Yesterderday we where buying a few holiday gifts what we could afford for our girls. When we came home there where 2 large notes posted with BIG BLUE TAPE ALL OVER MY FRONT DOOR. IT SAID WE HAVE "UP TO OR LESS TAN 45 DAYS" THEN WE WILL BE FORCED TO "MOVE OUT"
This is all that is necessary from the message for ALL OF US TO SEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I called Dina Titus office. They are refusing to help Ron out on his workers comp case. Dina's office is saying that to address the Workers Comp case to call the Governor's office.
I'm not one to dwell on negativity, but rather a solution. Unfortunately I have nothing positive to say except I feel a letter to the President of the United States is necessary. It may/may not save Ron's home. God has a plan that we don't always understand. I can call the Governor's office but I am only one person and there are a few members here who have helped but we need more help. At this point, I feel it is necessary to contact President Obama. He needs to know the injustice in this situation.
If you want to help, contact Governer's office in Nevada at 702-486-2500 - Inquire on Ron Marcowicz Workers Comp Case that has been unpaid and no action for over a year....THEY ARE AWARE OF IT. Major questions is WHO? WHAT? WHERE? WHEN? WHY? If they need to know that President Obama should be aware of what is happening and that we will puruse whatever means in God's will, then we will do so. Just please, open your hearts, remember the time of year. I am making my call today and will report what I find out.
The Workers Compensation Injured Workers Bill of Rights
Injured workers have experienced in the last several years a massive effort to limit workers compensation benefits. This has directly harmed decent hard working people and their families. Improper medical care and attention, and the reduction of benefits have resulted in poverty, depression, and second class status for those whose only crime is that they were injured on the job. It is a national shame and there are countless personal and family tragedies from such unfair treatment. We invite you to search for the real truth and to demand that all those legitimately injured be treated with respect and dignity. We may be your father or your mother, your sister or brother or just a friend or neighbor. But we are injured...we do not want a windfall we just want justice. We invite all who are interested to join our efforts. We have compiled what we believe to be the basic rights all injured workers should be entitled to as human beings. We present them for your consideration:
An injured worker shall have the right to select his own physician or at a minimum to be able to switch to a doctor of his choice after 30 days of treatment.
An injured worker shall have the right to a prompt hearing on any dispute, within 90 days of a request. Additionally in emergency medical or financial situations there should be a right to a hearing within 30 days to issue provisional orders on such emergency matters.
An injured worker shall have the right to have considered in his disability his loss of earning capacity along with any physical or mental impairment.
An injured worker unable to return to his trade or occupation as a result of a work injury shall have the right to an independent vocational assessment and to vocational rehabilitation if reasonably appropriate, with the goal being a return to the highest earning capacity possible within a reasonable time frame. Vocational rehabilitation benefits shall be at the same rate as temporary disability benefits.
An injured worker shall have the right to an impairment rating and disability determination which assesses chronic pain and depression along with any physical impairment. And if work related activities contribute to, result in or aggravate pain, limitation or impairment the claim shall be compensated.
An injured worker unable to return to substantial gainful work shall be entitled to permanent total disability benefits for as long as the disability continues.
An injured worker shall have the right to a non-party independent medical exam, paid by the insurer if there is a question concerning the treatment or opinions of the treating provider. All partisan IME's are to be banned.
An injured worker shall have the right to benefits based on his true take home pay including overall wage benefits and to permanent disability benefits based upon his disability not simply impairment.
An injured worker shall have the right to a second opinion, paid by the insurer, with a doctor of his choice, if surgery is being recommended. Any surgery can be declined without adverse consequences.
An injured worker shall be treated with dignity and respect by those within the wc system, to include doctors, nurses, adjusters, attorneys and judges..to the extent that the first priority and loyalty shall be to recovery and fundamental fairness. If not, substantial penalties should be imposed.
The physician treating the injured worker shall have the presumptive right to order any diagnostic tests or evaluations. The presumption can only be overcome by clear and convincing evidence which must be furnished within 20 days of any denial.
An injured worker shall have the right to all legal entitlements for his disability without offsets.
An injured worker shall have the right to realistic cost of living increases in his benefits and to have those benefits pass to his dependents upon his death.
An injured worker shall have the right as the ultimate consumer of medical services to be informed of the doctors education, experience and contractual arrangements with insurers when treatment commences. Additionally, the state shall monitor all doctors and maintain a record of complaints by injured workers concerning doctors which can lead to removal of the doctor from the ability to treat such workers for numerous or major complaints.
An injured worker shall have the right to privacy of his medical records. They are to be sealed and otherwise nondisclosable except as concerns claims by the worker , for statistical purposes only or to permit an accommodation in employment.
The Workers Compensation Injured Workers Bill of Rights was developed by members of the Injured Worker's of America (IWA), a division of The MedaKate Organization, November 22, 1998. This group includes Injured Workers, Physicians, Attorneys, and Registered Nurses. Please print them out and give them to your Physician, Attorney, Unions, Medical Facilities, Therapist, and the General Public.
After reading this Bill of Rights which is attended for Injured Workers then read the the post below which the Bill of Rights is not being up help in my case in any fairness to the injured worker at all for the past year.
The Digest has gone above and beyond for my cause and with the support from it's members educating eachother and knowing that in NV this is really happening with no one coming forth and saying this is wrong!
HERE ARE THE LAWS STRAIGHT OUT OF NV STATE REGARDING MEDICAL TREATMENT & WHAT I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR OVER A YEAR OF EVERY LAW BROKEN AS WELL AS STATUTES.
http://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-616B.html
NRS 616B.5273Adequacy of medical and health care services, choice of providers of health care and cost controls; regulations.
1. A self-insured employer, an association of self-insured public or private employers or a private carrier shall not enter into a contract with an organization for managed care unless the organization’s proposed plan for providing medical and health care services:
(a) Will provide all medical and health care services that may be required for industrial injuries and occupational diseases that are compensable under chapters 616A to 617, inclusive, of NRS in a manner that ensures the availability and accessibility of adequate treatment to injured employees;
(b) Provides to injured employees an adequate choice of providers of health care who have contracted with the organization to participate in the proposed plan; and
(c) Provides appropriate financial incentives to reduce costs of medical and health care services without affecting the quality of any care provided to an injured employee.
2. The Division may adopt regulations to ensure the adequacy of an insurer’s panel of providers of health care established pursuant to subsection 1.
NRS 616B.528Restriction of or interference with communication between provider of health care and injured employee prohibited.An organization for managed care shall not restrict or interfere with any communication between a provider of health care and an injured employee regarding any information that the provider of health care determines is relevant to the health care of the injured employee.
NRS 616B.5285Contracts with providers of health care; prohibited acts.An organization for managed care shall not terminate a contract. ( SEE MY URL WORKCOMP1 AT BOTTOM OF PROFILE I WAS DROPPED AS A PATIENT BY WORKERS COMP NEUROLOGIST FOR NO REASON) THE REASON WAS THEY FOUND MANY THINGS AND MIS-DIAGNOSED ME THEN A MONTH LATER DROPPED ME AS A PATIENT.)
with, demote, refuse to contract with or refuse to compensate a provider of health care solely because the provider, in good faith:
1. Advocates in private or in public on behalf of an injured employee;
2. Assists an injured employee in seeking reconsideration of a determination by the organization for managed care to deny coverage for a medical or health care service; or
3. Reports a violation of law to an appropriate authority.
NRS 616B.529Inducements to deny, reduce or delay medically necessary services prohibited.
1. An organization for managed care shall not offer or pay any type of material inducement, bonus or other financial incentive to a provider of health care to deny, reduce, withhold, limit or delay specific medically necessary medical or health care services to an injured employee.
