Bus drivers struggling with workers’ comp
- A University of Washington study of public buses and trains found fentanyl in 25% of air samples and nearly 50% of surface samples.
- Methamphetamine was found in nearly 100% of air and surface samples.
- State records in Washington show in the last five years, workers’ compensation claims for second-hand smoke exposure to illicit drugs skyrocketed by more than 800%. Workers filing the claims were janitors and social service workers, but the vast majority were bus drivers.
- Of the workers who said they had gotten sick from exposure to drugs, about 40% had their claims accepted.
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Medical payments for injured workers in Illinois lower
- The Workers Compensation Research Institute found that medical payments per workers’ comp claim in Illinois were lower than three of its neighboring states — Indiana, Iowa, and Wisconsin — but higher than the median study state.
- Utilization decreased for many hospital outpatient or nonhospital services in Illinois, likely due to the pandemic.
- Prices for many types of professional services increased similarly to the annual changes in the medical fee schedule rates.
- The results of the analysis reflect experience on claims through March 2022, including non-COVID-19 claims from the first and second years of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Workers’ comp grew in third quarter
- Compensation for U.S. workers rose again in the third quarter of the year and at a faster pace than expected, indicating employers remain competitive with pay.
- Workers were paid 1.1% more in the third quarter than the second quarter, according to the Employment Cost Index (ECI), released Oct. 31 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
- That’s slightly higher than the 1% climb seen in the second quarter—and higher than the 1% that analysts forecasted. Wages and salaries increased 1.2% and benefit costs increased 0.9% from June 2023.
- Year-over-year, compensation costs in the U.S. for private sector workers—including pay and benefits—rose 4.3%. Comparatively, the second quarter index found that wage growth grew 4.5% year-over-year.
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Connor honored in Tennessee
- The Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation employee, Lacy Conner, has been selected to be honored as an ”Outstanding State Employee Veteran” at the 2023 Governor’s Veterans Day event at the National Guard Armory “Hall of Flags” in Nashville.
- Conner is one of five outstanding Tennessee State Veteran Employees being recognized for her work-related accomplishments and outstanding job performance by Governor Lee at this event.
- Conner is a Case Management Coordinator at the Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation and served as a Hospital Corpsman First Class in the Navy with 20 years of military service.
- In her role at the state, Conner looks for ways to make her program more efficient and enhance her customer service to the 1,400 actively registered case managers.
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