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January 11, 2014

Medicare Secondary Payer Law: 2013 in Review

I have come to realize that there are no easy solutions for the MSP problems we face in claims because the MSP is not the problem. Our MSP issues are collateral damage of more systemic societal problems we face as a nation. We clearly do not know how to treat chronic...
January 10, 2014

Are Chronic Pain Syndromes and Drug Dependency Ratable Under the AMA Guides? If So, How?

By Robert G. Rassp, Esq. © Copyright 2014. Excerpted from The Lawyer’s Guide to the AMA Guides and California Workers’ Compensation , 2014 Edition (LexisNexis). Reminder to Calif. Workers' Compensation Judges: You have access to this...
September 11, 2013

Missouri: Young Woman Who Won’t Quit Smoking Awarded Permanent Total

Attention Lexis Online Subscribers: Case citations link to lexis.com. Bracketed case citations link to Lexis Advance. A 33 year old woman in Marion County hurt her back lifting a box of books, had back surgery and asserts she was unable to work due to nonunion...
September 08, 2013

IAIABC Policy Guide on Reducing Opioid Abuse Offers Blueprint for Effective Reform

The bad news is that opioid abuse related to treating chronic pain remains a serious problem for every workers’ compensation system participant. The good news is that many workers’ compensation jurisdictions are increasing their efforts to reduce this...
June 10, 2013

Experts Offer Guidance on Opioid Management Strategies

By John Stahl, Esq. The double-edged sword regarding using opioids to relieve pain associated with compensable harm is that the workers’ compensation claimants benefit from the effects of feeling little or no pain and health-care practitioners value the profitable...
January 23, 2012

National Workers' Comp News Roundup (1/23/2012): Powered by Larson's

NCOIL Conference to Address Physician Repackaging, Volunteer Firefighters, Migrant Workers . PCI Announces 2012 State Advocacy Priorities, Need to Combat Rising WC Costs . National Drug Abuse Summit to Be Held April 10-12, Orlando, FL . CDC Posts...
July 16, 2012

National and State-by-State Workers' Comp News Roundup Powered by Larson's (7/16/2012)

Sign up here for our free workers' compensation enewsletters (National or California Edition) to receive weekly news items. Be sure to select the enewsletter of your choice. NATIONAL: NCCI: Claim Frequency Declined One Percent in 2011 . Forbes: Steve...
September 10, 2012

National and State-by-State Workers' Comp News Roundup Powered by Larson's (9/10/2012)

Sign up here for our free workers' compensation enewsletters (National or California Edition) to receive weekly news items. Be sure to select the enewsletter of your choice. NATIONAL NEWS: Illicit Drug Use May Vary by Payer Type; Detection Rate...
February 16, 2012

Retroactive Prophylactic Restriction From Very Heavy Work Was Insufficient to Establish Pre-existing Disability: Cal. Comp. Cases February Advanced Postings (2/16/2012)

Here’s the third batch of advanced postings for the February 2012 issue of Cal. Comp. Cases. Lexis.com subscribers can link to the cases to read the complete headnotes and summaries. Dennis Timmons , Petitioner v. Workers' Compensation Appeals Board...