Cardinal Health reaches agreement with DEA over alleged controlled substance distribution

By: Roberto Ceniceros

Published May 15, 2012 - 12:23pm CST

LAKELAND, Fla.—Cardinal Health Inc. reached an agreement with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency over allegations that its Lakeland, Fla., distribution center failed to ensure that controlled substances were not diverted for illegitimate uses.

Mississippi governor signs workers compensation reform bill

By: Sheena Harrison

Published May 15, 2012 - 11:56am CST

JACKSON, Miss.—Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant signed into law Monday a workers compensation reform bill that will require claimants to meet a higher burden of proof that their injuries were work-related.

New Solution Arc: Toughest Workers Comp Claims

Published May 14, 2012 - 11:25am CST

With a relatively small percentage of workers comp claims responsible for a large proportion of employers' costs, how can workers comp managers better address those claims to yield big savings?

Workers compensation audit reviews can reveal costly errors

By: Sheena Harrison

Published May 13, 2012 - 6:00am CST

With workers compensation rates firming, some employers are pressing for reviews of their workers comp audits with an eye to lowering their premiums.

Workers compensation benefits improperly paid to N.Y. inmates

By: Roberto Ceniceros

Published May 13, 2012 - 6:00am CST

ALBANY, N.Y.—An audit found that New York's State Insurance Fund paid workers compensation benefits to incarcerated felons, but examiners could not conclude whether private insurers and self-insured employers also paid benefits to any inmates.

Q&A: Connectivity services provider helps workers compensation insurers

Published May 11, 2012 - 4:48pm CST

Employers may not recognize Mitchell International Inc.'s name or know they rely on Mitchell's bill review technology, medical care repricing services and data analytics to manage their workers compensation claims costs. The San Diego-based company provides its bill review technology and “connectivity services” to the insurers, third-party administrators and managed care companies...

Senate probes painkiller makers, allied groups

Published May 11, 2012 - 2:15pm CST

WASHINGTON (Reuters)—A U.S. Senate panel has launched a probe of possible links between three drugmakers and nonprofit medical groups that advocated for increasing the use of prescription painkillers, now the target of a nationwide law enforcement crackdown.

Death benefits awarded to widow of worker who died from hydrocodone overdose

By: Roberto Ceniceros

Published May 11, 2012 - 1:59pm CST

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas—Workers compensation benefits must be awarded for a death caused by an overdose of hydrocodone pain medication prescribed for an on-the-job injury, a Texas appeals court ruled Thursday.

Unifirst could be fined $186,000 for 'willful,' 'serious' safety violations at plant

By: Matt Dunning

Published May 11, 2012 - 1:36pm CST

WEST CALDWELL, N.J.—A Massachusetts-based uniform and laundry services company could be forced to pay $186,000 for a number of “serious” and “willful” safety and health violations at one of its facilities, according to federal workplace safety officials.

Marcia Benshoof resigns from Pinnacol Assurance's board of directors

By: Roberto Ceniceros

Published May 10, 2012 - 2:41pm CST

DENVER—Marcia Benshoof resigned from Pinnacol Assurance’s board of directors, a spokesman for Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper said Wednesday.

Workers compensation market 'conflicted' despite economy's rebound: NCCI

By: Roberto Ceniceros

Published May 10, 2012 - 11:01am CST

While workers compensation insurer premium growth shows “that the worst of the recession has passed,” the insurance market for injured-employee coverage “remains in a worrisome state,” NCCI Holdings Inc. reported Thursday.

Broadspire reports first operating profit in two years

By: Roberto Ceniceros

Published May 08, 2012 - 4:54pm CST

ATLANTA—Broadspire Services Inc. reported that increased workers compensation claims frequency helped it earn a $137,000 first-quarter profit, the third-party administrator’s first operating profit in two years.

Miss. Workers' Compensation Commission decisions can be appealed to high court

By: Sheena Harrison

Published May 08, 2012 - 1:11pm CST

JACKSON, Miss.—In a split en banc decision Thursday, the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled that decisions from the state's Workers' Compensation Commission can be appealed directly to the high court.

Michigan school district settles fume-related workers comp claims

By: Roberto Ceniceros

Published May 08, 2012 - 1:07pm CST

PORTAGE, Mich.—A Michigan public school district has agreed to pay $432,000 to settle workers compensation claims by four teachers who alleged they suffered health problems caused by fumes from a high school renovation project.

New York state improperly paid workers comp benefits to prison inmates: Audit

By: Roberto Ceniceros

Published May 07, 2012 - 2:05pm CST

ALBANY, N.Y.—An audit found that New York's State Insurance Fund paid workers compensation benefits to incarcerated felons, but examiners could not conclude whether private insurers and self-insured employers also paid benefits to any inmates.

Maryland court to decide on jurisdiction for Washington Redskins workers comp cases

By: Sheena Harrison

Published May 07, 2012 - 1:09pm CST

ANNAPOLIS, Md.—Maryland’s Court of Appeals is set to decide whether Maryland has jurisdiction over workers compensation cases from Washington Redskins players who play part time in the state.

Property/casualty insurance rates up 3% in April: MarketScout

By: Bill Kenealy

Published May 04, 2012 - 4:47pm CST

The composite rate for commercial property/casualty and professional lines coverage increased an average of 3% in April 2012 compared with the same month a year ago, MarketScout said Friday.

Average Calif. workers comp indemnity hits $66,922 in 2011: Institute

By: Roberto Ceniceros

Published May 04, 2012 - 1:57pm CST

OAKLAND, Calif.—The average cost of a California workers compensation indemnity claim edged up slightly to reach a record high of $66,922 for 2011, a California Workers' Compensation Institute bulletin states.

New York's cap on workers comp awards applies to multiple injuries: Court

By: Roberto Ceniceros

Published May 03, 2012 - 1:17pm CST

A weekly cap on workers comp benefit awards applies even when a worker suffers several different injuries, New York's highest court ruled Tuesday in a 5-2 decision.

Hartford profits drop 81% from first quarter last year

By: Mark A. Hofmann

Published May 03, 2012 - 1:08pm CST

Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. registered profits of $96 million during the first quarter of 2012, an 81% drop from that of the same period a year earlier

New York bill would allow injured employees to choose their own pharmacy

By: Sheena Harrison

Published May 02, 2012 - 12:19pm CST

ALBANY, N.Y.—A bill moving forward in New York's legislature would allow injured workers to use the pharmacy of their choice, rather than sticking with an employer-mandated pharmacy for workers compensation prescriptions.

Mississippi House, Senate pass workers compensation reform bill

By: Sheena Harrison

Published May 01, 2012 - 1:29pm CST

JACKSON, Miss.—Mississippi’s House and Senate passed a workers compensation bill Monday that would require employees to prove that their injuries were work-related, among other reforms.

Temporary total disability benefits duration moderating: NCCI

By: Roberto Ceniceros

Published April 30, 2012 - 2:25pm CST

While the average duration of temporary total disability indemnity benefits shot up at the onset of the Great Recession, the trend may have moderated slightly in 2010, NCCI Holdings Inc. reported Thursday.

Medicare set-aside reform legislation introduced in House

By: Roberto Ceniceros

Published April 30, 2012 - 11:24am CST

WASHINGTON—Members of the House of Representatives on Friday introduced bipartisan, federal legislation that seeks to eliminate delays and confusion caused by a federal agency's review of workers compensation Medicare set-asides.