Posted on 08/11/2014 6:40:28 PM PDT by TurboZamboni
St. Paul Public Schools workers are filing more injury reports and claims under the workers' compensation program. And district officials are not entirely sure why.
Injury reports were up 50 percent in 2013 compared with four years ago, and the number of claims seeking payment for medical expenses or lost wages are up almost 30 percent, all while district employment stayed stable.
Officials say they are watching how much the district is paying out more closely than the number of reports and claims. Those amounts have not risen in the past two years -- though they'll likely go up as employees submit bills for ongoing treatment and any disputed claims are resolved.
The expenditures have remained comfortably within the annual $3 million budget for worker's comp even as medical care costs have risen nationally, said Jeff Connell, the district's environmental manager.
"Because our costs are not being impacted, the fact that our reports of injury are going up is not a concern," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at twincities.com ...
If an employee claims a work related back injury it is almost impossible to prove it didn’t happen. He stays out of the spotlight for two years, come back and within six months claims a second back injury and is out another two years.
I saw it several times in my industrial days. Everyone knew he could work, but couldn’t do anything about it.
$$ Obama $$
“...But Why?”
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Who knows for sure. Two possibilities: first a new brand of (dangerous) floor wax bought for janitors to use throughout the school district and second a substantial increase in “affirmative action” hires.
I list the first possibility primarily as a joke. The second possibility? Not so much.
No deductible, no out-of-pocket for medical on workers compensation claims. Though most school plans seem to have remained at low deductibles and co-pays maybe theirs changed. I’d check to see the percentage of employees with legal representation, those filing claims for injuries on Mondays, injuries with no witnesses, and see if there is there is a pattern of the doctors and lawyers involved.
Some Dem doctor who’s spouse works for school board would be my guess.
Scams along with more and more people who can’t make ends meet...
Good place for a private detective to make some bucks.
entitlement union mentality. nuff said.
check when the last contract renegotiation’was and see what they lost or are paying more for. making up for what they feel entitled to.
Yep, beats working. Actually this has been going on for sometime in schools. Looks like in St. Paul they are taking it a step further.
I injured my already bad knees but if I was smart like another person I know I should have claimed it happened at work...
“Because our costs are not being impacted, the fact that our reports of injury are going up is not a concern,” he said.
Obviously, not said by someone who is paying the bills.
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