2. The provisions of this section do not prohibit an arrangement for payment between an organization for managed care and a provider of health care that uses financial incentives, if the arrangement is designed to provide an incentive to the provider of health care to use medical and health care services effectively and consistently in the best interest of the treatment of the injured employee.
NRS 616B.528Restriction of or interference with communication between provider of health care and injured employee prohibited.
restrict or interfere with any communication between a provider of health care and an injured employee regarding any information that the provider of health care determines is relevant to the health care of the injured employee.
NRS 616C.157Request for prior authorization: Time to respond; effect of failure to respond in timely manner.
1. An insurer, organization for managed care or third-party administrator shall respond to a written request for prior authorization for:
(a) Treatment;
(b) Diagnostic testing; or
(c) Consultation,
Ê within 5 working days after receiving the written request.
2. If the insurer, organization for managed care or third-party administrator fails to respond to such a request within 5 working days, authorization shall be deemed to be given. The insurer, organization for managed care or third-party administrator may subsequently deny authorization.
3. If the insurer, organization for managed care or third-party administrator subsequently denies a request for authorization submitted by a provider of health care for additional visits or treatments, it shall pay for the additional visits or treatments actually provided to the injured employee, up to the number of treatments for which payment is requested by the provider of health care before the denial of authorization is received by the provider.
PLEASE EVERYONE READ THE ARTICLE FROM JOHN FROM POSTED MY SITUATION LAST MONTH AND AS OF TODAY I AM STILL NOT GETTING ANY OF THESE LAWS UP HELD IN ANY SENSE OF URGENCY.
EVEN INSIDE 222 BLOG ABOUT THE BROKEN SYSTEM HAS NOT YET HAD ANY ONE FROM THE MEDIA COME FORTH AND CALL HIM BACK.
An earlier post from this blog annotates the woeful and absolute outrageous treatment being heaped upon one of our members, Ron by the Worker's Comp System, including his own attorney, whose firm appeared to be in collusion with the Insurance Carriers by ceasing all pertinent services to his case apparently driven by fear of potential corporate harm through future litigation. No medical help for months. No answers from the attorney--only mis-statements. No help anywhere.
As a former vocational rehabilitation counselor, I have seen this type behavior before-and it generally stems from a surgical mistake, then when an injured worker continues to complain, the first thought emanating from the Carriers, attorneys, et. al is:
'Stop the services! Send out false information to the worker! Make outrageous claims that the worker is not complying with the various service providers! Cover your ass!'
And ad naeuseum....the spin merchants, coupled with loss prevention departments of these huge insurance conglomerates begin to work their magic--here's what they do to a lot of people who might have a legitimate complaint: they simply stop sending their monthly check. No explanation. Can you imagine the panic?
As it is, you are lucky if you receive two thirds of your normal salary while on the Comp System-and now, suddenly, you have no money to pay for anything! Most of the times, they will re-start the financial benefits, but not before causing the injured person to suffer further through stress by making them late for credit card or rent payments. Add to it a nightmarish quality- I have personally heard insurance company rehab co-ordinators, while at industry 'functions', exclaim great humor at how many people they 'put the screws to' that week.
Folks, this stuff is industry wide, and it sickens me to watch it continue. This should be considered health care reform, too, and the political writers seem to simply ignore the horrendous level of abuse perpetrated by the 'business' side of this system, while the person who is already hurt and suffering, suffers further at the hands of those who should be honestly assisting them to achieve their best level of gainful re-entry to the work world. (or determine that will never be possible)
It should be obvious to all that creating an adversarial system, instead of a truly philanthropic, medically progressive streamlined system, the worst of all possibilities occur, where delays are normal, and communication among the providers is poor, at best. Built for failure.
And, as all our members know, the Social Security Disability system certainly seems bad enough- difficult and hurtful at many turns.
At this writing, there over a million cases which are officially 'backlogged' in the Social Security Disability system. Unless you take the free course offered here at the Disability Digest, you can easily wait three full years before receiving benefits. (and that's if you're not backlogged) Three years! No excuse can be offered which might even approach credibility.
But the Worker's Comp System--if anything can be more problematic than Social Security Disability, it's this damnable system in which Ron Markowicz continues to suffer. But, some progress had been made. There may be a ray of sunshine.
While I cannot comment on case specifics, I can say that some advancement is being made on the medical side, as Ron's original physician is only now re-activating his services to him, but still faces an uphill battle against a stone-walling industry.
Also, due to many different and serious inquires to the Nevada Governor's Office, there has been progress toward publicizing Ron's case fully, exposing it for the utter disgrace it remains. As it may involve the National media, his case could be re-opened, and the proper medical procedures enacted post haste. These major corporations do not appreciate black marks against them, as stockholders are already nervous these days.
So, with enough pressure, Ron would immediately receive the attention he needs, and in the proper order, which is vital in his case.
He is truly disabled, suffering the results of several breaks in his back from a serious fall while at work, then surgical mis-feasance resulting in pieces of metal floating in his back, now invading the surrounding soft tissue, creating intractable pain.
The link to the initial information in this case is a fairly long read, including my post describing the Worker's Comp System, and the specific details of his case-then, a page of a well kept medical file which further elucidates Ron's situation. Again, if any readers have a golden rolodex, please forward this appropriately. I have included the link in the resource box.
We continue to press our efforts towards resolving this unsettling dilemma, as justice should have it. The overarching reality is: Ron's case could be your own. He did not violate any 'rules' and was always forthcoming with his medical providers and insurance carrier. That was pre-surgery.
Today is a different story.
Best to all involved,
Update: as of this writing, Ron has terminated the services of his attorney, and suddenly, approval has been granted for an' emergency injection', treatment which has been withheld for the past four months. Real medical treatment necessary for his survival. Great news!
John Woodworth is the editor of the Disability Digest, a 50,000 member strong advocacy organization. The Disability Digest is managed by disabled individuals from a variety of professions. Mr. Woodworth has been a business owner and consultant, a vocational rehabilitation and psychiatric counselor, and an innovative business marketing specialist. He has spent the last eight years researching medical issues and legitimate work at home programs.
Disability Digest owner Brian Therrien has recently added an entire section for Veteran's help, as many medical and social services are due these individuals, with a lot of help necessary to deliver them. His free course is effective in maximizing the returning veteran's benefits, and providing updated government policies.
Regarding Social Security Disability, Brian literally wrote the book on minimizing time to qualify for, and obtain deserved benefits. His free, 11 part email course has helped literally thousands of disabled folks cut the wait time by at least half, sometimes helping to obtain benefits in a few months. Currently, one can expect to wait up to three years to obtain benefits, and additionally, there is a one million application backlog in the Social Security Disability system as of early 2009.
By way of introduction, I am the west coast editor of The Disability Digest, a 40 thousand member strong nationwide organization.
We are an group made up largely by disabled individuals from many walks of life. Our main function with the Digest is to disseminate valuable information to disabled individuals, particularly those attempting to obtain Social Security Disability benefits. We do not charge for our service, nor do we take any Federal, State, or any governmental funds to operate.
While we are used to many complaints about the Social Security System, and how difficult they are to deal with, we occasionally encounter situations which egregiously represent the worst of what a system of 'health care' can do to a person.
In this particular case, it is associated with the Worker's Compensation system, and in the State of Nevada.
As a former vocational rehab counselor, I can personally attest to how ineffective, and seemingly capricious the worker's comp insurance carriers can be. And there is no reason for this to be the case.
I have seen many situations where a client, already suffering from a loss of income of one-third (not to speak of the pain associated with case) has to deal with the insurance company when they suddenly cut off their desperately needed monthly payment.
And, for no reason.
But the case before us now represents conditions far worse than I have ever seen, truly endangering this individual's life by the insurance carrier's unwillingness to give consent to further medical treatment.
