There have been many stories in the news about current and retired National Football League players trying to claim cumulative trauma injuries under workers' compensation in the state of California, even though they never played for a team in that state. A loophole in California's more lucrative benefits program has allowed many of these players…
We're Just Looking for a Sign…..
We get a lot of unique requests here at WorkersCompensation.com. Many of them are insurance related; people looking for insurance, looking for information on their claim, trying to file a claim, or report fraud somewhere in the country. Many people see us as the “governing body of all things workers' comp”, and the list…
Insuring the Medical Marijuana Industry
Necessity is the mother of invention, they say. I suppose then that it stands to reason, that with the birth of a (quasi) legitimate industry, the need to insure it could not have been far behind. A friend recently pointed out to me the presence of companies actively soliciting the growers and dispensaries of medical…
Florida Proves That (Drug) Money Still Talks
The Florida Legislature has concluded business for this session. Having amassed a small fortune in contributed drug money from the medical community and prescription drug repackagers, our representatives are now returning home to enjoy the fruits of their labor, content with the knowledge that they gave their drug selling benefactors much of what they paid…
A New Peter Principle: Control Claim Costs By Focusing on the End Game
The statement came from Peter Federko, CEO of the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board, in the middle of an otherwise typical committee meeting. Direct and to the point, it was a comment stunning both in it’s basic simplicity and incredible depth. The Medical Committee at the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions (IAIABC) had…
Having a Hand in Insurance Fraud
Times are tough in Spain. Unemployment is running about 19%, and investigators in the country say a sickening trend is emerging from a population desperate for money. Even in the face of great desperation, the lengths that some Spaniards will go in attempting insurance fraud can be shocking. Those authorities tell us that most recently…
Welcome to Des Moines – Rocking Insurance Capital of the Midwest
I have never been to Des Moines, Iowa, before. I am here this week at the Downtown Marriott attending the IAIABC Forum 2013 Conference, and I have to say this is one rockin' place. On the hotel shuttle ride in from the airport Monday, we passed a Burger King near the hotel that had a…
RIMS Report Card – Conference – A, Los Angeles – B
What a difference a city makes. Last year, for the annual RIMS conference, the city of Philadelphia practically robbed attendees at gunpoint with hotel pricing that could be most politely described as gouging. There was no such issue this year for the conference concluded last week, as the city of Los Angeles proved far more…
Pot Promoters vs. Employers: The Battle Remains at the Federal Level
The trend is undeniable. 18 states have legalized marijuana for medical use, and 2, Washington and Colorado, now allow its use for recreational purposes. More states are considering some form of legislation that would relax or remove restrictions on the use of the drug. It would seem the proponents of legalizing pot are on a…
OMG! TXT Makes U Shallow Racist
I am not big on texting, but begrudgingly acknowledge its benefits. If I send or receive 40 text messages a week it is a booming period for me. As such, I am in the fully justifiable position of making fun of those of you have your noses permanently embedded in your phone or handheld device,…