Workers Comp; Hagan
Two stories in the paper today (Sunday) out of state government.
The issues are pretty complex and those who are proposing changes say they want to curb fraud in the system. They also complain that businesses are paying too much in workers comp costs.
On the other side, opponents say businesses wouldn't save all that much money through the reforms that are proposed. And they argue that the changes would end up hurting folks who least could afford it.
Although the debate has a lot more texture, at the General Assembly building it is turning into a wrestling match between the various business lobbyists (like NCCBI) and the trial lawyers' bar. Some union groups are also in the mix.
On a final note: I've got to thank Gail Meehan, who I write about in this article, for taking the time to share her story with me.
Why do you need to know about her?
"She gets us in the game," Greensboro Mayor Keith Holliday said. "Historically we have not had a lot of influence in Raleigh."
Now go read the whole thing.
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Reminder: The General Assembly has taken Monday off, and so will Capital Beat. We'll see you back here sometime on Tuesday.
Comments (1)
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One of the dimensions with this, Mark, that I often think about is how the state's workers' comp environment affects recruiting of new employers to the state. Workers' comp costs is one of the least recognized, but most profoundly important factors that employers will consider. We are not only competing with other states, but also with foreign countries for new jobs.
There is much about the current system that is poorly conceived. The case example in your article is a very good illustration of how medical conditions affecting the soft tissues in a certain region of the body, not even remotely resembling those types of injuries envisioned by the founders of the WC system, are now being used to justify total disability indefinitely. Sometimes all it takes is a good lawyer, a hearing before the Industrial Commission, and an employer that cannot use the person in another capacity.
Posted on May 31, 2005 9:28 PM