This is very serious, and despite intervention by Congresswoman Dina Titus's office, and the Nevada Governor's office, the person in question still cannot get the emergency treatment he needs. And so, I am turning to you.
To be brief, after 5 surgeries due to a serious fall, there is metal still floating in this man's back, and no one will treat him, strictly because mistakes were made during the surgeries, and lies were told, and now-----the system shuts down because it is a worker's comp case, and everyone involved is concerned about liability. Meanwhile, the patient is in intractable pain, and is in danger of serious complications if not treated immediately.
As a journalist, I understand the power which can be brought to bear by the media---especially when they are taking the position to right a wrong.
I am sending you to a blog post of mine---and at the end is another URL directing you to the specifics of the case (they are not that lengthy)
I am asking for your help by way of publicizing this case----it is absolutely unconscionable what the insurance carrier is doing to this man. At age 38, and having worked diligently in his profession for twenty years, he is in so much pain, he cannot even hold his two year old daughter to give her a hug----he must have had a horrible Father's day.
In any case, CNN is in a position to help----and I am respectfully asking for it.
I write with disturbing, and really quite horrific news about a specific case within a seldom mentioned arena of the health care industry----Workers Compensation Insurance-----a case which is occurring in Las Vegas.
For injured workers, the medical insurance and monetary benefits are a necessity in these United States, and in a perfect world, a savior for those who sustain life changing conditions due to serious injury in the workplace.
However, the system simply does not work as a savior. Prior to becoming disabled, one of my career paths was that of Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, and in five years, I likely handled over 1000 cases. I am currently an editor at the nationwide Disability Digest, and an advocate for disabled individuals.
75% of the Worker's Comp I handled were fraught with unnecessary delays, and generally capricious behavior on the part of the Insurance carrier's re-hab coordinator toward the injured worker. It was not uncommon for my clients to have experienced arbitrary halting of monthly benefit checks. But there is more, much more.
For the sake of brevity (not my long suit) I will give you some facts which can be substantiated by several physicians, and particularly one caring pain management specialist in Nevada who intervened on behalf of the injured worker in question. To date, he has not been paid for his services rendered over an eight month period.
Mr. Ron Markowicz, until three years ago, was a highly respected and creative food and beverage director of a Las Vegas golf and country club.
He slipped and fell in the kitchen, severely injuring his back, requiring immediate surgery. His head also slammed on the cement floor, and continues to suffer from horrible headaches.
The short version of this tale can be summarized as such:
The surgery was botched. Metal fragments remain in his spine and have worked their way into surrounding soft tissue. In order to reduce excruciating pain in his neck and head, he requires injections which effectively burn his nerve endings.
He now has two physicians who have recommended he seek further and immediate treatment at the UCLA hospital.
But, he has to pay for all this privately. His Workers Comp insurance carrier refuses to authorize any further medical procedures. Because the system is litigious in nature, all activity grinds to a halt once the Insurance carrier is aware of surgical mistakes----they react by putting their head in the sand and no amount of legal intervention can get them to alter their behavior. These are the facts. And they do not care what happens to the injured worker.
If this isn't an example for needed reform in the health care industry, I don't know what is.
Ron is very seriously injured, and after eight months of attempting to help, I am frustrated beyond belief. I have contacted Congresswomen Titus on several occasions (as have many members of The Disability Digest). I have spoken with several representatives from the Governor's Office. They promise to look into it----then nothing. The Las Vegas Review Journal interviewed Ron (his doctor took time to take part in the interview) The publisher buried the story.
It is rather obvious who is running the show. They have effectively silenced Ron's attorney, as well. And in the vocational rehab work world, the Insurance carriers simply gave cases to rehab firms who were more inclined to do the carrier's bidding. In other words, 'get this file closed as soon as possible.'
Here is the company responsible for Ron Markowicz's situation.
Ron is in so much pain that he cannot even bend over and pick up his two year old daughter. Can you imagine? She wonders what is wrong with her daddy, and cries because of his pain. This is not weeks or even month of intractable pain----it is years now.
On top of all else, and because of their resultant financial situation, the Markowicz's are facing home foreclosure. Not just facing it, they are in the final steps----the next being eviction.
I cannot conceive of a worse set of conditions any human being could face, particularly when help is supposed to be at hand. We should all be ashamed of the Workers Comp system.
I will close with this thought. Although convoluted beyond belief, I sense this situation can be remedied with a couple of calls from your astute staff. You will be saving a human life, saving a young family, and hopefully bringing light to a system badly in need of regulation and effective oversight.
Thank you in advance. Blessings to you and your beautiful family. Stay strong, as many support you and the difficult choices you must make.
John Woodworth
Alliance For The Disabled Oregon business license 291968-96
I've been unable to work since 2000,all this time I've been fighting for disability.I've gotton a lawyer from the start of my first filing,the odds are better I was told.So 7 years have past,and I've been denied every time I've apealed,or have been in front of a Judge.I'm 47,and have been told that that is one of the reasons why I'm being denied.Also that I can do sedemtary work.Currently,my case has been sent to Church Hill Va. to go infront of the Board there.That has been 17 months ago.I'm at my witts end about it all.I've lost all faith in the system that I paid so much, for so long,into.I've been living off of The state of Ohio Disability.($115 a month,with $200 food stamps) and am required to pay that back if ever I'm approved.I'm in constant pain,taking so much pain meds I can hardly function at times.I can hardly do for myself much less an employer.Meanwhile my symtoms continue to worsen.Whats wrong with this system.Why must it take so long to be given what I have been promised.I'm so depressed,I feel like I've fallen thru the cracks....
Those of you out there that already have a web site up and running maybe we can help each other....
Here is what I am thinking we all earn money various ways on the internet some of us are affiliates, some of us set up individual agreements with other web sites and some of run ads - maybe we can figure out a way to work together.
For instance I am an affiliate for Amazon.com BUT Amazon will not pay me if I click on one of my ads and purchase a product and I buy monthly from them.But one of you may have an affiliate link to Amazon.com that I would be happy to click on each month and YOU would earn the affiliate income.
Another example is that I earn money for getting people to sign up for an eco-tips newsletter maybe some of you out there could sign up and help me earn some extra cash.
Let’s all brainstorm and come up with a list of affiliate links, newsletter signups etc… and help each bring in some extra cash this New Year!
If you are interested just leave a comment at the bottom with your information and I will edit this blog to include any affiliate links or information you would like to include.
You may want to include:
1) Your name
2) web site name and address
3) description of web site
4) affiliate programs and links
Hey just a thought maybe we can start a directory of sorts.............
Also to anybody that has a current web site I have a fantastic list of tips that can help you drive more traffic to your site just drop me a note on my Bio Page or email me directly via my web site and I will send it right out.
The Disability Digest Business to Business Directory
Description: A site dedicated to sharing information on how to manage a chronic illness, creating a healthy home and tools and techniques to gain spiritual, physical and mental holistic health.
Ways you can support my site:
Interested in Eco-Living you can sign up for Ideal Bite I earn a commission for everyone that signs up for their newsletter. I would appreciate anyone that has the time to sign up and check out there daily bites and earn me a bit of $$ at the same time! Remember you can always unsubscribe in a couple of days : ) !
If you are interested in organic Herbs, Mountain Rose Herbs is the best in the business.
Any of you out there with a web site that are looking for an additional way to monetize you should consider in-text advertising. I have tried a few companies and infolinks.com by far pays the highest in the industry. It is the same company that I recommended to Brian to use on The Disability Digest and yes I get a commission but I sure as heck wouldn't reccomend them unless they were a great company.
Description: Ebonywoman is about Technology, Entrepreneurship and Health
Ways you can support my site: Follow this link to Ebonywoman Store and while you are there check out the side bar affiliate links including hostgator, neosoul essentials, become a blogger, and "Biz Opportunities."
