Vol. 6, Issue 6

Find Solutions & Strategies February 9, 2015

Understanding Geographic Variation in the Use of Treatment Guidelines for Occupational Injuries

In This Issue

- GEOGRAPHIC VARIATIONS

- LARSON'S SPOTLIGHT: Intoxication, Bunkhouse Rule, Unwitnessed Death, Chemical Exposure

- NATIONAL & STATE NEWS

- eNEWSLETTER ARCHIVES

A Note From the Editor

WCRI Conference

understanding geographic variation in the use of treatment guidelines for occupational injuries

Greater medical consensus could reduce geographic variability

Thomas A. Robinson, J.D., our Feature National Columnist, is a leading commentator and expert on the law of workers' compensation.

A recent study published by the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine suggests that there is geographic variation in the use of medical treatment guidelines that reaches beyond differences in population characteristics, such as age, sex, and insurance coverage...The study also indicates that there may be inefficiencies within the American health system that lead to overuse of some types of health services or provision of low quality care in the case of occupational injuries involving the shoulder and/or back. According to the study, however, there was little correlation between the guidelines used. That is to say that with regard to some guidelines, there was a significant geographic variation in use, whereas with other guidelines this was not the case....read more.

LARSON'S SPOTLIGHT ON RECENT CASES

Thomas A. Robinson, J.D., our Feature National Columnist, is a leading commentator and expert on the law of workers' compensation.

Arkansas: Worker Fails to Rebut Presumption That Accident Was "Substantially Occasioned" by Drugs. A court has affirmed a decision denying workers' comp benefits to a worker who fell as he descended a ladder on the basis that...read more.

California: Correctional Officer's Premises Liability Suit Might Be Barred by Bunkhouse Rule. In a premises liability suit brought against the state by a correctional officer, a court held it was error for to grant summary judgment to...read more.

Virginia: Court Affirms Denial of Unwitnessed Death Claim. Continuing its stance within the minority of states that refuse to provide a presumption of compensability in cases in which a worker suffers fatal injuries in an unwitnessed...read more.

Alabama: Aggravation of School Custodian's Myasthenia Gravis Linked to Chemical Exposure. The Supreme Court of Alabama reinstated a trial court's decision awarding a school custodian PTD benefits stemming from her exposure...read more.

national & state news

Expert Examines Whether Employee Classification Issues Hurt Uber Business Model.

Uber Employee Email Exchanges Shed Light on Firing Practices of Drivers.

Manufacturers Seek to Reduce Risks for Workplace Exposure to Chemical Flavorings.

CMS Releases NGHP User Guide Version 4.5 (Feb. 2, 2015).

NFL Concussion Lawsuit 2014 Settlement Could Fall Through.

NIOSH Provides Guidance on Ebola and Use of Personal Protective Equipment.

AK: Governor Reappoints Hemenway to Workers Comp Appeals Commission.

AK: Governor Appoints 1, Reappoints 7 to Workers' Compensation Board.

CA: SCIF Files April 1 Rating Plan, Announces 9% Increase in Collectible Premium.

CA: 4th DCA Denies Writ of Review in Dubon En Banc Decision.

CA: CHSWC Releases 2014 Annual Report on CHSWC Systems.

GA: Lawmakers to Debate Two Bills for Firefighter Cancer Presumption.

HI: Judge Finds Injured Worker's Suicide Attempt Linked to Work-Related Injury.

HI: Governor Nominates Hoshijo as DLIR Deputy Director.

IL: Governor Wants Lawmakers to Address Shortcomings of 2011 Workers Comp Reform.

IA: Governor Appoints Joe Cortese as Workers' Compensation Commissioner.

KS: Some Lawmakers Open to Considering Firefighter Cancer Presumption Legislation.

MA: NPR Series Examines High Workplace Injury Rate for Nurses.

MI: Governor Appoints Phillip Hendges to Compensation Appellate Commission.

MO: AIA Supports Proposed Legislation for Prescription Drug Monitoring Program.

MT: WCC Posts Revised Rules Eff. March 1, 2015.

NH: Doctors Speak Out at Hearing on HB 477 Fee Schedule.

NY: PERMA Details Internal Review of Operations Conducted by WCB.

NY: Business Council of NY Presses Governor for Workers Comp Changes.

NY: Task Force on Employee Misclassification Reports Over 133,000 Misclassified Workers.

NC: Governor Wants to Address High Costs of Workers Comp Within State Government.

NC: Governor's Claim About High Rate of Workers' Comp Fraud Questioned.

OK: Governor Speaks Out on "Re-imagined" "Re-worked" Workers Comp System.

OK: Ins. Dept. Licenses 37 Captive Insurers During 2014.

OK: Ins. Dept. Proposes Opt Out Rules.

OR: WCD Posts Final Rules for Medical Fee and Payment Rules.

OR: WCD Posts Final Rules for Medical Services.

OR: WCD Posts Final Rules for Claim Closure and Reconsideration.

OR: WCD Posts Final Rules for Disability Rating Standards.

OR: WCD Posts Final Rules for Employer-at-Injury Program.

OR: WCD Posts Final Rules for Preferred Worker Program.

OR: WCD Posts Final Rules for Vocational Assistance to Injured Workers.

OR: WCD Posts Revisions to Gainful Occupation for PTD Evaluations.

TX: TDI Posts NCCI Revised Manual Rule for PEOs.

TX: TDI Posts Amendments to NCCI Experience Rating Manual.

TX: DWC Adopts Revisions to Reporting Requirement Rules.

VA: Ex-Workers Comp Commissioner Representing McDonald's Workers in Discrimination Suit.

WV: Expert Examines Legislature's Proposal to Change Deliberate Intent Statute.

WY: House Approves Bill to Designate Special Ed Teachers as Hazardous Occupation.

ENEWSLETTER ARCHIVES

Take a deep dive into our past eNewsletters for 2015 and prior...warning - some links to articles may not work...report any linking problems to Robin.E.Kobayashi@lexisnexis.com.

Feb. 2, 2015: Occupational Injury Patterns of U.S. Workers With Physical or Mental Disabilities.

Jan. 26, 2015: Temp Nation: Risk Management Tips.

Jan. 20, 2015: Ambulatory Surgical Center Payments vs. Hospital Outpatient Payments.

Jan. 12, 2015: WCRI Study Strikes Serious Blow to Physician-Dispensed Strong Opioids.

Jan. 5, 2015: Top 10 Bizarre Workers' Comp Cases for 2014.

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