Two workers’ compensation reform measures attempting to make the program stricter have failed to pass in Illinois’ Democratic majority legislature, according to a Business Insurance article on May 28. The proposed measures would necessitate more proof that those seeking workers’ compensation were injured in work-related accidents, as well as reduce the fee schedule for these payments.… Read More
With less than a month left in the spring session, speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives and Chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois Michael Madigan presided over the entire House to tackle issues regarding the state’s workers’ compensation system, the Chicago Tribune reported on May 5. Republican Governor Rauner believes that the high… Read More
Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner wants to reduce the costs that employers pay towards workers’ compensation and in exchange, will slowly raise the minimum wage, the Insurance Journal reported on April 13. According to the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services, Illinois has the 7th highest rate of workers’ compensation insurance in the country. Rauner wants… Read More
Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner wants to reduce the costs that employers pay towards workers’ compensation and in exchange, will slowly raise the minimum wage, the Insurance Journal reported on April 13. According to the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services, Illinois has the 7th highest rate of workers’ compensation insurance in the country. Rauner wants… Read More
Experts forecast that future workers’ compensation reforms may focus on banning physicians from dispensing prescription drugs to prevent spending for workers’ compensation claims from rising again, the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Workers Compensation Research Institute proclaimed in a Business Insurance article on March 29. According to the managing director of casualty claims at Aon Global Risk Consulting in Los… Read More
In Illinois, when a public officer such as a law enforcement agent, a correctional officer, or a firefighter sustains major injury or was killed in the line of duty, his family – wife and children – can receive, on top of workers’ compensation benefits, compensation allotted to them under the Public Safety Employee Benefits Act,… Read More
The Illinois Appellate Court ruled that E. Belinda Bauer, widow of Omron Electronic Components LLC president and COO Craig Bauer, was awarded workers’ compensation benefits after her husband died due to an illness contracted on work travels, Business Insurance reported on November 18. According to court documents, Mr. Bauer went to China and Japan in… Read More
The Workers’ Compensation Research Institute recently released a new study that showed the reforms made in 2011 to lessen the cost of healthcare services for injured workers in Illinois are still impacting the dwindling cost of medical care, the Insurance Journal reported on November 3. According to the report titled, “CompScope Medical Benchmarks for Illinois, 15th… Read More
The Appellate Court of Illinois ruled that Walter Matuszczak, a former Wal-Mart Stores Inc. night stocker who injured his neck, back, and arm after several shelves of glass cleaner fell on top of him while he was at work back in March 2010, is entitled to the remainder of his temporary total disability benefits despite… Read More
Worker advocates in Illinois have expressed their fears regarding gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner, a millionaire venture capitalist from Winnetka, claiming that the GOP candidate is bad for Illinois workers, Progress Illinois reported on September 22. Northern Illinois Jobs with Justice member Mary Shesgreen said Rauner’s views would be detrimental to the labor sector in the state, as… Read More