Cost Shifting of Workers' Comp Expenses   

Study says third parties pick up most of the bill 

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Cost-Shifting of Workers' Compensation Expenses: Study Says Third Parties Pick Up Most of the Bill, by John Stahl, Esq. A study that J. Paul Leigh, Ph.D., and James P. Marcin, MD, MPH conducted addressed cost shifting that occurred when the workers' compensation system did not absorb the entire cost of a compensable incident. They reported their findings in an article entitled "Workers' Compensation Benefits and Shifting Costs for Occupational Injury and Illness" in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Arguably compensable costs were often shifted to: Non-workers' compensation insurance; Medicare; Medicaid. The research included the full range of benefits that workers' compensation provided claimants. Read more.

LexisNexis has partnered with the National Workers' Compensation Conference to create an enhanced legal track for attorneys and other workers' comp professionals. Larson's Advisory Board member and LexisNexis author Lawrence Pascal will be speaking on The Future of Exclusive Remedy. View the program agenda. Overall, there are 15 members of the Larson's National Workers' Compensation Advisory Board speaking at this event. You don't want to miss this conference! Take advantage of the special discount for all LexisNexis Workers' Compensation Law Community members. Community membership is free at our site.

CA: Lawmaker Introduces Bill to Stem Prescription Drug Abuse.

CA: Attorney Loses Claim of "Significant Role" in Calif.'s Record WC Settlement.

CA: CalChamber Monitors Status of Workers Comp Bills That Would Impact Businesses.

CA: CHSWC to Reschedule August Meeting.

CO: DWC to Discuss Treatment Guidelines, Medical Fee Schedules at Aug. 15 Meeting.

FL: DWC Files Notice of Proposed Rule Making for FL WC Hospital Reimbursement Manual.

FL: DWC Proposes Rule Change Re Apportionment of Medical Reimb./Preexisting Condition.

IL: WCC Rejects Controversial State Trooper's Appeal Re WC Benefits.

NE: WCC Provides Guidance on AWW for Part-Time Workers.

NE: WCC Explains Need for MMI Before Voc Rehab Plan Can Be Approved.

NE: Legislature Seeks to Study Outcomes for Persons Receiving Voc Rehab.

NJ: Chief Judge Calderone Issues Memo on Medicare Conditional Payment and MSAs.

NY: Governor Announces Workers Comp Rate Reduction.

OK: State Legislator Testifies in His Workers Comp Case.

OR: WCD Posts Proposed Vocational Assistance to Workers Rules.

OR: WCD Posts Proposed Preferred Worker Program Rules.

OR: WCD Posts Proposed Employer-at-Injury Program Rules.

OR: WCD Posts Proposed Employer/Insurer Coverage Responsibility Rules.

OR: WCD Posts Proposed Oregon Medical Fee and Paymens Rules.

PA: DLI Streamlines State Workers Comp Insurance Fund, 24 Workers Laid Off.

TN: Employee Misclassification Advisory Task Force to Meet July 26.

TX: DWC Announces Recent Enforcement Actions.

UT: Labor Commissioner Appoints New Director of Adjudication Division.

VA: NCCI State Advisory Forum Scheduled for 9/30/2012.

WV: NCCI Proposes 9.1 Percent Decrease for Workers Comp Rates.

WV: NCCI State Advisory Forum Scheduled for 8/22/2012.