WORKERS’ COMPENSATION IN NEW YORK STATE: STATE OF …

WORKERS' COMPENSATION IN NEW YORK STATE: STATE OF THE SYSTEM 2008

Dated: April 28, 2008

By: Robert E. Grey

Grey & Grey, LLP 360 Main Street Farmingdale, New York 11735 (516) 249-1342

277 Broadway ? Suite 400 New York, New York 10007 (212) 964-1342

118-21 Queens Boulevard ? Suite 618 Forest Hills, New York 11375 (718) 268-5300



Email: RGrey@

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Page

Introduction ..................................................................... 1 PART ONE..................................................................... 3 I. Executive Summary ................................................... 3

A. The Purpose of This Paper ................................... 3 B. Background ..................................................... 5 C. Issues in the Workers'

Compensation System .......................................... 6 D. The 2007 Legislation ........................................... 10 E. The Streamlined Docket Task Force ........................ 12 F. The Medical Guidelines Task Force........................ 13 G. The Return to Work Task Force.............................. 15 H. The Insurance Department Report............................. 16 I. Workers' Compensation Board Procedures .................. 17 J. Claims Involving Immigrant Workers ......................... 18 K. World Trade Center Claims ..................................... 19 L. Recommendations ............................................... 20 II. Issues in the Workers' Compensation System ......................... 26 A. Availability and Accuracy of Data ............................. 26 B. Access to Benefits ................................................ 37 C. Wage Replacement Benefits...................................... 42 D. Medical Treatment Issues......................................... 51 E. Return to Work Policy .......................................... 53

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F. Employer Fraud .................................................. 57 G. Premium Costs ................................................... 60 H. Self-Insurance Issues ............................................ 63 III. Recommendations........................................................ 67 IV. Conclusion ................................................................ 73

PART TWO ? APPENDIX .................................................... A-1 I. The 2007 Legislation ..................................................... A-1

A. Benefits ............................................................ A-2 B. Medical Care and Treatment ................................... A-16 C. Procedural Changes ............................................. A-19 D. Employer Fraud .................................................. A-22 II. The Streamlined Docket Task Force ................................... A-25 A. WCB Forms ...................................................... A-26 B. Indexing ........................................................... A-30 C. Controverted Case Procedures ................................. A-33 III. The Medical Guidelines Task Force.................................... A-36 A. Medical Treatment Guidelines ................................ A-37 B. Impairment Guidelines ........................................ A-41 IV. The Return to Work Task Force.......................................... A-44 V. The Insurance Department Report........................................ A-51 A. The Methodology of the Report ................................ A-51 B. The Conclusions of the Report ................................. A-64 C. Recommendations .............................................. A-82

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D. Conclusion ....................................................... A-90 VI. Workers' Compensation Board Procedures ............................ A-92

A. Indexing ........................................................... A-93 B. Controverted Cases .............................................. A-95 C. Basic Issue Determinations ..................................... A-98 D. Post-Establishment Disputes ................................... A-99 E. Conclusion ........................................................ A-104 VII. Claims Involving Immigrant Workers ................................. A-105 VIII. World Trade Center Claims .............................................. A-108 A. Primary Legal Obstacles ........................................ A-108 B. Supporting Data .................................................. A-111 C. Proposed Statutory Amendments .............................. A-113

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