COMMENTARY: OxyContin formulation is good for workers comp, but bad for society

The abuse-deterrent OxyContin formulation was introduced in 2010. Then in 2012, a study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that abusers preferred to shift from the reformulated OxyContin to heroin and other high-potency opioids. The study relied on surveys completed by 2,566 people entering treatment programs because of opioid dependency. It revealed that before the release of the abuse-deterrent formula, 35.6% favored OxyContin as their primary drug. That dropped to 12.8% just 21 months later, after introduction of the new OxyContin formulation.
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Workers' comp crisis may be costly

Greenhouse said the builders trust collected just $1.5 million in annual premiums, yet its obligation is now $20 million and rising. "There seems to be a disconnect between $1.5 million of premiums and $20 million to $40 million in liabilities," he said. The Workers' Compensation Board, for its part, is trying to ensure that disabled workers and their survivors continue to receive the benefit checks and payments for medical care that they're entitled to. "We're trying to work with the members of the trust to buy ourselves some time," said Michael Papa, an associate attorney with the compensation board, "where members provide just enough money to meet the month-to-month obligations." Meanwhile, legislation that would end the group self-insured trusts, with some exceptions for the healthiest ones, has been proposed by the Paterson administration. Efforts are also under way to relieve trust members of further liabilities with what's called an "assumption of workers' comp liability policy," Woods said.
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Jim Carrey 'fined $72,000 for failing to obtain workers' compensation insurance for art studio employees'

The 51-year-old comedian, who founded the Church of FFC studio in 2011, is being sued by the Workers' Compensation Board of the State of New York, according to TMZ . Legal filings claim Carrey has not paid the fine, forcing the board to take him to court, although the actor denies any wrongdoing. Workers' Compensation Law requires that 'employers obtain and continuously keep in effect workers' compensation coverage for all their employees', according to the WCB website.  Businesses are required to maintain a workers' compensation insurance policy or self-insurance for workers' compensation unless they are declared legally exempt.  The sole proprietor, partners or the president, secretary and treasurer of a corporation are personally liable for failure to obtain workers' compensation or for any lapse in coverage. The website states employers are liable 'for a penalty of $2,000 per 10-day period of noncompliance', in addition to any awards, including compensation and medical costs.  A spokesman for Carrey told TMZ the lawsuit is without merit and vowed to take swift action. 'This is a clerical error on their part and will be cleared up immediately,' the spokesman said. The lawsuit would mark the second linked to Carrey's Church of FFC, located in New York City's West Village. The actor in 2011 battled with city officials to maintain the front wall of his studio, which he had spray painted with the letters 'F.F.C' and a figurehead he calls 'Baba' after city officials had his original street art painted over. Scroll down for video Defiant: Carrey spray painted an exterior wall of his art studio in New York City's West Village on September 8, 2011 'Rebellious': Carrey said he was 'just doing his job' by painting the work, despite the city's determination to erase it In a video obtained by the website, the actor conceded at the time the work would likely be erased again in compliance with local law, although he vowed to continue his plight for street art. 'It's a little short-sighted, painting over art.
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Obituary: Workers' compensation lawyer Greg Heacox was among the nation's best

Heacox was always professional in demeanor, highly prepared, and knew the law and his cases well in a type of litigation that most people don't really understand, Behr said. "People knew who he was; people respected his opinions, and he trained a lot of good people at the firm," Behr said. Heacox's office was filled with photos of his kids — Zach, Sam and Hannah — playing for the Stillwater Ponies and other endeavors. It was a "shrine" to his kids, of whom he was so proud, fellow attorney Lorri Bescheinen had liked to tease. Cosgriff eulogized Heacox at his May 20 services as an honorable man with keen humor and high expectations of the firm's younger attorneys. He told of Heacox's repeated bouts of pneumonia as a child and of his family's move from Renville, Minn., to Bloomington to be closer to his doctor.
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