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Ohio
Workers' Compensation News
The Ohio Workers'
Compensation Bulletin provides updates on what is happening in the
Ohio workers' compensation system -- whether in the Ohio legislature, the
Ohio Industrial Commission, the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation, or the courts. Subscription
information is available here.
News back to 1996 is available in
our news archives. Click on the year at the right to see the news items posted that year.
The following news
from the 2008 Workers' Compensation Bulletin
is available:
- Administrative: The BWC has hired Dr. Robert Balchick to be the BWC's medical director.
The medical director will direct the development of the BWC's medical
policy and will oversee the medical components of workers' compensation
claims. (September, 2008)
- Administrative: The Industrial Commission has added the ability to request cancellation of a hearing on ICON (the Industrial Commission Online Network). Online requests to cancel a hearing must be made two days before the hearing date. When you request cancellation of a hearing, fax any documentation in support of the request, along with a cover letter indicating what it is, to the Regional Hearing Administrator in the region in which is hearing the claim. Requests to cancel a hearing less than two days before the hearing date can be made by submitting a written request to the Hearing Administrator’s Office in the region which is hearing the claim. (August, 2008)
- Legislative: Governor Strickland signed Am. Sub. S.B. 334, a bill primarily
concerned with coordinating workers' compensation coverage between Ohio
and other states. (July, 2008)
- Administrative: On May 5, 2008, the Commission issued 6 new or amended Hearing
Officer memos. (June, 2008)
- Administrative: In response to the Wise decision, on May 5, 2008, the Commission adopted a new section of the Hearing
Officer Manual, Memo 03, setting forth the standards for hearing officers
to follow in reviewing settlements. (May, 2008)
- Court: The Supreme Court ruled in Wise that a settlement which did not set forth an
explanation of why the settlement is desired is invalid. (May, 2008)
- Court: The Supreme Court has held that federal workers' compensation law preempts a state intentional tort lawsuit.
(April, 2008)
- Court: The Supreme Court has ruled
that the workers' compensation subrogation system is constitutional.
(March, 2008)
- Administrative:
Starting in March, 2008, the BWC will make all scheduled bi-weekly
payments to injured workers through electronic deposits. Injured
workers will be able to give the BWC a bank account number for the
automatic deposit of benefits. If the injured worker does
not give the BWC a bank account number, the BWC will provide a
debit card through Chase Bank which will permit access to
benefits. (February, 2008)
-
Court:
The Supreme Court has held that public policy does not prevent an
employer from firing an injured worker while they are temporarily and
totally disabled due to a work injury. (January, 2008)
- Administrative:
The
rates for workers' compensation awards in 2008 are now available on our
rates page. (January, 2008)
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