In a decision that may have slipped beneath the radar of insurers, administrators, and attorneys whose work is not directly impacted by the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act [33 U.S.C.S §§ 901, et seq.] (“the Act” or “the Longshore Act”), and yet which, as I argue below...
Opinion Mondays: As to AMA Guides, is There an Alternative to Protz? Opinion Mondays: As to AMA Guides, is There an Alternative to Protz?The first session at tomorrow afternoon's (August 18, 2020) virtual conference, sponsored by Workers' Compensation Institute, has really piqued my interest. Entitled, "THE NEW AMA Guides®" (hereinafter "the Guides"), it begs the question: "When will the 7th Edition of the Guides be released?"....
Opinion Mondays: The AMA is on Another Collision Course With Protz Opinion Mondays: The AMA is on Another Collision Course With ProtzIn the continuing saga surrounding Pennsylvania’s Protz decision [see Protz v. Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board (Derry Area School District), 639 Pa. 645, 161 A.3d 827 (Pa. 2017)(Protz II)], the state’s...
PA Commonwealth Court Says Protz Decision Was Not "Fully Retroactive" PA Commonwealth Court Says Protz Decision Was Not "Fully Retroactive"Governor and Legislators Might Profit From Reading PA’s Protz Decision The controversial “rule change” put in place two weeks ago by the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission, which purports to create...
Opinion Mondays: Later Today, IL Comm'n Will Say "Ooops" as to its Presumption of Compensability Opinion Mondays: Later Today, IL Comm'n Will Say "Ooops" as to its Presumption of CompensabilitySection 306(a.3) Mandating Use of AMA Guides, 6th Ed., Stands In enacting 77 Pa. Stat. § 511.3, which mandates a physician’s use of the American Medical Association “Guides to the...
PA Court Says “Protz-Fix” is Constitutionally OK PA Court Says “Protz-Fix” is Constitutionally OKLast Thursday (October 18, 2018), the Pennsylvania legislature sent House Bill 1840, a/k/a “the Protz Fix,” to Governor Wolf’s desk for his signature. Passed by an easy 34-15 margin, the...
Protz “Fix” Awaits PA Governor’s Signature Protz “Fix” Awaits PA Governor’s Signature