| An employee that loses their arm on the job from an | | | | To add insult to injury, Texas also once had the |
| accident is lawfully authorized to a full workers | | | | largest number of doctors who dropped out of the |
| compensation profit. In New York this benefit stands | | | | system. Texas solved their worker's compensation |
| at a weekly rate of $400 for 312 weeks. For an | | | | problem by building new physician networks and |
| injured employee who is unable to be cured, such as | | | | making a small increase in the benefits available to |
| a permanent lower back injury that is diagnosed by a | | | | injured workers. Today, Texas' brand new worker' |
| doctor, these weekly payments can continue for the | | | | comp law is one of the best ones in America. |
| rest of the employee's life. | | | | Currently, there are discussions in New York which |
| A 1914 workers' compensation law is to blame for | | | | have suggested reducing the benefit payout period |
| this inconsistency. This particular law established an | | | | for partially disabling conditions to a maximum of ten |
| incomplete schedule addressing many injuries that | | | | years. Also suggested was the possibility of upping |
| were considered disabling. | | | | the maximum payout to a weekly $500. Just these |
| Issues like hearing loss and losing a limb were | | | | two changes alone would decrease the cost of |
| assigned specific benefit schedules. There are a range | | | | premiums up to 15%. |
| of enduring yet partial disabilities that were omitted | | | | New York is hoping that other ideas will be presented |
| by the law; these injuries receive payments for the | | | | and considered so they can raise the benefits for |
| remainder of the worker's life. These include back | | | | qualified injured workers even further. For those |
| pain and mental stress. | | | | working to find a solution to the worker's |
| The current compensation plan gives thirteen percent | | | | compensation issues, the best way to ensure |
| of all cases seventy percent of all benefit dollars. The | | | | success is to look for a middle-of-the-road solution |
| workers comp premium in New York is 72% higher | | | | that will provide something to everyone. In addition, |
| than the average nationally. Consequently, local | | | | this will fix the issue of open-ended cases, such as |
| business, schools and other government agencies are | | | | back trouble. |
| affected by the expense. | | | | California has already enacted similar reforms of its |
| At the other end of the system, the maximum | | | | own workers compensation laws. Citizens used a |
| workers compensation benefit of $400 per week is | | | | petition drive to drum up support from within the |
| now lagging behind other states in the region. On the | | | | public and prove that it should be placed on ballot. |
| other hand, New York's local governments have | | | | Because so many voters and taxpayers supported |
| already started to deal with the two aspects of the | | | | workers compensation reform, lawmakers decided to |
| system. Numerous other states have made $685 per | | | | take action themselves. |
| week the new maximum payment to a severely | | | | In order to reach workers compensation reform |
| injured worker. | | | | within New York without options for a petition drive, |
| Texas, previously had one of the worst workers' | | | | the key is to force leaders in the legislation to take |
| compensation systems in the nation. However, | | | | action. It is highly crucial that the local lawmakers |
| changes have been made to the system, it has the | | | | inform their leaders that it is an important issue for |
| nation's third-highest workers' compensation costs | | | | strapped companies and struggling local government |
| and the highest rate of injured employees. | | | | bodies. |