Description: All About Vegas Travel is about Las Vegas Travel
Ways you can support my site: Follow these links All About Vegas Travel, Vegas Travel and don't forget to check out the affiliate links on my side bar.
Description: Amazon products including movies, books, home and garden, music, toys, video games and software.
Ways you can support my site: If you are planning on buying any products from amazon.com stop by my site, I Buy World Wide and select the product via my site!
I would value your opinion on how we can run a successful online community "All About Disability" that provides value to members and allows those that run the community to earn Money for their effort. YOu can post you comments here or email them to me....
Please provide me with any insight you think would be helpful and let me know you specific thoughts about these 4 points
1. What tasks need to be done to run a successful community, run groups, approve content, invite others ....
2. What is top 2 most important community rule we should have,
3. Other than the current information covered by the Disability Digest what other type of content should we have?
4. Do you have an idea for a contests Ie: best blog, photo, poem, video story ..winner gets cash prize
Thanks for your input, its valuable input to help us shape the community Brian Therrien brian@thedisabilitydigest.com
I became disabled almost one year ago! I broke my leg severely, it hasnt healed properly and have many complications form it. I still cant walk withought the aid of crutches and in the morning i still have to use a wheelchair. To make a really long story shorter.
I live in public housing, the rent is subsidized from the government. (I have allot of empathy for people with disabilities now more than i ever did before) My daughter and her baby lived with me until Sept. of 2009. She moved back in with her father because she coul not really handle seeing me in a wheelchair! I live in a 2 bedroom apartment. Which left my apartment underutilized, since i now live here by myself. I have been fighting to keep my place to live, especially since i have a couple more surgeries to look forward to. they have been trying to kick me out of here since October. I have had numerouse eviction notices. The first which was totally illegal, since i signed a one yr lease which was'nt up until jan 2010. So, here I am, still fighting. Just to add I didnt do anything wrong, like not pay rent, disturb neighbors or anything like that.
I have allot of time on my hands, Thank God for the internet, to try and figure out how I can stay longer. I dont have ANY income, i have filed for disability and everyone knows how long that could take, if ever. I requested two different Reasonable Accomadations to the housing authority. They denied both of them right away, there reason for denying was "JUST BECAUSE YOU BROKE YOUR LEG DOESNT MEAN YOU ARE DISABLED!" I sent the requests with a letter from my doctor! Saying that at this time I am disabled and have to use crutches to get around and so on.
I filed a discrimination complaint with HUD! And finally I have gotten someone to help me. They got the housing authority to let me stay until they investigate all of this. The same day the Housing authority gave me another 30 day eviction notice. Lets just say that was wrong.
The purpose of writing to this Blog, is to, let people know to stand up for their rights, and dont give up!! I have learned allot, form my months of persistance. Most people dont have any idea what is available to them-via internet! People say that there is a reason for everything! I think maybe all of this, the reason being, ewould I think I would really like to be an advicate for people with disabilities!
This really has gotten under my skin now even more so since I first posted in regards to the lack of coverage shown to Ron Markowicz's case. I have had it up to my eyes with the lack of dedication the media gives to an actual newsworthy story (such as Ron's), the utter lack of follow through by the system put in place by the State of NV to handle these cases (and it really DOES NOT WORK AT ALL), the minimal if any effort placed forth by the legislature of the State of NV (namely Harry Reid's office and Dina Titus's office)--as they both are quite aware of Ron's case and the sickening effort put forth by the NV Workers comp board to correct the wrongs that have already & continue to occur and I must say that the Nevada News Media is just the worst of the worst in existence, because the one outlet (Las Vegas Review Journal) that actually sent a reporter to interview Ron aAND his Doctor (who took time out of his already busy schedule to be there for the interview), has put Ron's story on the backburner for the H1N1 Flu (aka Swine Flu). The flu happens to people but can be prevented BUT we don't need to be inundated with constant coverage of this minor problem, when we all should be finding out how the NV system of Worker's compensation actually operates AND does not benefit the injured worker whatsoever, instead it seems to side with the employer.
This is simple and obvious mis-justice and as Christine said it is time for all those that read my blog, Ron's blog & Christine's blog to go ahead an contact Dina Titus' office as well as Mr. Reid's office and complain, complain, complain that you feel you are not being justly represented by your elected officials as they are allowing this tragedy to unfold right in front of their eyes. Perhaps they feel that this Obama Health plan is more important, but I would suggest that is just another diversion created by the news media ( as has been done in the past with other topics. We all need to press the issue with the Las Vegas Review Journal reporter by calling his office and complaining that the story has NOT been published and you are absolutely sickened by the lack of attention given to a story that could just as easily happen to any worker in a hotel, restaurant, bar golf club or casino (just as it did happen to Ron). That is SCARY to get injured on the job, go through the proper steps to get treated and then have a botched surgery, an incompetent worker's comp system and only ONE Doctor (who actually cares--but has not gotten paid by Worker's Comp--instead he has been threatened to omit certain statements from his reports otherwise face not receiving any monies from Worker's Comp). This is corruption at its best/worst. I could go on and on about corruption in the systems that we think are impervious to such betrayals, but this is one of the best examples of such an injustice against Ron in this case BUT also you -the potential injured worker.
I really hope that those who read these blogs, understand the power of the voice you actually have and Certainly USE that voice to express your disgust at the workings of a failed system, for at least one worker's comp. injured individual, not receiving adequate care/medication because Worker's Comp does NOT want to pay for his treatments. Please read the other blogs for the phone numbers to call and send emails, make the phone calls and lets rally the troops to hopefully help Ron get the treatment he needs so he can live a "normal" life once again with his wife & two daughters and hopefully NOT lose his home in the meantime.
Any feedback on this blog is greatly appreciated and YOUR ACTION IS NECESSARY!!! Thanks for all of you who read this & take the actions needed to help Ron and others in similar situations.
A week ago, I asked if the readers of the blogs on Workcomp1's behalf could make a phone call to Congress Woman Dina Titus. I had entered a phone # from Google that I found as a contact number for her. After repeatedly calling and getting no calls answered, I decided to do more research on Dina Titus. Well, I found a new site with the correct number for Dina Titus, Nevada. The correct number for people to call is 702-387-4941.
Now, I have some potentially good news. When I called today I called the Washington D.C. office of Dina Titus. I spoke to a woman named Meredith. I gave her a rundown on WorkComp1's story and that Dina is aware of it. I told her how I knew him and that the blogs on his story are getting thousand and thousand of hits a week. She promised me she was going to share ths information with those in the office there at D.C. and have someone call me back. She did say however that calling the Nevada office is the best place to get help.
PLEASE CALL DINA TITUS' OFFICE IN NEVADA AT 702-387-4941 - All YOU NEED TO SAY IS THAT YOU ARE CALLING ON BEHALF OF RON MARKOWITZ. LET THEM KNOW THAT DINA TITUS IS AWARE OF RON'S STORY AND EVEN HAD A JOURNALIST GO TO HIM AND WRITE A STORY. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM IS THE STORY WAS NEVER PUBLISHED AND DINA NOR THE GOVERNOR (ALSO AWARE OF RON'S STORY) HAVE YET TO DO ANYTHING. IT HAS BEEN ALMOST 2 MONTHS AND HE HAS METAL FLOATING IN HIS BACK AND WORKERS COMP IS NOT PAYING FOR HIS HEALTHCARE AND HE HAS ONLY 1 DOCTOR WHO HAS BEEN TREATING HIM FOR FREE FOR A YEAR. JUST LET THEM KNOW THIS MAN NEEDS HELP AND IS LOSING HIS HOME OVER NEVADA'S FAILURE TO SERVE IT'S OWN PEOPLE.
