Derfler Approves

Author Subject: Derfler Approves
Kay Posted At 18:18:56 05/12/2000
Breaking news from the Salem Statesman.......nothing new...labor and
management screw injured workers once more and Gene Derfler likes it
just fine. I am very disappointed that Tim Nesbitt traded away our
ballot measures for this.




Today's News - May 12, 2000
Workers’ compensation plan
released

The proposal of the labor-management panel will
go to the Legislature.

CHARLES E. BEGGS, The Associated Press

A labor-management panel on Thursday gave Gov. John
Kitzhaber a package of proposed workers’
compensation changes the panel said would result in
more fairness and less arguing over claims.

Kitzhaber in January asked the six members of the
informal group to review any concerns about benefits for
injured workers after the compensation system
underwent a major overhaul by the Legislature in 1990
and more retooling in 1995.

The 1990 reforms included benefit increases for
job-related injuries. It also tightened some claims
eligibility, which was followed by sharp declines in the
cost of compensation insurance for employers.

Oregon in the 1980s was among the top half-dozen
states in premium costs.

The group was made up of three members each from
management and labor, including representatives of the
Oregon AFL-CIO and Associated Oregon Industries, a
major business lobbying organization.

Kitzhaber said the recommendations will be submitted to
the 2001 Legislature.

Oregon’s system “is a national model of success by
many measures,” Kitzhaber said, but needs monitoring
“to ensure both workers and employers are being
treated fairly.”

The report proposes speeding up claims handling by
reducing the period for accepting or denying claims from
90 days to 60 days.

Other recommendations include increasing maximum
benefits for temporary total disabilities and shifting the
burden of proof from workers to employers in claims
involving pre-existing conditions.

The panel also proposed more opportunities for medical
checks by independent doctors.

The state workers’ compensation agency would
maintain a list of independent medical examiners. An
insurer seeking an independent exam would be required
to choose three doctors or panels of doctors from the
state list, and workers would select from among those
three options.

The fact that the labor and management leaders reached
agreement “tells me that we’ve still got the will and the
common sense to keep our reforms on track,” said
Senate Majority Leader Gene Derfler, R-Salem, who
has played a key role in molding workers’ compensation
law changes.

Marty Re: Derfler Approves (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 19:35:25 05/14/2000

When Derfler who's the real estate broker and sometimes landlord for Associated Oregon Industry approves of anything related to WC it should be assumed that it's against the best interests of Oregon workers.

http://www.injuredworker.org/bbs/messages/354.html
Fred Johnson Re: Derfler Approves (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 10:25:08 05/16/2000

The Fox Garding the Hen House??
Or the Frying Pan, the Kettle, or the Fire???
IME doctors have but one job, to establish old age related, unnessarry, cosmetic, pre-existing, and certainly has nothing to do with the accident in question. Don't forget he must be beating himself up.
The only way I can see IME exams working is if a doctor can make a call without fear, of going against the insurance company. Doesn't it seem alittle odd, it's the same IME doctors at the contested court hearings.
And their reason for denial is pretty much what I put above.
I think the ability to sue is not somuch for the money as it is to get back to 5 minutes before you had your life changing event.
Delaying Medical Treatment, cann't do the victim any good. And really isn't the delay designed to make you angry to the point of paying for your own sergury, so they have another reason to denie, now this guy is beating himself up and injurying himself on purpose. Ah so he can sue for more money no doubt!
And how about Starvation Litigation? How fair is it for some multi-billion dollar insurance company to play poker with a man who makes a living with his hands, and nolonger has his hands, to use to make more money to support his family, save for retirement, buy health, house, car insurance.
The right to Sue is of utmost importance.
I think that doctors are affraid to buck the system, and who can blame them, take the large lump sum payment for sergury, and tell your patient to go away.
The one doctor one sergury rule!
IME (the purponderance of the evidence rule)!
Del Re: Derfler Approves (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 09:24:28 05/17/2000

Well said Fred.

For more on these insurance company representatives who masquerade as physicians read Doctors For Sale.

FTP File Room at: ftp://injuredworker.org/pub/IME_Related/Doctors_for_Sale.html
unknown Re: Derfler Approves (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 16:58:03 05/18/2000

Kay,
You have said that loud and clear..
There were 3 people for management and 3 people for the labor side...
Get used to it..This is your New MLAC appointments...
Like you stated earlier...Derfler always has to have a hand in anything to do with W/C....
Al Danton Re: Derfler Approves (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 20:56:18 05/19/2000

Good job Fred. well said, as a truck driver with two fingers cut off by a coworker starting my truck in sept 99 and still not able to work and not sure if going to be able to continiue my career and not going to get much, you've hit the nail on the head. If we can just get the polititions and everybody else to belive it, wouldn't that be great.

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