Declines in opioid use among injured workers exceeded the decline among the overall population from 2017 to 2023, the California Workers' Compensation Institute reports. CWCI said data from the state's Controlled…

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed bills creating a new venue for legacy claims and covering public safety workers with mental health claims that aren’t accompanied by a physical injury. Stitt on…

The Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Commission announced that state lawmakers have approved the updated 2024 Medical Fee Schedule. The state House of Representatives voted 94-1 to pass House Joint Resolution 1035 in…

The Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Commission provided contact information for the newly created court that will hear legacy claims from before the 2014 reforms that created the state’s administrative program. Gov. Kevin…

The U.S. Department of Labor released a proposed rule that would require employers to develop an injury and illness prevention plan to control heat hazards in workplaces affected by excessive…

A divided federal appellate court overturned an award of black lung benefits to a coal miner based on an administrative law judge’s misapplication of the burden of proof for a legal…

The U.S. Department of Labor said a federal court in Washington state issued an injunction preventing the U.S. Postal Service from retaliation against employees. The department said the injunction was part…

The federal Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs is holding a basic orientation course Aug. 21 for providers recently authorized to render medical treatment and evaluations for injured federal workers. The program will…

The International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions opened registration for its 2024 Judicial Program being held Oct. 29-30. The program, presented by IAIABC with the National Association on Workers’…

CompIQ Solutions and Bardavon announced a partnership to create an automated referral process for injured workers who need specialized care. The companies said they were integrating CompIQ’s IQSymphony claims portal with…

The U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee passed a bill that would authorize physician assistants and nurse practitioners to treat injured federal workers. The committee on Wednesday voted 12-3…

The National Council on Compensation Insurance recommended an average 6.1% cut in voluntary loss costs for Connecticut in 2025. NCCI also proposed a 6.2% average reduction in the assigned risk market…

The Virginia Court of Appeals upheld benefit awards of closed periods for an injured paramedic, finding that she failed to prove her entitlement to additional compensation. Case: Martinka v. PHI Group Inc.,…

The National Council on Compensation Insurance submitted a rate filing recommending that the Virginia State Corporation Commission reduce loss costs by 12%, effective April 1. The filing also recommends a 15.8%…

The West Virginia Supreme Court ruled that a former coal miner was entitled to an increased impairment award for the worsening of his occupational pneumoconiosis, even though he had undergone…

The National Council on Compensation Insurance filed with the West Virginia Office of the Insurance Commissioner a proposed workers’ compensation loss cost decrease of 9.1%, effective Jan. 1. If approved, the…

The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that an injured employee’s right to assert a direct claim for unpaid medical expenses is not precluded by a medical provider’s failure to intervene in…

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis enacted a bill that will increase the cap on combined temporary disability and permanent partial disability benefits by 100% or more. Rep. Lindsey Daugherty, D-Arvada Polis on…

The Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation on Friday proposed rules for designated doctor procedures and requirements for lifetime income benefits to implement House Bill 2468. HB 2468, which was enacted in…

The Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation seeks public comment on changes to a trio of report forms. The division said it has updated the following forms to conform to the agency’s standards,…

The Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation posted proposed changes to its pharmacy benefit rules that remove obsolete provisions and update reference language for consistency with other regulations. “When the rules were originally adopted,…

The Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation posted for public comment a copy of the proposed 2025 agenda for its Workers’ Compensation Research and Evaluation Group. The group is proposing three projects…

The Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation proposed rules to ensure that the agency is notified of an employee’s death before the Subsequent Injury Fund issues a lifetime income benefit payment. The…

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy signed a bill increasing the cap on payments for reemployment plans by 66.5%. Alaska law allows injured workers who are not able to return to employment after…

The Alaska Workers’ Compensation Board is accepting comments on its proposed 2025 Medical Fee Schedule. The board said system users can submit written comments on the proposed changes through Oct. 9…

A federal appellate court ruled that an insurance carrier could not void a policy based on an employer’s misrepresentation, nor could it maintain a breach-of-contract claim against a marketing agent for failing to…

The Maryland Appellate Court upheld the denial of a worker’s claim of occupational disease and accidental injury from his alleged chemical exposure. Robert Butler worked as a driver for Velocity Rail…

The Washington Court of Appeals held that a law prohibiting injured workers from posting to social media recordings of their independent medical examinations is an unconstitutional prior restraint on free…

The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries is proposing a 3.8% increase in the average hourly rate employers and workers will pay for comp coverage next year. If the proposal…

The Washington Court of Appeals ruled that a property owner was not entitled to summary judgment dismissing a civil suit brought by an injured employee of a contractor hired to…

Advanced Litigation Skills: MSC, Trial and Appellate Process - Part (2/2)…

This training will provide attorneys and physicians with everything you need to know about the medical-legal issues involved in "psyche" cases - from the initial diagnosis through the discovery process to the separate…

Insider’s Guide to the WCAB: Procedures, Forms & Hearings…

Intimidated by doctor's depositions? Do you have office staff who are new to cross examination? Or, are you a seasoned practitioner but still would appreciate some useful pointers from someone…

Training will include: facts to know about the Return to Work Fund/Benefit (RTWF or RTWB), important dates and deadlines to remember, what do you and your client need to avoid…

This four hour seminar is an interactive educational program designed for primary treating physicians and specialists managing injured workers. The course is ideally suited for practicing medical providers, chiropractors and…

We have put together two masters in cross-examination and medicine for a half day seminar in which the attendees are sure to learn new and very practical information. This training…

"Cross Examining Medical Professionals & Cumulative Trauma Litigation" is an all-day program devoted to legal and medical-legal issues that defense attorneys are confronted with in every day practice.

Improving Benefit Adequacy for On-the-Job Injuries: the approach by the Texas Nonsubscriber Option might surprise you. …

This program will provide detailed instructions and skillsets to students for the successful SIU referral and prosecution thereof. The instructors will focus on red flags for fraud, identifying and documenting…

WCAB Marina del Rey issues will be discussed in depth. …

The Holistic Approach to Reducing Cost, Injury and Medication Use…

Improving Communication in Workers' Compensation…

Whether you are an employer, claims examiner, medical provider or attorney, this program will provide you with a clear understanding and practical approach of how the MTUS and Formulary to…

The New Jersey Commissioner of Banking and Insurance approved a 6.9% decrease in rates for workers' compensation policies incepting on or after Jan. 1. Average rate changes will vary by industry…

A New York appellate court ruled that a worker was not entitled to benefits for injuries from an alleged assault by a coworker. Case: Matter of Lebeau v. Meet Caregivers Inc.,…

The Colorado Division of Insurance announced a 4.3% average loss cost decrease for workers' compensation policies incepting in 2025. Loss costs are the average cost of lost wages and medical payments…

A New York appellate court upheld the denial of a worker’s request for an extreme hardship redetermination. Case: Matter of Brown v. Plans Plus Ltd., No. CV-23-0250, 10/10/2024, published. Facts and procedural…

The Virginia Court of Appeals upheld a decision by the Workers’ Compensation Commission denying an employer’s successive application for a hearing as being unsupported by probable cause. In December 2022, Jessica…

The Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation will evaluate health care providers on two measures as part of its 2025 performance-based oversight assessment process. The DWC said it will assess providers on…