I have to warn you. I feel a rant coming on. My conservative, politically INcorrect side just can’t bear it anymore. I have to say something, and I sense my wording will be offensive to some; especially if you are an entitlement weenie. You can’t say you were not warned. Sorry about your right to…
Can North Carolina Find Better Defenders Against Claims of Workers' Comp Fraud?
North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory caused quite the stir last Wednesday in his annual “State of the State” address. During that speech he claimed that that more 40 percent of the approximately $150 million per year the state incurs in workers compensation costs for its injured employees was related to “fraud and abuse”. Saying, “Our…
All Atwitter Over Tomorrow's Great Workers’ Comp Twitterchat
It will be a first for me. In fact, it will probably be a first for all of the participants, as well as the workers' compensation industry. The first workers' comp “Twitterchat” will happen tomorrow at 2:00PM eastern. This event consists of several industry leaders (I am reticent to use that term to describe myself,…
Confusion Reigns Supreme – CorVel Hospital Experience is a Lesson for All of Workers' Comp
I have said it numerous times, both in my blog and at many speaking engagements around the country. People outside of workers' compensation, the employers and employees we serve, have no understanding of who we are, what we do, or how we do it. Workers' comp is a mystery to those outside the system; a…
SAIF is Looking for a New CEO
Well, the rumors are true. Oregon Insurer SAIF has made it official. They are looking for a new president & CEO. They posted the position almost a year from when the last one started the job. I hope they can have one hired by the anniversary of his departure. That is just three short months…
Lovin' When Super Bowl Marketing Hits Home
If you watched the Super Bowl, you likely saw the ads. There were two of them; the first a rather vague reference to a “new way to pay” coming to a McDonalds Restaurant near you. It showed happy, laughing, dancing and prancing people all ostensibly having the time of their life ordering a Big Mac…
No Workers' Comp When Your Cups Runneth Over
Business Insurance is reporting that an Australian woman has been denied a claim she says is related to an injury she suffered on the job. She claimed a work injury caused her to gain weight and as a result she is in need of breast reduction surgery to alleviate the pain she is experiencing. The…
Ft. Worth Police Shooting Highlights Communication and Perception Challenges in Workers' Comp
Timely response and clear communications are critical elements for handling workers’ compensation claims. However, when it comes to gathering information and managing a claim properly, “timing” might be just as important as “timely”. A story out of Ft. Worth, TX this morning highlights the fact that proper communication and timing should be part of a…
Can We Believe Anything We Read?
In this day and age of instant information, journalists, bloggers, researchers as well as the casual web surfer have at their disposal a plethora of information resources. For those who are interested in medical research and the latest in medical technologies, there are a multitude of prestigious medical journals offering the latest in advanced methodologies…
For Employers, Workers' Comp is but One Cross to Bear
I am in Clearwater Beach, Florida this week, speaking at the 24th Annual Health Benefits Conference & Expo. The event draws employers from across the country, and deals with a wide variety of employee management and benefit issues. As conferences go, this is a bit of a departure for me. It is not your usual…