1 PHONE CALL TOOK ME ABOUT 5 MINUTES. IF THEY HAVE JUST 10 CALLERS WHO INQUIRE, THEY WILL FEEL THE PRESSURE. RIGHT NOW THEY FEEL NO PRESSURE. ARE THERE 10 PEOPLE ON THIS FORUM WHO CAN DO THIS??? YES! YES! YES! PLEASE HELP AND REMEMBER WHEN YOU HELP OTHERS IT WILL BE RETURNED TO YOU IN ABUNDANCE!!!!!!
Blessings To All,
Christine Messaros
P.S. - I did something else today that took about 5 minutes of my time. I got tired of Yahoo printing all the stuff about Tiger Woods. I confronted the topic of the media reporting on a "good cause" rather than potential gossip. I challenged the 'writer' to take on a story about a man in NV who is not getting medical care due to negligence of a surgeon and the Workers Comp System. I also added that this story would blow the socks off of Americans. I gave my email address for further story details. My attitude and thinking is try anything....just don't stop doing.
I was finally approved for Social Security Disability. My attorney said that my written statement that describes my condition and how it renders me physically was a wonderful addition to my file. Then I appeared before the judge and in all of ten minutes he was ready to rule. He asked me the usual questions like name, birth date, etc., then he asked what a bad day for me was like and I gave him a visual description through words. "I get flu-like symptoms, well actually I am having a bad day," I said, "and when I walk out of this room it will feel like I am walking on broken glass. Then the pain will radiate straight up to my legs, hips, into my back and down my arms and on up to my neck and spine which ultimately cause a migraine." He abruptly interrupted me and said he had heard enough and was ready to rule.
I believe that writing a statement to add to your file is crucial. Description of your condition and rebuttal to rejected decisions add crucial evidence to your case. Feel free to describe in all honesty the day to day frustrations and inabilities you face. Do not harp on trivial matters. But do give the reader a visual experience through words. If you have received a rejection notice. Read it carefully and look for contradictions on the Federal Reviewing Officials part. It will be there in black and white. Rebut these inconsistancy's and reveal the truth regarding his/her decision. They reject in hopes that you'll give up. If you need help, don't be afraid to ask for it. Some people are born to write more effectively and eloquently than others. If you have a relative or friend who has a way with words, ask if they can put your description into words that will be most effective to your case. It will only add to your quest, so go for it.
So you think you want to build a business on-line? That’s great, but do you know how to go about selecting the kind of business that will succeed on the Internet? And, do you know where and how to start?
I now have a successful business on-line, but when I got started I knew nothing about how to begin. I floundered for a while until I found the right way to go about it.
The first thing I learned was that the most important principle you need to understand is WHAT DRIVES THE INTERNET. You may think you know, after all you have searched a ton of successful sites and it all looks fairly simple. But building a business on the Internet has its own set of rules and principles.
What then is the best way to build the kind of business that will succeed on-line? Well, success on the Internet all begins with a critical mind-set shift. This means replacing that well known off-line strategy of location, location, location with.....INFORMATION, INFORMATION, INFORMATION.
That’s right, Information. Most of us use the Internet as a searching tool. We search for credible, high value information or solutions, anything that can fulfill a wish that we hold dear or solve a troublesome problem that we are experiencing. So, then, it is clear that we are all searching the Internet for information and solutions. Well, guess what, that is exactly what you are going to give them!
With that in mind, here is your first guiding principle: “GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT”
How do you go about fulfilling this principle? Simple. You will accomplish this by building a THEME-BASED CONTENT WEB SITE. What does that mean? It means building a simple site that contains information based upon a MAIN SUBJECT. Where each page focuses upon a single topic that is related to the overall theme or subject.
By providing your visitors with high-value content, over delivering on the information they were seeking, visitors start to like and trust you. Your content-rich site builds trust and credibility.......which leads to an OPEN-TO-BUY MINDSET. Good content encourages your visitor to think about you as a friend or expert rather than as a stranger. People buy from those they know and like. They resist sales efforts from everyone else.
So it's clear that by creating a relationship with your readers and giving them the solutions or information they are seeking leads to MONETIZATION opportunities, which of course translates to MONEY!
Easy enough to understand, but what type of web site should YOU build? What will be PROFITABLE to YOU and how do YOU get started?
Good Questions.... Download Ken Evoy's Free e-book, Make Your Site Sell it will provide you with the basic principles and steps that will help guide you to your goal of building a successful business on-line.
You can check out my web site at Healthy Holistic Living. Curious about the tools I used to create a successful on-line business? Go to Site Build It
If you have questions about how to start your own on-line business you can contact my via my Bio Page or you can contact me via my web site
Keep in mind when starting a business it's important to understand how much money you can make and keep your benefits, knowledge is power! Stay up-to-date and on top of the latest information listen to Brian's audio How to Supplement your Income without Reducing Your Monthly Check!
Are Federal (RICO) Racketeering Lawsuits The Solution To Finally Get Justice For America’s Injured & Disabled Workers?
(October 23, 2008)
A federal appeals court on Thursday reinstated a lawsuit and cleared the way for discovery to begin in an action brought by workers at a trucking company who claimed they were fraudulently denied their Workers’ Compensation benefits.The workers sued Illinois-based Cassens Transport Co., insurance claims adjuster Crawford & Co., and Warren physician Dr. Saul Margules, alleging mail fraud, wire fraud and violations of the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. It is alleged that the defendants conspired to falsely deny Workers’ Compensation claims.
“They further pleaded that Cassens, Crawford, and Dr. Margules, as well as other ‘medical whore’ doctors, engaged in a pattern of racketeering activity that denied the plaintiff’s Workers’ Compensation claims,” the court wrote. “Specifically, the plaintiffs alleged that Cassens and Crawford deliberately selected and paid unqualified doctors, including Margules, to give false medical opinions that would support the denial of Workers’ Compensation benefits, and that defendants ignored other reasonable medical evidence in denying them benefits.”
The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals permitted its favorable decision for employees and against an employer, its workers’ compensation insurance carrier and its examining physician to stand. The Court, on January 5, 2009, denied a Rehearing and a Rehearing En Banc request made by the defendant who were held to be in violation of the RacketeerInfluence and Corrupt Organization Act (RICO).
The Court held that 13 original predicated acts constituted a pattern of racketeering activity. The workers were not required to plead or prove reliance on the misrepresentations. The Circuit Court also ruled that the Michigan
workers’ compensation act did not reverse preempt RICO under the McCarran-Ferguson Act.
Brown v Cassens Transport Co. 546 F.3d 347 (6th Cir. 2009).
A Petition for Certiorari has been filed in Brown v. Cassens Transport Co., 546 F.3d 347 (6th Cir. Oct 23, 2008) (NO. 05-2089), following the rehearing and rehearing en banc denied (Jan 05, 2009). The Petition was filed on May 6, 2009. In a landmark decision of immense national significance, the US Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a RICO claim brought by injured workers against their employer, insurance carrier and employer medical expert could proceed.
*******************************************
Again, please take the time to watch a youtube video
Racketeering and Comp: When the Denial of an Injury is an Injury
Imagine you work as a commercial driver for a long-established trucking firm that self-insures for workers comp. You are injured on the job. You seek benefits under the comp statute. The TPA handling the claim refers you to a company doctor. The doctor determines that the injury is not work related. The adjuster for the TPA denies the claim. End of story?
Not quite. What if you shared your story with five other employees, all of whom filed comp claims, all of whom saw the same doctor (a family practitioner), with the same result: claim denied by the same adjuster at the TPA? A coincidence or a conspiracy?
