Last week I suggested that a simple, plain language orientation guide for injured workers could be a useful tool for both the industry and the people we serve. As part of my initial thoughts, I laid out a few foundational points and asked for any assistance people would like to provide to help make it a…
National Workers' Comp Event Calendar Can Serve as Scheduling Guide to Avoid Conference Conflicts
Over the past year we have been slowly rolling out redesigned sections of WorkersCompensation.com, with the most recent upgraded area being our National Workers’ Compensation Event Calendar. While this redesign and upgrade has been in the works for a few months, it was recently brought to my attention that it could serve a broader purpose; not…
I'm Injured. What Do I Do?
I am starting a special project, and I am asking for your help. I attended the IAIABC Spring Forum in Atlanta for a couple days this week before slipping down to San Antonio for the last days of RIMS. My main purpose at IAIABC was to participate as a member of their Disability Management and…
West Virginia Meal Denial Symptom of Larger Issues in Workers' Comp
Sometimes you just have to shake your head. We know workers’ comp can be extremely complicated. It faces complex issues and uncertain outcomes. Sometimes benefits or treatment are denied for a good reason. And we know that expensive litigation can be the result of these actions. But when I read about a drawn-out case over…
Experts Warn That Life is Leading Cause of Death
It is very difficult keeping up with the latest science on healthy behavior. That is largely because the science on healthy behavior never seems to agree with itself. Everywhere we turn there is news of something that is likely to kill us or make our brains turn to Jell-O. This week we learned that extensive…
In Texas, Even the Loss of Leadership is Big
I was somewhat dismayed this week to hear of the announced resignation of Texas Workers’ Compensation Commissioner Ryan Brannan. His scheduled departure at the end of this month is a loss for Texas, as well as for our greater industry. While his plans for the future have not been announced, it is apparent that he…
The Cycle of Workers' Comp Reform: If It Ain't Broke, Fix It Anyway
When we talk about inefficient and problematic states in workers’ comp, Kentucky doesn’t normally draw a lot of attention in the conversation. In fact, when we held our series of Workers’ Comp Summit meetings in 2016, Kentucky was a state cited by some in the room as one state having a system that generally worked.…
Unsubscribe Links and Wet Paint Signs
I found out this week that “unsubscribe links,” those cryptic looking tools that allow you remove yourself from an email mailing list or newsletter, are a lot like wet paint signs. If you draw attention to them, people are inclined to respond by touching or clicking where they should not. The fact that I learned…
Texas Kids' Chance to Throw BigGive Bash
There is a party coming to Dallas, and you won’t want to miss it. Not only will it be a lot of fun, it is for a great cause to boot. How can you not want to be part of that? Kids’ Chance offers scholarships and educational opportunities for children who have a parent who…
An Overdose Death by Any Other Drug
The war on opioids is beginning to show progress, and as we start winning that battle, unexpected skirmishes will undoubtedly arise. Those skirmishes can and will be tragic tributes to man’s creativity; our ability to adapt and adopt, even when the consequences of avoiding new controls means continued addiction and even death. Such is the…