Clear the decks – it’s Health Wonk Review day and Brady Augustine has posted Health Wonk Review: “The Relationship Rescue” edition over at medicaidfirstaid. It’s a Dr. Phil-themed issue replete with art, videos, and commentary on some of the best of the health policy blogosphere. Check it out.
The Power of Pink – Sometimes those of us who work in workers comp are so focused on the process, the insurance issues, and following the dollars that we lose sight of the fact that we are actually in the people business. Our friends at the Work Comp Complex Care blog have a refreshing post that demonstrates the difference one person can make: A little pink goes a long way.
The Bunkhouse Rule – Can an injury that occurs at home be compensable? Yes, if your home is your employer’s property, according to the South Carolina Supreme Court. Read more details on the ruling in Roberto Ceniceros’ article in Business Insurance, Migrant worker’s injury in company housing ruled compensable.
Misclassification – The L.A. Times features an article by Dave Gram on a topic that is near and dear to our heart (search for “FedEx”): how companies are slashing payrolls by calling workers independent contractors. The Internal Revenue Service and 37 states are cracking down on this practice, which resulted in an estimated underpayment of $2.72 billion in lost Social Security taxes, unemployment insurance taxes, and income taxes just in the year 2006, according to the Government Accountability Office. Many experts think that the economic downturn has exacerbated the problem of employee misclassification.
Good PT and bad PT – At Managed Care Matters, Joe Paduda asks How many dollars are wasted on physical therapy?. He suggests that while he’s a believer in the benefits of physical therapy, but advocates for clinical guidelines to separate the wheat from the chaff.
More on the Toyota mess – At Claims Magazine, Mary Anne Median writes that . Her article focuses on issues associated with claim-handling, subrogation, and litigation. It’s a fascinating read – here’s just a sampling:
“To break it down; damages, subrogation, and settlements will all be affected, not only for current, but also past and future accidents involving Toyotas.
This also leaves us with questions surrounding the diminished value of the vehicles. In determining that a vehicle is a total loss, what is the value? Can we apply this diminishing value factor when we are establishing what the insured’s or claimant’s vehicle is worth? How does this affect the resale and salvage value?”
Tags: FedEx, healthcare reform, litigation, misclassification, physical therapy