Five employees of Cassens Transport in Michigan concluded that there was a conspiracy to deny their claims. They filed suit in federal court, alleging a violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”). A district court dismissed their claims, finding that their individual claims did not constitute a "pattern" of activity and that invocation of the RICO statute would violate the McCarren-Ferguson Act by interfering with state regulation of insurance.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit reviewed the case and overturned the district court's ruling. Now the U.S. Supreme Court, by declining to get involved, has upheld the Appeals Court. The Appeals ruling is a fascinating document which explores the nature and definition of racketeering, the relationship of workers comp benefits to insurance and the roles of state and federal governments. It's required reading for attorneys and highly recommended for all others.
Criminal Acts? The district court has been ordered to reconsider the allegations. The five Cassens drivers allege that Cassens, their self-insured employer, Tina Litwiller, a claims adjuster for the TPA Crawford and Co., and Dr. Saul Margules conspired to deny their comp claims. (While you might expect Dr. Margules to be board certified in occupational medicine, he appears to be a family practitioner.) The Appeals Court does not address the substance of the allegations: it simply rules that denial of the workers comp claims might involve a violation of the RICO statute and thus is appropriate fodder for the federal courts.
Some folks are alarmed that the feds are getting involved in what is usually a state issue. That might be a problem, but let's not lose sight of the delicious prospect before us. During the course of the new hearings, plaintiff attorneys will seek access to some fascinating communication records: between Cassen and Crawford, detailing the status of individual claims; Ms. Litwiller's claim notes; and communications between Crawford and Dr. Margules, who had so much difficulty finding a connection between a given injury and work. As much as I enjoyed the Appeals Court's discussion, I am really looking forward to the nitty-gritty details of the proceedings in the district court. (You don't suppose that some of the written and electronic communications have disappeared, do you?)
At heart, this is a very serious matter. The five employees allege that they have been unlawfully denied the protection of Michigan's workers comp law through a conspiracy of company, TPA and doctor. If the allegations are proven, if the accused violated the RICO statute, they will face the consequences of a criminal conspiracy. In the Insider's burgeoning annals of fraud - employee, employer, attorney, doctor, agent, insurer - this case will surely offer one of the more compelling narratives.
An earlier post from this blog annotates the woeful and absolute outrageous treatment being heaped upon one of our members, Ron Markowicz, by the Worker’s Comp System, including his own attorney, whose firm appeared to be in collusion with the Insurance Carriers by ceasing all pertinent services to his case apparently driven by fear of potential corporate harm through future litigation. No medical help for months. No answers from the attorney—-only mis-statements. No help anywhere.
As a former vocational counselor, I have seen this type behavior before—and it generally stems from a surgical mistake, then when aninjured worker continues to complain, the first thought emanating from the Carriers, attorneys, et. al is:
‘Stop the services! Send out false information to the worker! Make outrageous claims that the worker is not complying with the various service providers! Cover your ass!’
And ad naeuseum….the spin merchants, coupled with loss prevention departments of these huge insurance conglomerates begin to work their magic—–here’s what they do to a lot of people who might have a legitimate complaint: they simply stop sending their monthly check. No explanation. Can you imagine the panic?
As it is, you are lucky if you receive two thirds of your normal salary while on the Comp System—and now, suddenly, you have no money to pay for anything! Most of the times, they will re-start the financial benefits, but not before causing theinjured person to suffer further through stress by making them late for credit card or rent payments. Add to it a nightmarish quality– I have personally heardinsurance company rehab co-ordinators, while at industry ‘functions’, exclaim great humor at how many people they ‘put the screws to’ that week.
Folks, this stuff is industry wide, and it sickens me to watch it continue. This should be considered health care reform, too, and the political writers seem to simply ignore the horrendous level of abuse perpetrated by the ‘business’ side of this system, while the person who is already hurt and suffering, suffers further at the hands of those who should be honestly assisting them to achieve their best level of gainful re-entry to the work world. (or determine that will never be possible)
It should be obvious to all that creating an adversarial system, instead of a truly philanthropic, medically progressive streamlined system, the worst of all possibilities occur, where delays are normal, and communication among the providers is poor, at best. Built for failure.
And, as all our members know, the Social Security Disability system certainly seems bad enough— difficult and hurtful at many turns.
At this writing, there over a million cases which are officially ‘backlogged’ in the Social Security Disability system. Unless you take the free course offered here at the Disability Digest, you can easily wait three full years before receiving benefits. (and that’s if you’re not backlogged) Three years! No excuse can be offered which might even approach credibility.
But the Worker’s Comp System—-if anything can be more problematic than Social Security Disability, it’s this damnable system in which Ron Markowicz continues to suffer. But, some progress had been made. There may be a ray of sunshine.
While I cannot comment on case specifics, I can say that some advancement is being made on the medical side, as Ron’s original physician is only now re-activating his services to him, but still faces an uphill battle against a stone-walling industry.
Also, due to many different and serious inquires to the Nevada Governor’s Office, there has been progress toward publicizing Ron’s case fully, exposing it for the utter disgrace it remains. As it may involve the National media, his case could be re-opened, and the proper medical procedures enacted post haste. These major corporations do not appreciate black marks against them, as stockholders are already nervous these days.
So, with enough pressure, Ron would immediately receive the attention he needs, and in the proper order, which is vital in his case.
He is truly disabled, suffering the results of several breaks in his back from a serious fall while at work, then surgical mis-feasance resulting in pieces of metal floating in his back, now invading the surrounding soft tissue, creating intractable pain.
The link to the initial information in this case is a fairly long read, including my post describing the Worker’s Comp System, and the specific details of his case—then, a page of a well kept medical file which further elucidates Ron’s situation. Again, if any readers have a golden rolodex, please forward this appropriately.
We continue to press our efforts towards resolving this unsettling dilemma, as justice should have it. The overarching reality is: Ron’s case could be your own. He did not violate any ‘rules’ and was always forthcoming with his medical providers and insurance carrier. That was pre-surgery.
Today is a different story.
Best to all involved,
Advocate
john at thedisabilitydigest.com
THE ARTICLE ABOVE IS THE SAME INSURANCE CO. THAT RON HAS AND THAT JOHN WOODWORTH CONSISTENTLY TALKS ABOUT THE INCLUSION FROM RON'S ADJUSTER (CRAWFORD) IN LAS VEGAS, NV. AS SEEN ABOVE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS GETTING INVOLVED BECAUSE HOW BIG CRAWFORD & CO IS AND THEY WILL STOP AT NOTHING TO SCARE THE MEDIA, DOCTORS, PATIENTS WHERE A JUDGE FINALLY MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE AND 5 PEOPLE INCLUDING THE ADJUSTER AND THE DOCTOR FOR ILLEGAL DENIAL OF CLAIMS WHERE DONE.
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE SEEN RON'S STORY NOT BEEN PUBLISHED AT THE LAST MINUTE WHY BECAUSE SOMEONE WAS THREATENED INCLUDING RON'S DOCTOR. RON JUST RECEIVED ANOTHER DROP LETTER FROM HIS UROLOGIST ON 12/29/09 STATING THEY WILL NOT COVER HIM ANY MORE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPEND TO HIM, THIS SIMPLE REASON. HIS INSURANCE COMPANY STOPED PAYING THAT DOCTOR AND THEY DROPPED RON AS A PATIENT. WHEN IS THE MEDIA GOING TO GO AFTER CRAWFORD IN VEGAS?
THIS STORY WAS PUBLISHED BY THE WORKERS COMP MEDICAL AFFILIATION AND WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION AS WELL BECAUSE CRAWFORD IS THE SAME COMPANY DOING THE SAME EXACT TACTICS DONE IN THIS SUPREME COURT RULING.
THIS IS ALL TRUE AND YOU CAN CHECK THE FACTS AS WELL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE A NEWS STORY HAS BEEN PUT UP SINCE THE REPORTER IS NOT GOING TO DO ONE THEN I WILL REPORT THE FACTS ABOUT WHY RON CAN'T GET THE MEDICAL HELP AND HIS DOCTOR IS REALLY NOT GETTING PAID WITH BEING THREATEND NOW.
