Executive Summary Labor Department Workers Comp Report 2016

This is a follow up to the previous post.  Here is the full text of the reports Executive Statement.  It belongs here because it underscores the need for substantive change that will not come about from the same corporate interests that have created this problem to begin with.  ColoradoCare, Amendment 69 provides a solid framework upon which to build a patient responsive Colorado workers comp and health care system.  Vote Yes on Amendment 69.

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U.S. Labor Department Workers Comp Report 2016

https://www.propublica.org/documents/item/3121896-Labor-Department-Workers-Comp-Report-2016.html

DOES THE  WORKERS COMPENSATION SYSTEM FULFILL ITS OBLIGATIONS TO INJURED 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

State-based workers’ compensation programs provide critical support to workers who are injured or made sick by their jobs. These programs are a key component of the country’s social benefit structure and of occupational safety policy, and the only major component of the social safety net with no federal oversight or minimum national standards. This Report provides an introduction to these programs, but it also sounds an alarm: working people are at great risk of falling into poverty as a result of workplace injuries and the failure of state workers’ compensation systems to provide them with adequate benefits.

Despite the sizable cost of workers’ compensation, only a small portion of the overall costs of occupational injury and illness is borne by employers. Costs are instead shifted away from employers, often to workers, their families and communities. 

US Labor Department - Workers Comp "race to the bottom”

When workers comp insurance executives fly around Colorado proclaiming how well Colorado's Workers Comp functions, remember their number one concern is how well it functions in making profits for them.  Once we get past the pretty advertising brochures patients are merely revenue producing units.  These harsh words are justified by the ugly little secret that even the US Labor Department has had to acknowledge. Workers Comp programs are being straggled by insurance corporation more interested in profits that caring for people.

It's time for a new health care system, one that is responsive to patients, not to amoral corporate overlords.  ColoradoCare's Amendment 69 provides the framework to create such a health care system.  Vote Yes on Amendment 69!

{ hat tip to Dr. Tom Horiagon } 

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Labor Report Urges Study Of A Federal Role In State Workers' Comp Laws

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/10/05/496596865/labor-report-urges-study-of-a-federal-role-in-state-workers-comp-laws

HOWARD BERKES, NPR and MICHAEL GRABELL, PROPUBLICA

October 5, 2016

A "race to the bottom" in state workers' compensation laws has the Labor Department calling for "exploration" of federal oversight and federal minimum benefits.

"Working people are at great risk of falling into poverty," the agency says in a new report on changes in state workers' comp laws. …

The report was prompted by a letter last fall from 10 prominent Democratic lawmakers, who urged Labor Department action to protect injured workers in the wake of a ProPublica/NPR series on changes in workers' comp laws in 33 states.

Coloradans for Coloradan need YES on Amendment 69

{edited for typos, Thursday 6:45pm}

The main reason opponents of Amendment 69, such as ColoradansForColoradans.Com have to say Vote No is that it will be a challenging audacious undertaking that will take much effort over the next couple years to succeed.  

That's a scary thing.  We fear change.  We fear challenges.  
What the corporate funded ColoradansForColoradans.Com doesn't tell you is why so many Coloradans want to embrace that challenge of rebuilding our health care system.  

Our current heath care system is increasingly run by corporations whose number one duty above all else is to provide profits for share holders and earning bonuses for executives.  That is it!  Everything else is secondary to that "fiduciary responsibility."  When Pinnacol's CEO and president goes around raving about how great Colorado's worker comp system is, it's because it's a great profit machine!

Why not ask around among your friends and relatives, find out who's been injured on the job, ask them about how well the process served them.  What about the enormous  insurance premium increases in line for next year?  

ColoradoCare is all about caregivers who got sick of seeing 30 to 40% of their time and talent going to administrative paperwork, much of it dedicated to rejecting claims.  They want to treat patients - not serve corporate overlords and their endless demands for paperwork.  They got tired of seeing the consequences of corporate's amoral attitude towards people in need.

WE WANT 100% OF OUR HEALTH CARE PAYMENTS GOING TO PROVIDING A HEALTHY COLORADO HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AND WORKERS COMP SYSTEM,
rather than frivolous profits for a few.

That for me is what ColoradoCare and Amendment 69 is all about.

For more evidence to support my opinions, please read the following.

(hat tip to Tom Horiagon MD)

U.S. Labor Department: 

States Are Failing Injured Workers

A new Department of Labor report says cuts to state workers’ comp systems have left injured workers with inadequate benefits and raises the specter of federal oversight. The findings echo those of a ProPublica and NPR investigation last year.

by Michael Grabell

ProPublica, Oct. 5, 2016, 6:01 a.m.

https://www.propublica.org/article/us-labor-department-states-are-failing-injured-workers

Al Tompkins explains how NPR and ProPublica exposed unequal workers’ comp system

Al Tompkins at poynter.org tells us about the background story to Michael Grabell's "Insult to Injury" series which looks into how certain self-interests have stealthily been eroding state workers comp programs.  Always seeming to put the workers interests last and executive incentives first.  It's a frightening trend that will continue without an engaged public that stands up and says enough is enough.  We deserve fair and available health care!  Vote Yes on Amendment 69.

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How NPR and ProPublica exposed America’s unequal workers’ compensation system

By Al Tompkins • April 12, 2016 Last updated by Kristen Hare April 12, 2016

http://www.poynter.org/2016/how-npr-and-propublica-exposed-americas-unequal-workers-compensation-system/405902/

Michael Grabell's "Insult to Injury" workers comp investigation

Michael Grabell has written an impressive collection of articles looking at today's Workers Comp realities.  He uncovers plenty of information to help us put Pinnacol Assurance's CEO Phil Kalin's misleading Amendment 69 articles into a more realistic light.

Become familiar with the following and you too will be wondering: Why do we allow them to get away with it?  Hopeful this information will help some understand why it's very important for you and your friends to get out and vote this election.  

Help create a Colorado health care system responsive to the people's needs rather than to corporate bonus incentive packages.  Vote Yes on Amendment 69!

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Insult to Injury

America’s vanishing worker protections.

Investigations by ProPublica Journalism in the Public Interest

List of articles authored and co-authored by Michael Grabell.

https://www.propublica.org/series/workers-compensation

The Demolition of Workers’ Comp

by Michael Grabell, ProPublica, and Howard Berkes, NPR, March 4, 2015

Over the past decade, states have slashed workers’ compensation benefits, denying injured workers help when they need it most and shifting the costs of workplace accidents to taxpayers. More »

Workers' Compensation Reforms by State

by Yue Qiu and Michael Grabell, ProPublica, March 4, 2015

In all, 33 states have passed laws that reduce benefits, create hurdles to getting medical care or make it more difficult to qualify for workers’ comp. Explore the interactive »

Employers Complain of Rising Premiums, But Workers’ Comp Is at 25-Year Low

by Sisi Wei and Michael Grabell, ProPublica, March 4, 2015

Despite the drumbeat of complaints about costs, employers are paying the lowest rates for workers’ compensation insurance than at any time in the past 25 years, even as the costs of health care have increased dramatically. More »

Insurance Information Institute Challenges Our Workers’ Comp Investigation. We Respond

by Michael Grabell, ProPublica, and Howard Berkes, NPR 

March 18, 2015

Insurance Information Institute challenges ProPublica/NPR’s workers’ comp investigation. Here's our response.

https://www.propublica.org/article/insurance-information-institute-challenges-our-workers-comp-investigation/