NY Allows WC Claims for Stress-Related Mental Injury 

• New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Saturday signed new legislation to allow any worker to file for workers’ compensation for specific types of mental injury premised on extraordinary work-related stress.
• This expands coverage to all workers in the state where, previously, only certain first responders were eligible for such benefits.
• One of the bill’s sponsors, Assemblymember Karines Reyes, said, “Claims of post-traumatic stress disorder and other forms of mental injury, which are becoming more common in workplaces and industries, are more than deserving of study and potential consideration for disability benefits. It is time for our state to recognize that productivity requires the safety and security of the mind, equal to that of the body.
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Summit Expands WC Coverage to Illinois

• Florida-based Summit is expanding its workers’ compensation insurance services into Illinois.
• The regional insurer’s brands, including carriers Bridgefield Casualty Insurance Company, Bridgefield Employers Insurance Company and Bridgefield Indemnity Insurance Company have received regulatory approval from the Illinois Department of Insurance.
• Each of the carriers is rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best Company.
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Washington DoL Filing in Mesothelioma Claim Criticized by Asbestos Company

• Howmet Aerospace, which is currently defending itself against a mesothelioma claim filed against it by a former employee, is arguing that an amicus brief filed by the Washington State Labor Department in support of the worker is inappropriate.
• In its objection to the Washington DoL brief, Howmet Aerospace’s attorney said, “Amici are not supposed to be bringing issues like constitutional questions and interjecting them into the case…. Just because you’re a state agency doesn’t mean you get to ignore all of these fundamental processes about how issues get raised.”
• While the company maintains that the former smelter employee is restricted to filing a workers’ compensation claim, the victim is seeking an exception to the rule, and after the Washington State Labor Department filed an amicus brief in support of the worker, the company argued that the filing is inappropriate.
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NY WCB Plans Process for Out-of-Network Prescriptions

• The New York State Workers’ Compensation Board said it plans to propose a regulation update that provides a process for out-of- network pharmacy use for injured workers upon notice when the payer will not pay for the prescribed medication.
• According to a Friday email, the proposal will be published soon in the State Register and posted to the WCB website.