Legislation to protect workers reintroduced
- Lawmakers reintroduced the Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act, in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.
- The bill would help ensure federal workers receive access to healthcare for work-related injuries from their chosen healthcare provider.
- Under current policy, federal employees are unable to receive treatment for care provided through federal workers’ compensation following injuries sustained on the job.
- This restriction can increase costs and limit access to healthcare for federal employees.
Court denies workers comp claim
- The West Virginia Intermediate Court of Appeals agreed with the rejection of a Wayne County Board of Education employee’s workers’ compensation claim.
- The Appeals Court found the claim was non-compensable
- Deborah Evans was employed by the Wayne County Board of Education as an autism mentor and was injured while at work.
- Evans’ workers’ compensation claim was denied after the claims administrator concluded it was a pre-existing injury.
Connecticut lawmakers considering several workers’ comp bills
- There are several bills being discussed in Connecticut that could impact the state’s workers’ comp market.
- A bill would require employers or insurers to provide notice of a proposed end or reduction of coverage of an employee’s prescription medication under the Workers’ Compensation Act.
- Another measure would expand workers’ compensation benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder for witnessing certain traumatic events.
- A proposal would prohibit municipalities or districts with a pension and retirement system from reducing benefits due to “permanent partial disability” workers’ compensation benefits.
Punch in groin leads to unpaid claim, lawsuit
- An employee in Canada is suing his boss for punching him in the groin.
- After the worker was allegedly assaulted, he fell from a ladder and seriously injured himself.
- The company didn’t call for help because it reportedly could not afford another workers’ compensation claim.
- The victim later sued his employer and was awarded $295,000 in damages.