Safeworks Illinois rocks the house again!
Editor’s comment: Last week, SafeWorks Illinois hosted their 16th Work Injury Conference at the new Illinois Hotel and Conference Center on the campus of University of Illinois in Champaign. The symposium, titled: Work Injury XVI “Culture Change, Cultural Shock: the Reality of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation System” attracted more than 175 industry movers and shakers. The conference’s annual goal is to promote a well-functioning, cost-effective Illinois workers’ compensation system. It is the only conference of its kind to bring together for one day the five different disciplines–medical, legal, case manager, insurer/TPA and employer–that are key stakeholders in the WC system. Along with cutting-edge clinical issues, the conference focuses on the latest issues relating to workers’ compensation costs. A HDTV quality DVD of the conference is available for purchase from SafeWorks. (Contact Stacey Benson email: sbenson@safeworksillinois.com)
This year’s conference featured the farewell address of Dennis Ruth, who resigned the IWCC Chairmanship effective 10/2/08. Chairman Ruth had previously spoken at the last five Work Injury conferences and is running to become a Madison County circuit court judge. Ruth is proud of the development and growth of the IWCC website during his term in office that provided meaningful case information to all parties in the system. He said he was open for further improvements in the website system that would be like other public records systems that an employer could enter an employee’s name and immediately gain access to all past WC claims. Likewise, he would welcome the system allowing one to enter an employer’s name and access all cases filed against a particular employer.
In a comment we consider fascinating, Mr. Ruth urged “transparency” in respondent’s counsel’s fees because he believes there are some unscrupulous respondent’s attorneys that appeal cases for financial gain and truly do not benefit employers. We have no idea how or what this might mean to the industry and feel it demonstrates his unusual perspective. Trust us; defense fees are “transparent” to the folks who pay them.
Ruth followed Rep. David Reis, R-Willow Hill, who had opened the conference discussing his House Bill 5659 that proposed further WC reforms. The bill has not even been sent to a committee for consideration under our Democratic controlled State government. “Illinois employers continue to be burdened with high costs and frustrations with a system rampant with abuse,” Reis who said House Bill 5659 would:
– Require employees to notify employers of workplace accidents or injuries within 72 hours after they occur
– Deny benefits for injuries caused primarily by alcohol or other drug intoxication.
- Require doctors to certify permanent partial and total disabilities using “medically defined” measurements using the AMA Guides for Evaluating Permanent Partial Impairment to reduce nature and extent disputes.
– Require the commission’s nine commissioners and its arbitrators to have at least 10 years’ experience in workers’ compensation or labor relations.
Jay Dee Shattuck, a lobbyist who works with Illinois State Chamber of Commerce, asserted that the Illinois workers’ compensation system was a still a drag on jobs. Shattuck cited Illinois, for the last consecutive four quarters, has had net job losses and our state’s current unemployment rate is 6.9%. He also pointed out Illinois still is one of the highest indemnity states and while most states are lowering WC costs, Illinois WC costs continue to rise, especially compared to neighboring states. In contrast to the generalities and public relations fluff of former Chairman Ruth, Mr. Shattuck provided very specific data from NCCI to support his claims and confirmed Illinois’ average indemnity cost per claim, average medical cost per claim and average total cost per claim were all higher than our sister states of Indiana, Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin.
SafeWorks medical director David Fletcher spoke on the impact of the aging workforce on the Illinois workers’ compensation system. “With the recent economic meltdown, a lot more workers will be staying on the job longer and many will use the WC system in lieu of group health benefits. Illinois employers will pay the brunt of this since there is no apportionment in Illinois of preexisting conditions, such as an osteoarthritic knee. “While older workers are generally safer that their younger counterparts, when injured the cost of an injury is double for any employee over age 40 and the severity of the injury is much higher due to age-related factors,” cited Dr. Fletcher.
One major cost body part for employers in aging workers is the shoulder. Dr. Fletcher pointed out that the Aging Rotator Cuff is particularly vulnerable because of a diminished blood supply with age, increased bone spur size after age 50 and increased incidence of degenerative-related partial and full thickness tears with age. These age-related factors for large prevalence of shoulder related injuries in workers over 45. These claims often are bilateral and very expensive because of the extensive rehabilitation needed post-operatively to regain range of motion and strength.
With the success of the 16 year-run in producing the annual Work Injury seminar, Dr. Fletcher is working to establish a nonpartisan, workers’ compensation institute at the University of Illinois to help provide meaningful data for economic development and has discussed the creation of with the UI’s Institute of Government and Public Affairs as well as the U of I Industrial and Labor Relations.
This article was drafted by Safeworks Illinois and comments and questions can be directed to Stacey Benson at the email address above.
