Category: News

Drug, alcohol impact on workers comp claims disputed

Often-quoted data on impaired workers disputed by experts September 18, 2011 – 6:00am Certain vendors, blogs, anti-drug groups and state agencies claim that drugs or alcohol are involved in 38% to 50% of all workers comp claims. There are service providers, bloggers, anti-drug organizations and even state agencies that claim alcohol or drugs are involved …

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Effective ways to use workers’ compensation

In my Aug. 15 and Sept. 5 columns, I described eligibility for and calculation of disability retirement benefits. In this column, I’ll discuss workers’ compensation, which may be a better option if you are disabled or injured in the line of duty. To be considered disabled, you and your agency must provide the Office of …

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Man bites dog: NY firms have worker shortage

Despite a grinding unemployment rate, at least some New York employers are desperately struggling in a different way — to find skilled employees. Talent is so scarce in certain white-hot fields — in finance, accountancy, law, technology, medical and other sectors — that finding qualified candidates is like mining for gold, according to local employment …

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Costco Can’t Move Slurpee Slip and Fall Lawsuit

A 74-year-old woman who said she was injured after falling in a Costco store in Florida beat back the retailer’s effort to move the case to that state because it was too much trouble to defend itself in New York. Theresa Danza sued Costco in her hometown of Brooklyn, New York, claiming she was hospitalized …

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Chronic pain workers comp claims increasing for employers

Early intervention, predictive modeling help curb claims September 11, 2011 – 6:00am Chronic pain is an infrequent but growing aspect of workers compensation claims, but employers need concrete programs with measurable outcomes to respond to and reduce those types of injuries. Advertisement Read more in the Workers Comp Channel What’s This? Workers Comp News and …

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Chiropractors Push to Reverse New York’s Workers’ Comp Guidelines

New York chiropractors don’t like the new medical treatment guidelines adopted last December by the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board. These changes focus on the treatment for the mid- and low-back, neck, shoulder and knees. The state’s main chiropractic association is lobbying state lawmakers to reverse the new guidelines. New York State Chiropractic Association …

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U.S. Commercial-Insurance Prices Rise 1.5% in Second Quarter

By Noah Buhayar Sept. 13 (Bloomberg) — U.S. commercial-insurance prices rose 1.5 percent in the second quarter from a year earlier and may keep climbing, according to a survey by consulting firm Towers Watson & Co. Rates increased for all standard lines of coverage, including workers’ compensation and property, for the first time since the …

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9/11 responders live with injuries, illnesses sustained at Ground Zero

The stabbing pain in Robert Reeg’s chest every day is a relentless reminder of Sept. 11, 2001. The retired New York City firefighter from Stony Point was seriously injured in the collapse of the South Tower at the World Trade Center. “If I close my eyes, I can picture it,” the now 59-year-old recalled. Reeg, …

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Quiet Changes To New York Workers Comp Rules Leave Out Those With Chronic Pain

BY Celeste Katz A little-noticed policy change at the state Workers’ Compensation Board is jeopardizing insurance for thousands of workers and retirees with long-term medical problems. Our Glenn Blain reports: New treatment guidelines quietly enacted by the board late last year limit coverage to therapies that yield “functional improvement” in patients – leaving out people …

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Chiropractors Push to Reverse New York’s Workers’ Comp Guidelines

New York chiropractors don’t like the new medical treatment guidelines adopted last December by the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board. These changes focus on the treatment for the mid- and low-back, neck, shoulder and knees. The state’s main chiropractic association is lobbying state lawmakers to reverse the new guidelines. New York State Chiropractic Association …

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