Vol. 7, Issue 14

Find Solutions & Strategies April 4, 2016

The Sharing Economy's Impact on Workers' Compensation and the Future of the Workplace

In This Issue

- SHARING ECONOMY

- LARSON'S: Medical Provider, Lien Fee, Lien Reimbursement, Dependency Benefits

- NATIONAL & STATE NEWS

- eNEWSLETTER ARCHIVES

A Note From the Editor

the sharing economy's impact on workers' compensation and the future of the workplace

As sharing industries grow, the insurance industry must grow alongside them

By Ryan Benharris, Esq.

The Sharing Economy's Impact on Workers' Compensation was front and center on the second day of the 32nd WCRI Annual Issues & Research Conference as Dr. Robert Hartwig, President of the Insurance Information Institute, presented on how online corporations such as Uber and AirB&B are drastically changing the face of the economic workforce. Hartwig's research focused solely on the "transformation of the American workforce," which finds more and more American workers flocking to companies such as Uber to bridge the gap between temporary and full time employment. Hartwig cited the meteoric rise of the smartphone and other mobile technologies that allow anyone to access services to...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).

Kentucky: Injured Worker May Choose His or Her Own Pharmacy. A Kentucky appellate court held that pharmacies are "medical providers" for purposes of Rev. Stat. Ann. � 342.020(1). Accordingly, the injured worker's right to choose...read more.

California: SB 863's $150 Lien Fee Is Not Unconstitutional. A California appellate court dismissed a claim filed by two workers who objected to the state's workers' compensation lien filing fee and non-assignment provisions of...read more.

Virginia: Arbitrator's Award of Lien Reimbursement to Comp Insurer Need Not Be Shared With Injured Worker. Where an arbitrator ordered an auto insurance carrier to reimburse a workers' compensation insurer ("comp insurer") for the full amount of its workers' compensation lien...read more.

Tennessee: Death of Worker's Widow Does Not Extinguish Stepson's Right to Dependency Benefits. Where a widow sought workers' comp death benefits on behalf of herself and her son--the step-son of the deceased worker--and the widow died while the claim was still pending, the trial court erred when...read more.

Workers' Compensation Emerging Issues Analysis

national & state news

Labor Secretary Says Workers Comp Opt Outs Push Injured Workers to Poverty.

OSHA Reports on Year One of OSHA Severe Injury Reporting Program.

OSHA Publishes Final Rule to Update Standards for Eye and Face Protection.

First Robot-Run Insurance Company Launched, Opens for Business.

AK: LWD Rules for Electronic Submissions to DWC and WCB Effective April 9.

AR: Insurance Regulator Approves Decrease in Workers Comp Rates.

CA: DWC Releases 4th Ed. of Physician's Guide to Medical Practice.

CA: DWC Posts Adjustments to Official Medical Fee Schedule (DMEPOS).

CA: WCIRB Actuarial and Governing Committee Agendas Released.

CA: DIR Issues Statement on RAND Analysis of Proposed Refinery Regulations.

CO: DWC New Dispute Resolution Rules Eff. April 15.

CO: DWC Claim Closure, Settlements, Petitions to Reopen Rules Eff. April 15.

CO: DWC Revised Lower Extremity Guidelines Eff. March 16.

CO: DWC Revised Medical Treatment Guidelines Eff. March 16.

KY: Court Rules Injured Workers Can Decide Where to Fill Prescriptions.

KY: DWC Posts Slides for March 2016 Stakeholder Meeting.

ME: NCCI Explains 0.1 Percent Increase in Loss Cost/Rate Level.

NJ: Director/Chief Judge Issues Memo on Medicare and Conditional Payments.

NM: WCA Proposes Rules to Implement SB 214 Intoxication Levels to Cut Off Benefits.

NM: WCA Posts New Lump Sum Payment Form.

NM: WCA Accepting Applications for IME Through April 30.

NY: Assembly Passes Budget Bill, Authorizes $10M Transfer From Work Comp Fund.

NY: WCB Introduces Voluntary Binding Review Resolution Process.

OR: DCBS Releases 2015 Annual Compensable Fatality Report.

TX: House Committee Mulls How to Fund Workers Comp Fraud Investigations.

UT: Governor Signs SB 127 Time Limits for Reimbursement From Reinsurance Fund.

UT: Governor Signs SB 216 Reimbursement of Hospitals for Certain Services.

UT: Governor Signs SB 146 Employee's Burden for Permanent Total Disabilities.

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.

March 28, 2016: Opt Out Panels at WCRI Conference Sidestep Unresolved Issues.
March 21, 2016: Significant Increase in Fatal Benzodiazepine Overdoses.
March 14, 2016: Tax-funded Healthcare Expenditures in the U.S.
March 7, 2016: Up in Smoke: Medical Marijuana.
February 29, 2016: Oklahoma Opt Out Statute Ruled Unconstitutional.
ACCESS ARCHIVES AND ARTICLES LIST HERE.

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