Massachusetts Injury Poster Adds Medical Info

The Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents has revised its Notice to Employees poster, requiring all employers to post the updated version by Sept. 16, 2024.
The poster is available on the agency’s website, in nine different languages, including English, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
While the agency’s announcement did not indicate what specifically had changed in the revised Notice, a review of the previous version and the new version, revealed that it now contains specific instructions on what injured workers should do if medical treatment is needed.
It states: “Injured workers may select their own medical provider. Medical treatment costs that are reasonable, necessary, and related to the work injury will be paid by the above-named insurer.”
It also provides medical facility information if the insurer indicated on the poster has a preferred provider arrangement and the insurer has arranged for a worker’s initial treatment.
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Texas has outlined the fiscal 2025 research agenda for the state’s Workers’ Compensation Research and Evaluation Group.
The proposed research projects include evaluating the feasibility and impact of adopting a more current version of the American Medical Association Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment.
Another project will provide an update of medical costs and utilization in the Texas workers’ compensation system.
The research also includes an analysis of designated doctors and scheduling companies in the state’s WC system by evaluating the performance of the two groups using metrics such as rescheduled exams, timeliness of reports, and timeliness of payments.
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South Carolina employers who provide on-site health clinics may not be protected from tort claims from injured or ill workers, according to a recent ruling by the state’s Court of Appeals.
The case covered the “dual persona doctrine,” where a business could be considered not only an employer, subject to the exclusive remedy of workers’ compensation law for employee injuries, but also a third party, assuming the liabilities that come with providing employee amenities, such as healthcare services.
The ruling came in a case brought by the estate of the late Samel Ragin, who died at a Pilgrim’s Pride chicken processing plant in 2017.
It overturned an earlier ruling that had dismissed the estate’s lawsuit against Pilgrim’s Pride and two nurses at the plant’s clinic.
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On the latest episode of the Adjusted podcast, former California State Workers’ Compensation Fund board member Bill Zachry shared ideas on strategies and tactics to optimize claims adjuster caseloads, minimize total loss dollars, and ultimately achieve better financial outcomes.
The podcast, produced by Berkley Industrial Comp, highlighted creating ideal caseloads by managing to minimize total loss dollars rather than focusing solely on budget expenses.
Zachry also suggested leveraging AI tools to handle simpler claims, freeing up adjusters for more complex cases.
He also focused on the importance of early involvement of medical professionals in catastrophic cases to prevent complications.
LISTEN TO FULL EPISODE HERE