National – The U.S. Department of Justice reached a $350 million settlement with Walgreens to address allegations that the pharmacy chain unlawfully filled millions of invalid prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released the 2024 workplace injury and illness data collected from its Injury Tracking Application. This data is now searchable for individual workplaces required to electronically submit records.
The Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) released its 2025 Annual Report. This report highlights WCRI’s studies, which helped guide policy throughout 2024.
The International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions (IAIABC) released its 2024 Annual Report, highlighting the impact of events, forums, and educational initiatives on its members and the workers’ compensation community as a whole. The report discusses the success of in-person events, updates to the EDI Implementation Guides, and enhancements to the WorkCompare jurisdictional comparison database.
Arizona – Late last week, Governor Hobbs enacted SB 1551. As a reminder, the bill proposes to increase the dependents’ allowance for temporary total disability benefits from $25 to $100. It also revises the definition of an interested party to include third-party administrators and authorized representatives of insurance carriers in cases where the injured worker died. Additionally, the bill mandates a schedule of fees for medical care, dental care, and supplies, replacing the current language that specifies these fees be charged by physicians, physical therapists, and occupational therapists.
Nevada – The Nevada Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will begin enforcing the state’s heat regulations on April 29. The rule will require employers to implement preventive measures, employee training, and emergency response procedures to address heat exposure hazards in the workplace.
Tennessee – The Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation announced its 2024 Annual Report. This report details the Bureau’s findings on the impact of reforms from the 2013 Workers’ Compensation Act.
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