HAPPY HOLIDAY AND GOD BLESS ALL THE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
I've gotten a lot of good information from the various posts, yet noted one statement in the low cost/no cost medical care and medication. President Clinton signed into law in 1998 that every state has to provide coverage opportunity for those who are uninsurable. Apparently there's some wriggle room as Arizona and Florida don't have it, along with 15 other states.. If you follow the links to the source article you will find a link to the state insurance programs, and the contact numbers. I'll add that link at the end of this blog The premium in Alabama is outrageous ($499/month for individual coverage, medication $299/month) yet I get the same coverage as state employees. In looking this up I also found several other options at this address: http://ezinearticles.com/?Finally-a-Legitimate-Defined-Benefit-Health-Insurance-Option-For-the-Uninsurable!&id=1392633. If two people (usually a husband and wife) form a s-Corp (small corporation) they can purchase a group policy for a reasonable rate, in spite of the fact that there are only 2 of them. Several options are mentioned in this article. Several links with more information are available through this site. I stumbled on this information accidentally. I was looking for the link describing the required state policies and found this second site. Each state sets up it's own insurance guidelines. In my case, a State Farm agent knew of the policy (Alabama Health Insurance Policy) and I got in touch with them. I had to use my Cobra until it ran out, then apply to AHIP within 60 days. If someone misses that window, they are no longer eligible. Check on the link above though. It appears to open a large number of windows for us.
Workers' Compensation: Injured Workers at Disadvantage
Nevada's long-troubled workers' compensation system was drastically revised five years ago in hopes of streamlining the process of caring for injured workers. But if you are injured in the workplace now, the private companies that have taken control of the program could leave you without medical care, without compensation, and without a job.
John Taylor, with the Association of Injured Workers, said, "They stretch it out as long as they can. Taylor speaks from experience when he says the Nevada workers' compensation system delays the claims filed by injured workers. During the years he worked at the Nevada Test Site, Taylor lost an eye, demolished his hearing, and wrecked his back. He's spent the past 13 years fighting the system, which he says was bad when the state ran it and went downhill from there.
John Taylor said, "Other states, they've privatized. There you can still sue. Nevada is the worst."
Along with privatizing workers comp, Nevada also exempted insurance companies from legal damages if the companies ignore the law. The worst that could happen to them is they might have to pay out what they should have paid out in the beginning. So, why not deny and delay?
Dean Hardy, an attorney for injured workers, said, "So there is no incentive to say yes to compensation, or yes to medical care, or yes to a change of doctors. It gives blanket immunity to a third party administrator or insurer for violating the statues they're supposed to be upholding"
One of Dean Hardy's clients is a firefighter who suffered on the job injuries while fighting the early 80s blazes at the MGM and the Hilton, and other injuries as well. The county doesn't want to pay for his medical care so the fireman has had to go to court to try and get his medical bills covered. At every step, the deck seems stacked against the injured worker.
A 2005 legislative audit found that many workers aren't informed of their rights when injured. If they don't file a claim within seven days, it's too bad and too late. The state's Division of Industrial Relations is supposed to oversee the private insurers, but the audit found in more than half of the cases, the D.I.R. failed to force insurers to meet the statutory deadlines in handling claims and were lax in fining employers who had it coming.
Aubrey Goldberg, an attorney for injured workers, says the state seems to have little appetite for sanctioning companies that break the rules. "I find it's hard to get them to do those things most of the time. Is it much zeal? My personal view is no, there isn't."
Worst of all for the injured worker, Goldberg says, is the move to managed care programs. A worker injured on the job will be sent to a doctor or clinic that essentially works for the insurance company. "Their primary loyalty is to the people who are paying them and not to the injured worker," Goldberg added.
Dean Hardy says doctors have been known to reverse findings favoring the injured worker after being contacted privately by the insurers. "The doctors recognize what keeps them on the panel -- opinions that do not favor the injured worker. Oftentimes those opinions aren't medically supportable, and that's really tragic. They will taint medical opinion and try to tailor it for the employer or insurer... I do see it happen."
Those doctors who do the right thing get fired, Hardy says. Workers who try to appeal bad rulings in hearings often find themselves up against lawyers or other experts hired by the other side.
Kelly Oakley, who demolished his back working at McCarran Airport, was terminated for medical reasons. A hearing officer was sympathetic but ruled for the other side. Oakley said, "Workers' comp? It's maybe one step above welfare, if that. They treat you like you're on welfare."
Officials at the Nevada Division of Industrial Relations, which is supposed to oversee the privatized workers' compensation program, declined repeated requests by the I-Team for on camera interviews. However, they told us off-camera that injured workers are often at a disadvantage, especially if they have to fight for their claims without legal representation.
Eyewitness News plans to keep an eye on the workers' compensation story in the months ahead.
An earlier post from this blog annotates the woeful and absolute outrageous treatment being heaped upon one of our members, Ron Markowicz, by the Worker’s Comp System, including his own attorney, whose firm appeared to be in collusion with the Insurance Carriers by ceasing all pertinent services to his case apparently driven by fear of potential corporate harm through future litigation. No medical help for months. No answers from the attorney—-only mis-statements. No help anywhere.
As a former vocational counselor, I have seen this type behavior before—and it generally stems from a surgical mistake, then when an injured worker continues to complain, the first thought emanating from the Carriers, attorneys, et. al is:
‘Stop the services! Send out false information to the worker! Make outrageous claims that the worker is not complying with the various service providers! Cover your ass!’
And ad naeuseum….the spin merchants, coupled with loss prevention departments of these huge insurance conglomerates begin to work their magic—–here’s what they do to a lot of people who might have a legitimate complaint: they simply stop sending their monthly check. No explanation. Can you imagine the panic?
As it is, you are lucky if you receive two thirds of your normal salary while on the Comp System—and now, suddenly, you have no money to pay for anything! Most of the times, they will re-start the financial benefits, but not before causing the injured person to suffer further through stress by making them late for credit card or rent payments. Add to it a nightmarish quality– I have personally heard insurance company rehab co-ordinators, while at industry ‘functions’, exclaim great humor at how many people they ‘put the screws to’ that week.
Folks, this stuff is industry wide, and it sickens me to watch it continue. This should be considered health care reform, too, and the political writers seem to simply ignore the horrendous level of abuse perpetrated by the ‘business’ side of this system, while the person who is already hurt and suffering, suffers further at the hands of those who should be honestly assisting them to achieve their best level of gainful re-entry to the work world. (or determine that will never be possible)
It should be obvious to all that creating an adversarial system, instead of a truly philanthropic, medically progressive streamlined system, the worst of all possibilities occur, where delays are normal, and communication among the providers is poor, at best. Built for failure.
And, as all our members know, the Social Security Disability system certainly seems bad enough— difficult and hurtful at many turns.
At this writing, there over a million cases which are officially ‘backlogged’ in the Social Security Disability system. Unless you take the free course offered here at the Disability Digest, you can easily wait three full years before receiving benefits. (and that’s if you’re not backlogged) Three years! No excuse can be offered which might even approach credibility.
But the Worker’s Comp System—-if anything can be more problematic than Social Security Disability, it’s this damnable system in which Ron Markowicz continues to suffer. But, some progress had been made. There may be a ray of sunshine.
While I cannot comment on case specifics, I can say that some advancement is being made on the medical side, as Ron’s original physician is only now re-activating his services to him, but still faces an uphill battle against a stone-walling industry.
