Vol. 7, Issue 3

Find Solutions & Strategies January 19, 2016

Work-Injury Impact on Wealth of U.S. Workers

Study examines income loss post-injury

In This Issue

- INCOME LOSS POST-INJURY

- LARSON'S: Medical Marijuana, Utilization Review, Wage Loss, Partial Impairment

- NATIONAL & STATE NEWS

- eNEWSLETTER ARCHIVES

A Note From the Editor

work-injury impact on wealth of u.s. workers

Workers with injuries experienced slow to significant income loss post-injury compared to steeper increases for non-injured workers over time

By Roger Rabb, J.D., Special Correspondent, LexisNexis Workers' Compensation eNewsletter

Although there are many studies exploring the costs of workplace injuries in the U.S., often in the form of analysis of the costs to employers or workers' compensation insurance carriers, there is less research on the long-term economic effects of workplace injuries on the workers themselves. Moreover, the studies that do attempt to measure the economic effects on workers are often limited, for example, to workers who file workers' compensation claims. One recent study analyzes long-term economic effects on injured workers, including both those who filed workers' comp claims and those who did not...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: Federal Court Oks Firing for Use of Medical Marijuana. In a case of first impression in the District of New Mexico, a federal district court held that an employer was under no obligation to accommodate an employee's use of medical marijuana...read more.

California: Claim Against UR Physician Not Preempted by Workers' Comp Law. Noting that a utilization review physician has a doctor-patient relationship with the person whose medical records are being reviewed, a California appellate court held that in at least some circumstances an injured worker...read more.

Illinois: Wage Differential Award Might Be Possible Even Where Post-Injury Wages Remained the Same. Whether an injured worker has sustained an impairment of earning capacity cannot be determined simply by comparing the worker's pre- and post-injury income...read more.

Mississippi: Worker With Partial Impairment Nevertheless Entitled to PTD Benefits. A Mississippi appellate court affirmed a Commission finding that an injured worker was entitled to permanent total disability benefits in spite of medical evidence that an IME physician had assigned...read more.

Workers' Compensation Emerging Issues Analysis 2015 Edition ... Order Today!

national & state news

NCCI Establishes Baseline for Monitoring Impact of ACA on Workers Comp.

Recent Ruling Could Give OSHA Wider Authority for Issuing Enterprise Abatement Orders.

AZ: ICA Posts RFQ for Qualified Vendor List for Investment Management Consulting Services.

CA: DWC Ended Lien Activation Fee Collection on 12/31/2015.

CA: PUC Fines Uber $7.6M for Failure to Meet Driver Data Reporting Requirements.

CA: Lawmaker to Withdraw Prescription Drug Transparency Bill.

CO: Governor Makes Appointments to Workers Comp Cost Containment Board.

CO: DWC Proposes Changes to Clarify Dispute Resolution Rules.

CT: Medical Protocols for Psychological Pain Assessment, Treatment Eff. 2/15/2016.

DE: Downtown Delaware Board Moves to Dover.

FL: DWC Proposes Changes to Reemployment Services Rules, Forms.

MD: WCC Updates Medical Fee Schedule.

MA: House Votes Unanimously for Sweeping Opioid Bill.

NH: Senate Passes Bill to Combat Heroin, Opioid Abuse.
NJ: Governor Vetoes Two Major Workers Comp Bills Opposed by Employers.

NJ: Chief Judge Posts Memo on Attorney Fees.

NJ: Chief Judge Announces New Administrative Supervisory Judges, Supervising Judges.

NY: WCB Posts Newly Authorized Health Care Providers.

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

NC: Governor Announces Director of Newly-Created Employee Classification Section.

NC: IC Posts Spanish Version of Rules for Utilization of Rehab Professionals.

OH: BWC Announces New Workers Comp Resource for Spanish Speaking Ohioans.

OH: Lawmakers Form Bipartisan Task Force to Address Medical Marijuana.
OR: WCD Proposes Rule Change for Medical Services, Billing, Payment.

PA: DLI Announces New Maximum Compensation Rate.

SC: Bipartisan Group of Senators Introduce S429 PTSD Bill.

TN: 2016 Legislature to Focus on Opioid Addiction, Medical Cannabis.

TX: DWC Lowers Maintenance Tax Rate Paid on Premiums.

TX: DWC Posts Safety and Health Update January 2016.

VT: Workers' Comp Case Update October to December 2015.

WI: Federal Judge Rules Against EEOC, Holds Employer Can Require Wellness Participation.

ENEWSLETTER ARCHIVES

Take a deep dive into our past eNewsletters for 2016 and prior...warning - some links to articles may not work...report any linking problems to Robin.E.Kobayashi@lexisnexis.com.

January 11, 2016: Texas Workers' Comp Update.
January 4, 2016: Top 10 Bizarre Workers' Comp Cases for 2015.
December 14, 2015: Occupational Death by Machine.
December 7, 2015: Alarming Mortality and Morbidity Trend; Implications for Ability to Work.
November 30, 2015: Silicosis Plagues Construction, Fracking, Countertop Workers.

ACCESS ARCHIVES AND ARTICLES LIST HERE.

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