NWCDN Members regularly post articles and summary judgements in workers’ compensations law in your state.
Select a state from the dropdown menu below to scroll through the state specific archives for updates and opinions on various workers’ compensation laws in your state.
Contact information for NWCDN members is also located on the state specific links in the event you have additional questions or your company is seeking a workers’ compensation lawyer in your state.
From Robert Wilson, President & CEO of WorkersCompensation.com, comes word that the final report has been released from the 2016 Workers’ Compensation Summit held in Dallas on May 11 & 12, 2016. SLS partner Jane Stone was among those in attendance as a representative of the National Workers’ Compensation Defense Network. With the goals of increased efficiency, lower costs, and greater fairness to workers and employers, the report identifies and prioritizes the “imperative issues” affecting workers’ compensation systems nationally. Three problem areas emerged as most important following a survey of participants. First, benefit adequacy. Some states currently face constitutional challenges to their work comp systems after significantly reducing benefits. Next, regulatory complexity, which raises overall costs via increased litigation. Finally, delayed treatment while a claim that will eventually be compensable is investigated and appealed.
On the problem of delayed treatment, Paul Sighinolfi, Chairman of the Maine Workers’ Compensation Board, apprised attendees of Maine’s legislative solution, which mandates that treatment for those covered by general health or disability policies cannot be denied merely because a workers’ compensation claim has been filed. Rather than delay treatment while investigating the claim and determining whether it is a compensable work comp injury, which might only serve to worsen the underlying condition and add to medical costs, treatment proceeds first under one’s own health insurance or disability policy, and liability & reimbursement issues are addressed later in subrogation. For questions, contact Jane Stone at Stone Loughlin & Swanson, LLP.