

MN: GOP Lawmakers Seek Constitutional Amendment for Right-to-Work.

MT: State Panel Seeks to Improve Health Data Sharing Among Agencies.

NE: WCC Welcomes New Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist.

NE: WCC Posts Minutes of Vocational Rehabilitation Meeting.

NV: DIR Posts New Medical Fee Schedule.

NJ: Governor Appoints New Commissioner of Banking and Insurance.

NJ: ISO to Help NJCRIB Transition to IAIABC Release 3 for Electronic Data Reporting.

NJ: Chief Judge Posts Presentation on Handling Second Injury Fund Cases.

NY: Study Shows High Workers Comp Costs for Municipalities, Public Entities.

NY: Unpaid Intern Files Wage and Hour Lawsuit Against Hearst Corporation.

NC: Former Pro Golfer Arrested on Workers Comp Fraud Related Charges.

OH: BWC Launches Pharmacy Lock-in Program to Deter Medication Abuse.

OH: BWC Hires Investment Managers.

OK: GOP Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Provide Alternative to Workers Comp.

OK: GOP Lawmaker Introduces Bill for 24 Hour Pilot Workers Comp Insurance Program.

OK: State Chamber Unveils Legislative Agenda for Taxation, Workers Comp, Healthcare.

PA: Auditor General Points to Mismanagement of State Workers Insurance Fund.

PA: Insurance Dept Approves 5.7 Percent Decrease in Workers Comp Costs.

TX: Supreme Court Bars Negligence Claims Against Workers Comp Policyholders.

TX: TDI Accepts NCCI Advisory Loss Cost Filing Effective 6/1/2012.

TX: Statewide Prescription Drug Monitoring to Launch by Summer.

UT: SB 121 Would Correct Language in Labor Code Regarding Issuance of WC Waivers.

UT: SB 130 Would Coordinate Benefits Paid by WC and Group Health Insurance Plans.

VA: WCRI Says VA Is Lower Cost State, But Medical Costs Per Claim Are Higher and Rising.

WA: Increase Seen in Workplace Injuries.

WA: L&I Seeks Comments on Structured Settlement Rules.

WV: Audit Finds State Workers Double Dipping, Drawing Salary and Pension at Same Time.

WV: A.M. Best Gives BrickStreet A- Financial Strength Rating.

WI: DWD Posts New Maximum Weekly Benefits Chart.

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Top 25 Blogs 2011

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ENEWSLETTER ARCHIVES

Take a deep dive into our past eNewsletters for 2012 and prior...warning - some links to articles may not work...report any linking problems to [email protected].

 

January 30, 2012: Impact of Workers' Comp Reform: NY and CA.

January 23, 2012: Economic Costs of Occupational Injuries.

January 17, 2012: U.S. Supreme Court Decision on Outer Continental Shelf.

January 9, 2012: Top 10 Bizarre Cases for 2011.

January 2, 2012: 10 Myths and Facts About Workers' Compensation.

ACCESS 2010-2011 ARCHIVES AND ARTICLES LIST HERE.

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