Note to our valued subscribers: Workers’ Comp Advisor will be taking its annual holiday break starting Thursday, December 22. We will resume daily netletter publication Wednesday, January 4, 2022. We wish all of our subscribers Season’s Greetings and a Happy New Year.
Retail pharmacy allegedly fueled the opioid epidemic
- Eighteen states around the U.S. reached a $5.7 billion multistate settlement with the retail pharmacy chain Walgreens to address its role in allegedly fueling the opioid epidemic.
- The settlement will resolve allegations that the company failed to appropriately oversee the dispensing of opioids at its pharmacies.
- It could also bring more than $500 million in funds for some of the states to fight the harms caused by the opioid epidemic.
- The announcement comes after last month’s announcement of a proposed $3.1 billion settlement with Walmart to resolve similar claims.
Soil fungi cause more risk
- Workers in construction, landscaping, agriculture, and other outdoor industries risk infections caused by soil fungi that were found only in certain regions of the country.
- Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis revealed that w, the CDC last revised its maps of disease-causing fungi in 1969. Since then, the fungi have spread to more areas.
- Infection can occur when workers breathe in spores found in the soil.
- Infection types include histoplasmosis coccidioidomycosis and blastomycosis.
How to prevent workplace shootings
- Workplace safety training should address active shooters, regardless of whether they are co-workers, managers, or someone outside of the company.
- An employee who is public-facing encounters different risks than your typical office worker.
- Employers should incorporate workplace violence/active shooter procedures into their emergency action/preparedness plan and train employees.
- Workers should know where to escape in an emergency and where meet-up points may be located.
Firm cannabis workers’ compensation access
- Bennabis Health’s medical cannabis program is now available to patients living in New Mexico.
- The company partnered with AltaVida Dispensary, located in Albuquerque, to help aid medical cannabis patients
- New Mexico law says that medical cannabis can be used by an injured worker “when deemed ‘reasonable and necessary care’ under the Workers’ Compensation Act.”
- Patients do have to pay out of pocket and are later reimbursed.