4 issues to watch in 2016

Call now for a free consultation
Available 24/7

Injured? It’s Time to Get Some Answers

Don’t let the insurance adjuster push you around. Request your free consultation today.

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Get Help From our Michigan Workers’ Comp Lawyers Today
You’re not alone. Our Michigan workers’ comp lawyers have been called the best in the state, and we pride ourselves on providing you with care, trust, and responsiveness.

What old and new challenges can people expect from workers’ comp in 2016?

It seems like things keep getting harder for our clients. We thought it would be interesting to address some of the current and future challenges in the Michigan workers’ comp system. Here is our list of 4 issues to watch in 2016.

Issue 1. Evidence based medicine

We have written about evidence based medicine in the past. It is a controversial issue and has the potential to shake up medical treatment under workers’ comp. We have heard rumors that some version could be adopted in 2016. It is hard not be cynical when medical costs are already well controlled by a fee schedule and some of the lowest in the Midwest. Relying upon insurance company guidelines over recommendations by a treating doctor is just wrong.

Issue 2. Election year

It seems that workers’ comp has become a political football yet again. It gets tossed around every election cycle. We are currently in a presidential election year and most of the attention is focused on national candidates. Please remember that your state representatives are the individuals who have real control over workers’ comp in Michigan. Legislative reforms in 2011 have caused tremendous hardship and we need elected officials who will protect these benefits. Get out and vote!

Issue 3. Phantom wages

The Michigan Legislature passed significant reforms in 2011. Insurance companies are now permitted to use wage earning capacity to slash benefits. The problem is that insurance companies use their own vocational experts and get a credit for “phantom wages” regardless of whether a person actually finds a job. Almost all of our cases now involve disputes about the weekly compensation rate.

Issue 4. Reimbursement for opioids

Opioids have been a hot topic in workers’ comp for years. These medications are expensive and can result in addiction. The WCA published new administrative rules in 2014 that prohibit reimbursements for opioid treatment beyond 90 days unless detailed physician reporting requirements and other processes are met. This has created more bureaucracy and some claimants have voiced concerns about getting needed prescriptions. We anticipate even more attention in 2016.

Michigan Workers Comp Lawyers never charges a fee to evaluate a potential case. Our law firm has represented injured and disabled workers exclusively for more than 35 years. Call (855) 221-2667 for a free consultation today.

Related information:

New bureaucratic hurdles for opioid reimbursement

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons, by CarbonNYC [in SF!].

Author Bio Jeffrey Kaufman

Author
Jeffrey E. Kaufman
Michigan Workers Comp Attorney

Jeffrey E. Kaufman has extensive experience in workers compensation cases and has recovered millions of dollars in benefits for his clients. He believes all injured workers deserve to be on equal footing with insurance companies and employers, and fights tenaciously so their rights are secured and protected.


“Jeff also helped me with getting my Blue Cross bills paid. I would absolutely recommend him and the whole firm. Jeff and the firm did everything they were supposed to do for me and my case.”
Ricardo Perfetto

Hundreds of 5-Star Reviews

Related Blog Posts

Get Help From our Michigan Workers’ Comp Lawyers Today

You’re not alone. Our Michigan workers’ comp lawyers have been called the best in the state, and our clients love how they’re treated with care, respect, and responsiveness. We will give you the time you need, we will explain your legal rights, and we will always treat you with respect.

Our workers’ compensation and Social Security disability lawyers always put your needs first. Get to know your legal team.

Our attorneys post regularly about common issues related to workers’ comp, including common injuries, settlement calculations, laws, and more.

Injured? It’s Time to Get Some Answers

Don’t let the insurance adjuster push you around. Request your free consultation today.

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Our attorneys post regularly about common issues related to workers’ comp, including common injuries, settlement calculations, laws, and more.

Our workers’ compensation and Social Security disability lawyers always put your needs first. Get to know your legal team.