Issues to watch in 2016

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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 challenges will Michigan injured workers face in 2016?

5374200948_539b10fb1c_mWe thought it would be appropriate to address some of the future challenges in our workers’ compensation system. Here is the annual list of top issues to watch.

1. Opioids

Insurance companies are trying to crack down on the use of opioids. These medications are used to control pain and can be very expensive. Common names include hydrocodone (e.g., Vicodin), oxycodone (e.g., OxyContin, Percocet), and morphine (e.g., Kadian, Avinza). We anticipate even more restrictions on the use of these medications. All reasonable and necessary medical treatment is supposed to be covered and bureaucratic hurdles only make it difficult for our clients.

2. Social Media

Many of our clients use the Internet to keep in touch with friends and family members. This fact is not lost on insurance companies who use social media to cut-off benefits. Status updates from Facebook and pictures from Instagram are taken out-of-context to show a claim is fraudulent. We tell people to disable these accounts until their claim is resolved.

3. Scheduling Orders

New administrative rules necessitate a scheduling conference within 90 days of pretrial. This allows the magistrate to issue a scheduling order with important deadlines. A status conference is also to be held within 180 days of the scheduling conference so the magistrate can monitor progress of the case. It will be interesting to see if these changes actually speed up the process in 2016. We will keep you posted.

4. Phantom wages

Legislative reforms in 2011 allow insurance companies to reduce benefits using “wage earning capacity.” It does not matter whether a person has actually returned to work. These “phantom wages” are used to offset weekly payments resulting in severe financial hardship for our clients. We anticipate even more litigation in 2016 as insurance companies abuse the system.

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:

Video: Injured at work? Advice from a Michigan workers comp lawyer

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons, by DafneCholet.

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

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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.