In workers' compensation defense news, the California State Senate recently passed a new law that is expressly designed to cut work comp costs and reduce duplicative payments associated with spinal surgery.
CWCI study explores true costs of increased drug testing of injured workers
In previous workers' compensation defense posts, we've discussed how state lawmakers, health officials and employer/employee advocacy groups are all growing increasingly concerned about the rate at which prescriptions for narcotic painkillers are being issued to injured workers here in California.
Study examines impact of OSHA inspections on work safety, work comp costs
For the past four decades, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has come under fire from both organized labor groups and business interests. The former asserts that the federal agency is consistently failing to take the necessary steps to prevent work injuries, while the latter asserts that the federal agency imposes unnecessary costs through inspections and regulations.
OSHA's 2012 heat-illness awareness campaign now underway
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced earlier this month that it was once again launching an educational campaign designed to inform both employers and employees of a potentially deadly work injury: excessive heat exposure (i.e., heat exhaustion and heat stroke).
WCIRB recommends 4.1 percent increase in work comp case rates
In recent workers' compensation defense news, the organization that advises California's insurance commissioner on workers' compensation base rates is currently pushing a substantial rate increase.
Investigators use high-tech methods to combat work comp fraud
As has been made abundantly clear in our blog, employers -- both public and private -- are routinely victimized by instances of employee fraud in which the employee makes misrepresentations regarding the severity or symptoms of their injury. Fortunately, many of these unscrupulous employees are apprehended by law enforcement officials and held accountable for their actions.
Study reveals interesting trends in construction sector
A recently published study in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine reveals some dramatic differences among the 50 states concerning the rate of nonfatal work injuries versus fatal work injuries in the construction sector.
California medical billing company facing work comp fraud charges
The majority of our workers' compensation defense posts discussing work comp fraud have to do with employees accused of engaging in some sort of deceptive behavior in order to secure benefits or employers accused of failing to provide employees the necessary amount of work comp coverage.
Is OSHA taking too long to enact work safety rules?
In workers' compensation defense news, members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee held a hearing last week to voice their concerns over the considerable delays in the adoption of work safety rules by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
