The U.S. Office of Inspector General reported that the COVID-19 pandemic delayed adjudication of federal workers compensation claims and that changes to the federal opioid management rules did not increase use of narcotic painkillers. The Office of Workers’ Compensation Program received 2,866 claims for COVID-19 in the first five months following the declaration of a national public health emergency, OIG…
A former Beverly Farm Foundation employee claims she was fired in retaliation for filing a workers’ compensation claim after her finger became stuck in a wheelchair. Janine Pittman filed a complaint Sept. 13 in the Madison County Circuit Court against Beverly Farm Foundation, also known as Beverly Farm Association, alleging retaliatory discharge. According to the complaint, Pittman worked for Beverly…
A majority of the 20 largest U.S. workers compensation underwriters saw their direct premiums earned increase year over year in the second quarter, with Markel Corp. recording the biggest growth at 46.3%, according to an S&P Global Market Intelligence analysis released on Thursday. Direct premiums earned for the entire workers comp industry amounted to $12.4 billion, up from $11.8 billion…
The Biden administration cited climate change as a driver behind its planned crackdown on heat-related illness and deaths among workers, but other factors likely also have contributed. Concerns over restrictions placed on federal safety officials under the Trump administration and the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic were likely also an impetus for the move, experts say. The Biden administration…
