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In our last issue, we told you about a proposed law that
would guarantee better medical treatment for injured
workers.
On February 13, lawmakers voted down the bill that would
have allowed injured workers to have more choice over who
treats them.
House Bill 1097, sponsored by Rep. Morgan Carroll, D-
Aurora, would have given workers a right to a one time
change of doctors after 60 days. Under the current system,
workers have a right to request a change but no guarantee
that they will receive one.
Business groups and many employers opposed the bill,
claiming it would increase costs and not improve care.
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Inquiries have swamped the Social Security Administration,
an official's e-mail says. On some days, about one in three
callers to Social Security's 800 number has been getting a
busy signal. The agency's 1,300 local offices have been
getting as many as 60,000 extra visitors a day — a 40%
increase from the fall.
The e-mail was released by Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Los
Angeles). His office said it verified the authenticity of
the message, which is labeled "Difficult Times." Waxman
called for immediate congressional action to restore a
recently enacted cut of about $200 million in Social
Security's administrative budget.
"The problems faced by the Medicare program in implementing
the benefit are spilling over and having significant impacts
on the Social Security program," he said in a letter to
House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.).
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Updating rules for disability would save money, but critics
say changes will hurt eligible recipients.
In recent months, the Social Security Administration has
proposed revisions to two sets of rules governing who
qualifies for disability, revisions it says are designed to
streamline and update cumbersome and outdated regulations.
Advocates for the disabled argue that the pending changes
will have the effect of denying funds to thousands of people
with severe mental and physical handicaps.
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The Social Security Administration has announced that it
plans to extend to recipients of SSDI benefits the same
penalty that it imposes on SSI benefit recipients when they
fail to comply with SSA requests for additional information.
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For help with Medicare prescription drug benefits,
please visit our site.
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Rep. Matt Knoedler, 31, R-Lakewood, introduced House Bill
1291, which would allow part-time coaches in non-contact
sports such as volleyball, soccer and basketball to waive
workers' compensation coverage.
It is our position that it is every worker's right to seek
compensation for injuries on the job. No worker should
relinquish this right.
If one of these coaches is injured so badly that they cannot
work again they will regret having waived this coverage for
the rest of their lives. Coaches should not have to risk
thousands of dollars in unpaid medical bills and possible
permanent disability in order for youth sports to continue.
You can send an e-mail to matt.knoedler.house@state.co.us to
to contact Rep. Knoedler's office and voice your
disagreement with this bill.
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Sincerely,
Spencer & Spencer, Attorneys at Law
email:
cheryl@2spencers.com
phone:
719-632-4808
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