Vermont Proposes Radical Approach to Workers Compensation and other News

 

Noted WC writer Peter Rousmaniere writes that Vermont is set to pass a radical approach to dealing with the independent contractor problem in workers comp. “The problem is this: many businesses in the past, across the country, have chosen to define their workers as independent contractors, thereby saving themselves serious money in workers comp insurance, unemployment compensation insurance, and other benefits mandatory or voluntary, and leaving their workers exposed to the elements .(There are also other state labor protections that come to play),” he says.[WCx]

 

 

“The house bill 762 has a provision expressly designed to let workers define themselves as independent contractors!” he notes. “The intent comes out in the hearings: to let employers such as contractors hire them without having to worry about the risk of the engagement being seen as employment — even if the engagement looks, talks and walks like employment.”

 

 

Follow this link to see a summary of state and world news in the WC industry. This edition includes information on North Carolina’s reforms, Retaliatory Discharge and an experts year-in-review among many other “goodies.” Check it out!

Danielle Lisenbey, chief operating officer for the Medical Management Services of Broadspire announced its first annual Rx Summit here in Sunrise March 22. As a leader in the industry, Broadspire first Pharmacy Issues Summit should prove to be helpful. They write, “The purpose of the meeting is to bring thought leaders from various organizations together to discuss relevant topics and issues surrounding pharmacy benefits in the workers compensation setting. The intent is not to share the specifics of what various companies are doing, but rather to focus on the global industry issues themselves and what may be the possible trends and developments for the future. One key objective of the program will be to help to identify and define common threads that run through all components of the industry – across claimants, payors, employers and carriers. Defining some of these commonalities will help the consumer to maneuver through the market. This will be an opportunity to brainstorm and share ideas amongst industry peers that can help to influence positive impacts for all.”

 

 

Email Mjaynes@choosebroadspire.com by March 15, 2012 for more information. The Summit is by invitation only.

 

 

Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation changed its site this week. The redesign of its homepage on the TDI website at http://www.tdi.texas.gov/wc/indexwc.html.

 

 

“In an effort to make online resources for workers’ compensation system participants more user friendly, the TDI-DWC homepage redesign features a new tab style menu with three sections to assist system participants in accessing workers’ compensation information. Topics A-Z features an alphabetical listing of workers’ compensation-related subject matter that directly links to website content. Online Services features direct links to services, including: safety violation reporting, employer coverage verification and attorney fee processing.

Resources features direct links to resources, including the Texas Labor Code, TDI-DWC rules, calendar of events and training and TDI-DWC forms,” they write.

 

 

There are many other helpful changes. Go take a look!

 

 

The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) and the International Association of Accident Boards and Commissions (IAIABC) just released a joint study, Workers’ Compensation Laws as of January 2012.

 

 

This tool allows users to compare WC system laws across U.S. and Canada. More information is available here.

 

 

WCRI calls it, “An essential tool for researching and understanding the distinctions among workers’ compensation laws in all U.S. states and certain Canadian provinces.”

 

 

To prevent age discrimination and sexual harassment complaints, managers need guidance. EEO complaints can be avoided.

 

 

This new guide is updated with changes in the ADA and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act. Follow this link to learn more: EEO and Federal Managers: Following the Principles, Avoiding Complaints. The book could be handed out to all managers to get everyone up to speed on their EEO responsibilities.

 

 

EEO Responsibilities

Sex Discrimination and Sexual Harassment

Race and Color Discrimination

National Origin Discrimination

Age Discrimination

Religious Discrimination and Accommodation

Disability Discrimination and Accommodation

Toward a Diverse Federal Workplace