Vol. 6, Issue 24

Find Solutions & Strategies                    June 15, 2015

Price Controls on Specialty Pharmaceuticals

Global perspectives on the free market debate 
In This Issue
A Note From the Editor
Nat'l Workers' Comp Conference
Larson's National Workers' Compensation Advisory Board
price controls on specialty pharmaceuticals

Global perspectives on the free market debate

 

Karen C. Yotis, Esq., our Feature Resident Columnist, provides insights into workplace issues and the nuts and bolts of the workers' comp world   

  

We love our pharmaceuticals here in the U S of A and we pay through the nose for them too. According to 2014 health statistics from the Organization for Economic Growth Cooperation and Development, this great nation spends more on legal drugs than any other country in the world. And it doesn't look like our penchant for the good stuff is going away. Current research predicts that spending on the so-called "specialty" drugs like breakthrough Hepatitis C medication and various cancer treatments will balloon to $400 billion by 2020. The effort to contain these costs-primarily through government price controls-has reinvigorated the age-old debate between the concepts of economy and innovation and between regulation and the free market system. A recent white paper examines...read more.
2015 Update from the benefits review board
By Karen Koenig, Associate General Counsel, Longshore Division, U.S. Dept. of Labor 
 
Longshore RopeBRB Personnel News. The membership of the Benefits Review Board has changed quite a bit in the past year. Judge Betty Jean Hall, who has been the Acting Chair and Chief Administrative Appeals Judge since the retirement of Judge Nancy Dolder in April 2014, was named the Chair and Chief Administrative Appeals Judge on April 13, 2015. Judge Roy P. Smith retired in September 2014, after 45 years of government service, including the last 32 with the Board. Judge Regina C. McGranery will retire effective May 29, 2015, having served at the Board for 31 years. Greg J. Buzzard was appointed...read more. 
LARSON'S SPOTLIGHT ON RECENT CASES

Thomas A. Robinson, J.D., our Feature National Columnist, is the co-author of Larson's Workers' Compensation Law (LexisNexis). 

  

Federal: D.C. Circuit Court Dismisses RICO Action for Alleged Tortious Conduct Related to Defense Base Act Claims. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit, affirmed in relevant part the dismissal of a class action lawsuit that alleged several government contractors, insurance companies, and third parties ("contractors") had violated the Longshore Act, RICO, and the ADA....read more.

South Dakota: Horseplay Injury During Lull in Workday Found Compensable. The Supreme Court of South Dakota awarded workers' comp benefits to a construction worker who sustained a severely broken leg when he tried to jump a trench while running at a construction site...read more.

 

Arkansas: Cement Truck Driver Fatal Injuries Crossing Road After Short Break Found Compensable. Arkansas has one of the most restrictive rules when it comes to judging whether an injury arises out of and in the course of the employment, requiring the injury to have occurred while "employment services" are being performed...read more.

 

Virginia: McDonald's Manager Saves Bag of Fries, But Sustains Neck Injury. A Virginia appellate court affirmed an award of workers' comp benefits to a fast food manager, working at McDonald's, who testified that she felt a pop in her neck followed by a burning pain when a small bag of French fries slipped...read more.

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national & state news

Economic Policy Institute Releases White Paper on Misclassification of Workers.

Liberty Mutual Pulling Back From Workers' Comp Insurance Market.

Liberty Mutual White Paper Supports Use of Nurse Case Managers.

Study Identifies the 50 U.S. Hospitals With Highest Charge-to-Cost Ratios.

JAMA's June 9th Issue Features 7 Articles on Americans with Disabilities Act.

Study: Using Health Information Technology to Improve Adherence to Opioid Guidelines.

Study: Medicare Drug Plans Favor Generic Opioids, Not Opioids With Deterrent Qualities.

Medicare Paid $377M for Tranquilizer Prescriptions in 2013.

Yeast-Derived Opioids: Less Costly/Addictive, But Potential for Illegal Opioids Exists.

HHS Reports 259M Opioid Prescriptions Filled in 2012.

AR: NCCI Explains 2.1 Percent Decrease in Loss Cost Filing.

CA: Workers' Comp Premium Rates "Soar" for Third Year in a Row.

CA: WCAB to Reorganize More WCAB Rules of Practice and Procedure.

CA: DWC Posts Changes to OMFS (Physician/Non-Physician Practitioner Services).

CA: Leg. Counsel/DWC: $120M RTW Fund Need Not Be Aggregated Year to Year.

CA: Three Calif. Hospitals Among Most Expensive Hospitals in Nation.

CA: Ins. Commissioner Appoints New General Counsel.

FL: Florida Ranks #1 in Nation for Most Expensive Hospitals.

ID: ALEC Avoids Penalty by Amending Work Comp Policy to Cover Idaho Workers.

IL: AIA Testifies HB 1287 Would Adversely Affect IL Workers Comp System.

KY: DWC to Launch LMS Electronic Filing System in Fall 2015.

MD: Baltimore Rioting Results in 169 Workers Comp Claims by Officers, City Staffers.

MD: WCC Revises Authorization for Release of Medical Information Form.

MT: NCCI Explains 4.8 Percent Decrease in Loss Cost Filing.

MT: Montana State Fund Posts 2014 Annual Report.

NV: Ins. Commissioner Scott J. Kepper to Resign July 2.

NM: Governor Appoints Taylor Horst to Workers Comp Advisory Council.

NY: WCB Posts List of Newly Authorized Health Care Providers.

NY: WCB Posts Updated List of Authorized Health Care Providers.

ND: WSI Reports Cyber Attack on State Workers' Comp Information.

OK: State Leaders' Goof Enables Insurers to Reap $90M in Rebates for Comp Coverage.

OR: WCD Posts Latest Self-Insured Base Rates, Retrospective Rating Plan Options.

OR: WCD Proposes Rule Change for Medical Services.

SC: WCC Posts Agenda for June 15 Meeting.

TX: DWC Posts Informal Rule to Amend Temporary Income Benefit Rules.

TX: DWC Announces Recent Enforcement Actions.

ENEWSLETTER ARCHIVES

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