A new study offers scientific evidence supporting permanent neurological disability flowing from an occupational COVID-19 condition. Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine are conducting a longitudinal study to track neurological symptoms in COVID-19 “long-haulers.”
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Thursday, June 16, 2022
Sunday, June 12, 2022
Central New Jersey facility to pay $273K, take corrective actions to resolve COVID-related respirator violations
OSHA finds employers failed to ensure safe respirator use while testing hundreds daily.
Monday, March 7, 2022
COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Lifted - Terminating The Rebuttable Presumption
At his final COVID-19 press briefing, NJ Governor Phil Murphy announced the signing of Executive Order No. 292, which lifts the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. The order effectively ends the liberalized span of time that established a rebuttable presumption in favor of the employee as to the causal relationship between employment and COVID-19 on March 7, 2022.
Friday, March 4, 2022
Legislation Would Improve Access To Resources And Education For People Living With Long COVID
Long-COVID, Post Acute COVID Syndrome. [PASC] is a compensable illness that many workers now suffer from and seek workers’ compensation benefits. The medical condition affects approximately one-third of those who have contracted COVID. It is a costly and incapacitating condition that lingers long after the acute stage of SARS-CoV-2 passes.
Wednesday, March 2, 2022
President Biden Supports Burn Pits Exposure Benefits for Veterans
Veterans who suffer from medical conditions following exposure to toxic burn pit hazards and chemicals received support from President Biden last night. President's State of the Union Address included strong presidential support for health care benefits and wartime disability compensation. A burn pit is used to burn solid waste in open-air without equipment.
Friday, February 25, 2022
NJ COVID-19 vaccination mandate for, among others, the State's corrections officers, upheld.
NJ COVID-19 vaccination mandate for, among others, the State's corrections officers, upheld. The App Div court held that the Civilian Defense and Disaster Control Act, N.J.S.A. App. A:9-33 to -63, empowered the Governor to issue the order and that the order's vaccination mandate was rationally and adequately tailored to the problem posed. #NJExOrder283 #COVID #VaccineMandate
Sunday, January 23, 2022
NJ vaccine mandate imposed for Health Care Workers and others
Tuesday, January 18, 2022
CMS Health Care Workers Vaccination Deadline March 15, 2022
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued guidance that the full vaccination compliance deadline is March 15, 2022, for all health care workers subject to the Omnibus Health Care Staff Vaccination rule.
Tuesday, January 11, 2022
Governor Murphy Reinstates Public Health Emergency Triggering Presumptions of Compensability
Tuesday, December 28, 2021
Telehealth Extended for Two Years in New Jersey
Governor Murphy yesterday signed legislation (S-2559-12/21/2021 Approved P.L.2021, c.310) that extends for the next two years the requirement adopted at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic that health benefits plans reimburse health care providers for telehealth and telemedicine services at the same rate as in-person services, with limited exceptions.
Sunday, December 19, 2021
OMG, Omicron!
A panel of infectious disease experts and public health specialists of the Veterans Administration who have been involved in the national COVID response discuss strategies to contain the spread of the Omicron variant and stay safe.
CMS Announces 2022 Workers' Compensation Recovery Threshold to Remain at $750.00
Computation of Annual Recovery Thresholds for Certain Liability Insurance, No-Fault Insurance, and Workers' Compensation Settlements, Judgments, Awards, or Other Payments for 2022 were announced this week.
Wednesday, December 8, 2021
Appellate Court Upholds the Biden Administration Vaccine Mandate for Florida Health Care Workers
Friday, October 22, 2021
Biden Administration Targets Occupational Exposure to PFAS
The Biden-Harris Administration announced accelerated efforts to protect American workers from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which can cause severe health problems and persist in the environment once released, posing a severe threat across rural, suburban, and urban areas.
Monday, September 27, 2021
CDC Approves Pfizer Booster Dose for those at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational settings
CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, M.D., M.P.H., endorsed the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' (ACIP) recommendation for a booster shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in specific populations and also recommended a booster dose for those in high risk occupational and institutional settings.
Thursday, September 23, 2021
Warehouse Workers' Injuries Are Increasing as Employers Use Artificial Intelligence
An increase of injuries suffered by warehouse workers, fueled by employers' use of artificial intelligence, is getting legislative attention. The focus is on Amazon and other major retail giants whose business has exploded since the COVID Pandemic emerged.
Wednesday, September 22, 2021
NJ Governor Murphy Signs Executive Order Instituting Vaccination or Testing Requirement for All Child Care Center Personnel
NJ Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 264, requiring all child care center personnel to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by November 1 or be subject to COVID-19 testing at minimum one to two times per week. Additionally, effective September 24, and in accordance with CDC recommendations, the Order also clarifies that all employees, visitors, students, and children aged two and over must wear facemasks indoors, with limited exceptions. These requirements will strengthen protections against COVID-19 to children in these settings who are all under 12 years old and not yet eligible for vaccination.
Tuesday, September 21, 2021
Investing for the Next Pandemic
Preparing for the next pandemic is an essential need for all employers, employees, and insurance companies. The failure of the public health system to handle COVID-19 is evident as the death toll (675,400) fatalities) has now exceeded the 1918 Spanish Flu mortality rate. The US CDC is encouraging preparation by announcing the opportunity for final investment. It is also incumbent upon the workers’ compensation industry to expand its efforts for pandemic preparation
Monday, July 26, 2021
California Implements First-in-the-Nation Measures to Encourage State Employees and Health Care Workers to Get Vaccinated
The State of California is taking decisive action to combat the spread of COVID-19 and protect vulnerable communities – implementing a first-in-the-nation standard to require all state workers and workers in health care and high-risk congregate settings to either show proof of full vaccination or be tested at least once per week, and encourage all local government and other employers to adopt a similar protocol.
VA mandates COVID-19 vaccines among its medical employees including VHA facilities staff
Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough announced he will make COVID-19 vaccines mandatory for Title 38 VA health care personnel — including physicians, dentists, podiatrists, optometrists, registered nurses, physician assistants, expanded-function dental auxiliaries and chiropractors — who work in Veterans Health Administration facilities, visit VHA facilities or provide direct care to those VA serves.