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Insurance

Court addresses workers’ comp physician conflict of interest

08/05/2008
In a case that could have complicated workers’ compensation cases in Colorado, the Court of Appeals of Colorado has decided to allow physicians to do limited work for insurance carriers while still performing independent medical examinations on employees whose employers are insured by the same carrier …

New bill gives unemployed Texans 13 more weeks of benefits

08/04/2008
The Texas Workforce Commission recently announced that federally funded unemployment insurance (UI) benefits will be extended for 13 weeks. On June 30, President Bush signed legislation authorizing Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation …

Bryan-Based MIWU sued for mismanagement of health fund

08/04/2008
The U.S. Department of Labor has sued an employer association, a health fund trustee and the fund’s consultant over allegedly imprudent management of the Manufacturing and Industrial Workers Union (MIWU) Benefit Fund of Bryan, Texas …

The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act finally becomes law

08/04/2008
President Bush recently signed into law H.R. 493, also known as the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA), which prohibits employers from using genetic tests or information to discriminate against applicants and employees …

Ease pain of health benefits cuts with less costly perks

08/01/2008
Quell employee grumbling about their increasing health care premiums and deductibles by offering other popular benefits that cost the company less. Organizations may be shifting more of health care costs to employees, but they’re filling the gaps with perks such as telework and training for nonjob-related skills …

Alternatives to traditional health insurance

08/01/2008
As health care costs continue their upward spiral, employers are looking for ways to hold down expenses. Preferred provider organizations (PPOs) remain popular, but employee participation in consumer-directed health care plans (CDHPs), health reimbursement accounts (HRAs) and health savings accounts (HSAs) are on the rise …

No workers’ comp just because your job drives you crazy

07/25/2008
Any job can be stressful, but some employees claim their jobs literally are making them crazy. But does that mean that employees whose jobs drive them nuts have an occupational disease? If so, are they entitled to workers’ compensation benefits if they cannot work anymore? Those are some of questions the North Carolina Supreme Court considered in a recent landmark decision …

Workers’ comp disability doesn’t mean automatic ADA coverage

07/25/2008
Employees receiving partial workers’ compensation benefits based on job-related injuries might think they are automatically entitled to reasonable accommodations under the ADA, too. But that’s simply not true. In fact, the ADA requires an individualized assessment. Receiving workers’ compensation isn’t enough …

States settle deceptive practices lawsuit against Express Scripts

07/25/2008
Pharmacy benefits management giant Express Scripts Inc., has agreed to pay $9.5 million to 28 states, including North Carolina, to settle lawsuits alleging deceptive business practices ..

You could be personally liable for injuries under N.C. workers’ comp law

07/25/2008
On-the-job injuries generally are covered by the North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act and the required workers’ compensation insurance. That means employers are not liable for negligence, and that employees receive benefits under the act whether or not their employers were negligent and whether or not the employees were contributorily negligent. But in certain cases the employer and its managers—as well as co-workers—can be liable for certain workplace injuries …