Hospital Overcharges Cost Consumers Over 10 Billion Yearly - 2/20/2008
Profit-hungry hospitals are overcharging consumers an estimated $10 billion a year.  Some deliberately work to keep bills indecipherable.  Here's how to fight back.

Texas Clean Claim and Electronic Medical Billing and Payment Workers Compensation - 1/11/2008
The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation (TDI-DWC) has released the new 2.0 version of the Companion Guides.  All workers' compensation system participants are expected to implement the associated technical format changes on or before May 1st, 2008.

Mass.  Widow Awarded Workers Comp Death Benefits in Suicide Case - 9/17/2007
The widow of a 50-year-old mechanic who killed himself after being terminated from his job is entitled to receive death benefits under workers' compensation, a Massachusetts Appeals Court in Suffolk County has ruled.

Workers' Compensation Compliance Sweep Nabs 23 Fla.  Employers - 8/08/2007
Florida workers' compensation compliance investigators conducted a recent sweep of 177 businesses in two Panhandle counties that resulted in 23 Stop Work Orders against employers found to be operating without the required coverage.

Calif.  Appeals Court Says Workers' Comp Sole Remedy in Workplace - 8/08/2007
The California Court of Appeals has ruled that claims of assault and battery and emotional distress are barred by the workers' compensation exclusivity rule, meaning that workers' compensation is the only remedy for injuries that occur in the workplace.

Pa.  Roofing Firm Pleads Guilty in Electrocution of Worker - 8/03/2007
A Pennsylvania roofing company pleaded guilty in violating a federal workplace safety regulation in the case of a worker who was electrocuted as his scaffold came into contact with a power line.

Oregon State Workers' Comp Insurer Not Immune from Suit - 8/03/2007
The Oregon Supreme Court has ruled that State Accident Insurance Fund Corporation (SAIF), the state workers' compensation insurer, may be sued for damages.

Insurers Seek 3.3% Workers Comp Premium Raise in Virginia - 8/02/2007
The Virginia State Corporate Commission (SCC) has scheduled and Oct.  30 hearing to consider an insurance industry request to increase the workers compensation premium levels for industrial risks insured in the voluntary market an average 3.3 percent and those for surface coal mines an average of 4.8 percent.

Ark.  Workers' Comp Proposed Rule, Form Changes Available for Comment - 8/02/2007
The Arkansas Workers' Compensation Commission has posted proposed changes to existing rules and a proposed new rule and accompanying form.

Informal, Working Drafts of Texas Medical Fee Guideline Rules Posted - 8/02/2007
The Texas Department of Insurance Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) posted on its Web site the informal working draft rules concerning medical reimbursements for professional services and workers' compensation specific services.

Two N.Y.  Firms Shut Down for Failure to Buy Workers' Comp - 7/31/2007
The New York State Workers' Compensation Board reports it has ordered two businesses to close immediately for failing to comply with workers' compensation laws.

Okla.  Employment Service Owners Convicted of Workers' Comp Fraud - 7/25/2007
A federal jury in Oklahoma convicted the owners of a Norman employment service of defrauding businesses by billing them for workers' compensation insurance coverage that didn't exist.

Okla.  Court Says Law Can't Bar Evidence in Workers' Comp Case - 7/16/2007
The Oklahoma Supreme Court has invalidated a portion of a state law that prohibits medical evidence to be presented in a workers' compensation case ffrom a doctor hired by an injured worker.

Study: Calif.  Workers' Comp Reforms Working - 7/13/2007
California experienced the largest decrease in average workers' compensation costs per claim among 14 states, after years of double digit cost growth and in the wake of reforms that took effect 2003 through 2006, according to a new study by the Workers' Compensation Research Institute.

N.Y.  Reforms Credited with Shaving Workers' Comp Rates by 20.5% - 7/12/2007
Rates for workers' compensation insurance in New York will decline by more than 20.5%, - the biggest cut in more than 20 years - saving employers about $1 billion, according to state officials.

Del.  Court: Employee Horseplay May Fall Outside Workers' Comp Law - 7/12/2007
A Delaware oil refinery worker injured in a practical joke by his co-workers may be allowed to sue them, the state Supreme Court has ruled.

Hawaii Governor Vetoes Workers' Comp Bills - 7/12/2007
The Hawaii Legislature has failed to override Gov.  Linda Lingle's vetoes of two workers' compensation bills.  A two-thirds majority vote was required in both the House and the Senate to override the vetoes.  Both bills failed to receive the required votes so it will not become law.

Arkansas Promotes Worker Health Coverage Plan - 7/11/2007
Employees of small businesses in Arkansas who have had to go without health insurance will be able to get basic coverage under a new plan underwritten by the state and federal government.

Texas to Host Free Workers' Comp Network Workshops in August - 7/11/2007
The Texas Department of Insurance will host two workshops on workers' compensation health care networks in August in Dallas.  A workshop for employers will be held on August 24 and a workshop for health care providers will be held on August 25.

Auto Crashes Up, Workplace Injuries Down According to Neb.  Safety Council - 7/10/2007
Deaths from accidents were increasing in Nebraska, becoming the fourth overall leading cause of death, according to figures from the Nebraska Safety Council.

Sink: Fla.  Workers' Comp Rates to be Cut in Half Next Year - 7/10/2007
While Florida business owners may still be struggling with high property insurance costs, another major business expense will go down next year: workers' compensation assessment rates are set to be cut in half.

Texas Oil and Gas Contracting Firm Indicted for Workers' Comp Fraud - 7/10/2007
Texas Mutual Insurance Company reported that a Travis County grand jury indicted ZIPCO Services, Inc.  and its owner, Jerry Don Calicutt, on workers' compensation fraud-related charges.  The indictments allege that ZIPCO Services Inc.  defrauded Texas Mutual of more than $100,000 in premiums.

Tenn.  Supreme Court Rules Marijuana Not a Factor in Worker's Injury - 7/09/2007
The Tennessee Supreme Court has ruled that a worker whose hand was crushed by machinery at his workplace was not to blame for the accident despite his admitted marijuana use off the job.

AWCC Outlines 2007 Workers' Compensation Bills - 7/09/2007
On its Web site, www.awcc.state.ar.us/news.html, the Arkansas Workers' Compensation Commission summarized workers' compensation acts passed by the state's 2007, 86th General Assembly.

Ind.  Company Plans to Charge Workers for Unhealthy Habits - 7/05/2007
Unhealthy habits could cost Clarian Health employees a healthy chunk of money as the company tries to rein in rising health care costs.

Former Ohio Workers' Comp Official Accused of Taking Gifts - 7/05/2007
A former member of the oversight commission for the Bureau of Workers' Compensation was charged with ethics violations accusing him of accepting inappropriate meals, flights and other gifts.

Fla.  CFO Cuts State's Workers Comp Charge to Insurers - 7/05/2007
Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink ordered a 50 percent cut in the 2008 Workers' Compensation Administration Trust Fund assessment rate.