Senate fails to revive workers' comp bill for first responders

NYS Workers' Comp Board to Begin Business Process Re-Engineering Project

"Although this measure would likely have a significant impact on State, local, and municipal government budgets, the bills sponsors refused to obtain a fiscal analysis or refer the bill to either houses respective budget committees." The existing workers compensation process "appropriately balances all facts necessary to determine a proper compensation award," Christie's veto said. "In contrast, this bill alters that careful balance by providing public safety workers with a presumption to workers compensation, rebuttable only by clear and convincing evidence." During Monday's state Senate voting session the first since Christie vetoed the bill Greenstein appealed to her colleagues by noting that 34 other states have similar laws. "It's not too much to ask, for those who race in while everyone else races out" of a burning building or from other dangerous situations, she said. The Senate needed to muster 27 of 40 votes to revive the bill, S1778, but it gained only 22 votes. Thirteen senators voted no. The workers compensation system is far from fair, said Dominick Marino, president of the Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey. "A firefighter who is on the job 20 years would have to say where and when he contracted the cancer, and there no way to do that the city, municipality, employers they have all records. It's a long, drawn-out battle." The bill was first introduced in the 2006-07 legislative session.
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Its been a long road to get here. He estimated that the widow and her son may be entitled to death benefits of about $300,000, but said the final amount will be determined later by a workers compensation judge. The family is entitled to payments for funeral expenses up to $7,500 and some medical costs. The case has been the subject of several appellate court rulings since the workers compensation judge initially ruled that the widows claim was filed too late and her husbands death didnt happen in the course of his employment. The state Supreme Court twice revived the case after the Court of Appeals ruled against Cheryl Schultz. Earlier this year, the Supreme Court said that delays in the filing of the workers compensation claim were caused by Kevin Schultzs employer and the justices ordered the appeals court to resolve the question of whether the officers death occurred during his law enforcement duties.
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Court rules widow of off-duty NM police officer is entitled to workers' compensation benefits

The goal of this project is to re-create a workers compensation system that will once again serve as a model for the nation, the Workers Compensation Board said. The Workers Compensation Board said large, well-run organizations regularly conduct business process re-engineering to improve service and ensure theyre meeting fundamental goals. The Board said that, to that end, it released a Request for Proposal (RFP) in April 2012 to hire a BPR vendor to assist the Board and other workers comp stakeholders in creating a shared vision for the next century. As a result of the RFP, the Board has retained the business advisory firm Deloitte to assist with the project. The Workers Compensation Board said the Deloitte team will help with the first phase: a comprehensive analysis of the current system and detailed envisioning of an improved future system. The Board said that antiquated business processes, a reliance on paper forms, and outdated technology have led to a system that falls short on basic performance measures and does not provide the service expected by injured workers and employers. This first phase of the project is an opportunity for the Board and stakeholders to step back and examine how the system as a whole currently functions and propose comprehensive process and technology changes to drive vast, measurable improvement in system performance. This fall, the Board and Deloitte will begin dialogues with stakeholder groups to better understand their challenges in the current system as well as listen to their suggestions to make the system better, officials said. The project team will reach out to stakeholders through several means, including facetoface meetings, video conferences, conference calls, broadbased surveys and email.
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Editorial: Workers comp reform still needs some tweaking

The jobless rate in Illinois increased slightly in July, to 9.2 percent. Thats the second worst jobless rate in the nation. Nevada is the state with the dubious distinction of having the highest unemployment rate. So far, the workers compensation reforms have not passed the ultimate test creating more jobs. There are, of course, other factors behind the states high unemployment rate. While surrounding states are cutting taxes, Illinois has increased taxes to the point where tax revenues have doubled in the last five years. Although the tax hikes were labeled as temporary, few business leaders trust the state will actually roll back the taxes. Another contributing factor is the states overall financial problems, fueled by the massive unpaid pension obligation. Illinois also has a well-earned reputation as a difficult state in which to conduct business.
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Report: Tennessee Workers' Compensation Payments Decline

more+ Embed To embed, copy and paste the code into your website or blog: Workers compensation provides important protections for both employers and workers. Even when employees suffer injuries due to their own carelessness, they can still obtain benefits to pay for the costs associated with their injuries. The coverage also protects employers by prohibiting workers from filing lawsuits when unsafe conditions or other circumstances cause accidents. This does not mean claims can never be denied, but all too often unfair denials result in extensive out-of-pocket costs to injured employees. Before accepting a denial as inevitable, it makes sense to seek advice from an experienced workers compensation attorney who can often help protect your rights. In accordance with the State of New Jersey Workersa Compensation Law , there are a number of types of claims that your employer or the insurance company may deny , such as for the following: Injuries sustained outside the workplace, as long as they did not occur during the course of employment Pre-existing medical conditions, provided they were not aggravated by the work effort Injuries resulting from horseplay on the part of the employee filing the claim Accidental injuries sustained while the employee is under the influence of alcohol or drugs Some employers and their insurers may try to keep claims experience low by denying valid claims. When this occurs, injured employees may accept these denials out of concern for their jobs a or because they do not have the resources to launch a battle against powerful corporate concerns. Before accepting a decision that seems inevitable, consider scheduling a free consultation with a New Jersey workers compensation attorney. Your lawyer can explain the whistleblower laws that protect you from losing your job and review the details of your claim.
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Why Are Workers Compensation Claims Denied In New Jersey?

128 | NO. 166 | Monday, August 26, 2013 Report: Tennessee Workers Compensation Payments Decline By Jennifer Johnson Backer From (email): Message: Tennessee is one of 22 states where total workers compensation payments to injured workers and costs borne by employers decreased in 2011, according to a new report from the National Academy of Social Insurance. The states employers paid $783.7 million in workers compensation benefits, down 0.1 percent from 2010, the report said. (Shutterstock) Private firms in Tennessee with fewer than five employees are exempt from mandatory coverage. Workers compensation data are used to gauge everything from health care spending to the cost of workplace injuries and are financed exclusively by employers in most states.
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