Category: CompMed Insights

A guilty pleasure of mine is scrolling through my Facebook feed. While doing this yesterday, I saw one posting that all workers’ compensation was evil. As an individual who’s been providing cost containment services to the workers’ compensation world for 33 years, I took exception. I was thinking about how is this person perceiving workers compensation as being evil? The first thought that came to mind is that this individual…

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The television news has reported that the United States is under a significant heatwave. More than 100 million people will be affected by this climate issue. This suggests a fairly common medical malady within the Worker’s Compensation system and that is heat injuries. There are three types of heat injuries, the first being heat cramps, the second heat exhaustion and the third (and most severe) heat stroke. Heat injuries occur…

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Subsequent to the pandemic, a relatively new concept in the world of healthcare delivery was employed. I am speaking about telemedicine. Telemedicine refers to the use of all possible communication modalities, most commonly the Internet, and specific portals so that a face-to-face virtual encounter is completed. Thus, the question becomes what is the relative utility of telemedicine? First and foremost, increased and more access to all appropriate care can be…

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If you’ve read my previous posts, you know that I believe in strictly following the law and using evidence-based medicine throughout the workers’ compensation process. I recently attended the TDI/DWC conference and went to a lecture on a new idea for managing claim files called Whole Person Recovery Management. This approach prioritizes the well-being of the injured employee, which is a refreshing concept. As members of the work comp community,…

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As any experienced individual in the worker’s compensation system will know, there is a basic concept in certain sections of the statute known as presumption. To be clear, there is a basic presumption which is simply an assumption of the law about a fact. This fact is considered true unless proven otherwise. The burden of proof is assigned to those trying to overcome this presumption. A separate aspect is what…

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Whenever you are handling a claim, something issues, problems are simply not avoidable. However, there are a few steps to take that can minimize your more problematic files. With elimination of these issues, you should be able to reach file conclusion more swiftly.  Several points to keep in mind from the outset of the claim. Communicate frequently, effectively and in as much a comprehensive manner ss possible. If you cannot…

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The cost of health insurance in the United States has been rising steadily for decades. In 2021, the average annual premium for employer-sponsored health insurance was $7,739 for single coverage and $22,827 for family coverage. These costs are surpassing wage growth, meaning that workers are devoting a greater portion of their income to health insurance. As noted in the September 8 Wall Street Journal, the growth of health insurance costs…

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The good news is the pandemic is over. The better news is that a large number of the working population, particularly those in the non-retail, non-manufacturing areas, have enjoyed an expanding role in terms of working from home (WFH). Working from home has been established as a significant equalizer in the work/life balance parameters among today’s service sector employees.  It is a frequent news story noting that many larger employers…

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Every licensed work comp adjuster in Texas should be aware that their license is only valid for two years. To renew it, they need to submit a new application along with proof of completing appropriate continuing education.  As an adjuster, making continuing education a top priority is crucial not only for legal compliance but also for several other significant reasons that should not be overlooked. These reasons include:  In the…

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As part of the Grand Bargain, we have in the workers’ compensation system a process known as the exclusive remedy. What has been traded for is a quick and easy way to address injuries received in the occupational space. Consequently, we have a system that takes us out of the court system to receive proper benefits for those injuries. Exclusive remedy is doctrine and in return, employees cannot sue their…

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