DOL Issues New Performance-Based Insurance Guidance for Maritime Workers’ Comp
- The Department of Labor’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs issued new guidance clarifying benefits under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act.
- This directive specifically addresses how maritime employees and their employers navigate medical care and disability claims following workplace injuries.
- It emphasizes streamlined reporting procedures and clarifies the rights of injured workers to choose their own physicians during the recovery process.
- These updates aim to ensure consistent application of federal law across the maritime shipbuilding and repair industry.
The “Magellans” of Workers’ Comp: How Nurse Case Managers Guide Recovery
- Nurse case managers act as “Magellans” within workers’ compensation, coordinating medical care among injured employees, providers, and insurers.
- They ensure treatment plans meet recovery goals and manage the administrative parts of the claims process.
- By improving communication, they work to speed up the injured worker’s return to health and employment.
- Their efforts frequently lower the total costs and length of claims.
Ransomware Attack Targets Rhode Island’s Largest Workers’ Comp Insurer
- Beacon Mutual Insurance Co., a major workers’ compensation provider in Rhode Island, experienced a ransomware attack that may have compromised sensitive data of workers’ compensation claimants, including medical records and injury reports.
- While essential claims processing systems were restored, forensic investigations are ongoing to determine the extent of data exfiltration.
- Individuals impacted, including those receiving benefits, will be notified if their personal information or protected health information was affected.