Also, due to many different and serious inquires to the Nevada Governor’s Office, there has been progress toward publicizing Ron’s case fully, exposing it for the utter disgrace it remains. As it may involve the National media, his case could be re-opened, and the proper medical procedures enacted post haste. These major corporations do not appreciate black marks against them, as stockholders are already nervous these days.
So, with enough pressure, Ron would immediately receive the attention he needs, and in the proper order, which is vital in his case.
He is truly disabled, suffering the results of several breaks in his back from a serious fall while at work, then surgical mis-feasance resulting in pieces of metal floating in his back, now invading the surrounding soft tissue, creating intractable pain.
The link to the initial information in this case is a fairly long read, including my post describing the Worker’s Comp System, and the specific details of his case—then, a page of a well kept medical file which further elucidates Ron’s situation. Again, if any readers have a golden rolodex, please forward this appropriately.
We continue to press our efforts towards resolving this unsettling dilemma, as justice should have it. The overarching reality is: Ron’s case could be your own. He did not violate any ‘rules’ and was always forthcoming with his medical providers and insurance carrier. That was pre-surgery.
Today is a different story.
Best to all involved,
Advocate
john at thedisabilitydigest.com
PLEASE READ MY OTHER 2 BLOGS ON THE DIGEST AS WELL. PLEASE VOTE FOR THE WORKERS COMP. INJURED WORKERS BILL OF RIGHTS TO BE PASSED. CA AS WELL AS MANY OTHER STATES ARE TRYING TO PASS THIS BILL. OF COURSE NV WE ARE NO WHERE NEAR CLOSE TO BEING HEARD OF ANY RIGHTS WHAT SO EVER.
ONCE AGAIN I THANK EVERYONE ON THE DIGEST FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND WITH YOUR COMMENTS AS WELL AS YOUR RATINGS IT HELPS FIGHT THE FIGHT.
I was recently researching Fibro information for an article and discovered several interesting pieces of information that have come from recent research.
People with Fibro have high levels of Substance P in their system. Substance P is the neurological signal that is sent from the nerves to the brain that say, "HELP ME I'M HURT!" Researchers are speculating that this difference in patients with Fibro means that they are highly sensitive to pain and have low levels of pain tolerance.
Another piece of research shows that Fibro patients have low levels of Seratonin. Seratonin regulates mood and sensitivity to pain. Again, researchers are speculating that Fibro patients have hypersensitivity to pain because of low levels of Seratonin.
Finally, people with Fibro have unusually low periods of REM sleep. REM (rapid eye movement) sleep is the phase of sleep that is the deepest and usually is associated with dreaming. Since such small amounts of this deep sleep happen for Fibro patients, they often wake feeling very fatigued and even have difficulty with concentration (Fibro Fog) as a result of not enough restorative sleep.
I have Fibromyalgia. I know that I am often completely exhausted even though I sleep MANY hours. I seem to be unusually sensitive to pain, and I have a lot of pain because I also have Lupus.
I have taken this new information and used it to show my doctor (who doesn't seem to have a clue sometimes) that I'm not making things up just because I have time on my hands to be annoying. I have also taken this information and put it in my SSI file to use as supportive evidence.
I had hives over my entire body for years. And when I say entire, I mean there were no parts un touched by this massive hive outbrake. I had known for years there was something wrong with me, but I was a guinea pig for the most part. I started in CA and worked my way east. Landing in AR. Heck I was ready for them to take a stab at what was going on with me. My hair would fall out, I had hives so bad from the top of mt head to the bottoms of my feet and everywhere in between. My face would blister and kinda heal on and off. I had no energy to do anything.I had bones that would break and not heal.My weight went up and up never down. no matter what I did. I was diagnosed with Graves Diesease first, and was treated for that for several years. People would stare at me like I was taking bad street drugs. I felt like I was in my own Hell for so many things. And it seemed like treating one thing meant that I'd have to be treated for what caused. Three years ago, I made an appointment to see a Dermatologist. He wanted to do biopsys on a few spots on my face. I was to come back in a week. So after wondering what was wrong now, he said he knew from looking at me but need the proof before he could say for sure. Out came the words LUPUS. Sure there are different types, some not as bad as others, and I always try to think positive. And for the good it did I did have the mild form on my face, but when the lab came back, I also had the worst kind runing through my body. I didn't know what I was up against untill I came home and started reading. This explained so much to me. I won't heal good, I will get sick, I will have good and bad days. My eyes are going to get worst. This wasn't a story about take care of yourself and you'll get over it. It was more of how comfortable to you want to be and how much do you want to do to stay that way. Now my life consists of a cocktail of medicine every night before bed, and a booster in the morning. Usually I'm so tired I can't get up till mid afternoon. By then my whole body hurt. Now I'm have broken bones that are unable to be fixed, cut off so the rubbing against other bones isn't painful. Thats not working either. I wish there was someone out ther that knew what I was going through, just a friend to talk too.
I use to work in the field of Psychiatric Nursing for the State of Virginia at Eastern State Hospital , one of the state’s mental institutions for the criminally insane. I enjoyed my job immeasurably. Unfortunately, a few years ago, one of my patients kicked me in the face causing two fractures of my jaw and the loss of much of the hearing in my left ear. The blow also jerked my neck around leaving me with nerve damage. I was told by my doctors that I would never be able to work in my profession ever again. I was completely devastated. Not to mention that I am still paying on student loans for an education I can no longer use. I was put on Workman’s Comp. which is supposed to pay any medical bill that are related to my accident at work, but I can only go see the specific doctors that they send me to (including specialists) some of which are located in Richmond, VA, 1 1/2 to 2 hours from where I live . I went though every kind of therapy imaginable, but nothing worked. My pain and other symptoms just kept getting worse and worse. Then the doctors started canceling my appointments because the state had not paid any of the bills, so they refused to treat me anymore until the bills were paid in full. I figured while I was fighting with the state to get my medical bills paid I would use my regular health insurance to continue seeing these specialists for further treatment, but I soon discovered that the state had cut off my health insurance entirely. So now I have no health insurance save for the Workman’s Comp., which only covers problems related to the accident, and they weren't even paying those bills even though they are the ones who sent me to see those doctors in the first place. Well, now after several years I am still fighting to get my medical bills paid. My credit is completely ruined because of all this, and because my health insurance was taken away from me I’ve been having to pay doctors out of my own pocket. My savings is all gone, and my physical condition has deteriorated to the point that I cannot work at all. I am struggling to even function right now. I was finally diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Pulmonary Sarcoidosis, Fibroadenoma, Arthritis, and Depression about a year ago by Rheumatologists at the Medical College of Virginia, but although they diagnosed me with these diseases I was told they would not treat me for these problems there. They also suspect that most of my problems, especially the Fibromyalgia, is a result of the trauma I sustained from the accident at work, which would mean that the state should have to pay for my medical bills related to the Fibromyalgia as well. Unfortunately, there is no legal way to prove that the two things are related. So, I am stuck paying for everything myself without the benefit of insurance. Since then I have been referred to Rheumatologists and Pain Management Specialists all over the area to get some help, but they either won't see me at all because I don't have insurance or they keep wanting to pass me off to other doctors. So, I have spent all this money and have not received any kind of treatment. I am exceedingly tired, I'm enormously frustrated, I'm in tremendous pain all the time, and no one will help me!!!! I also applied for disability and was denied. I am now working on filing my appeal, but it is slow going and I am running out of time.
Well, that is my basic story except for the fact that I also have a fiancé named Rick. Rick and I have been engaged now for 10 years. We were supposed to get married in 1998, but two days before the wedding Rick woke up in the morning and could not see. We could not understand what was going on. Nothing had happened; he just woke up like that. We made an emergency visit to the eye doctor who told us that both of his retinas had detached, and that he had to have emergency surgery within 72 hours to reattach the retinas or he would lose all of his vision. The surgery was set up for the next day all the way down in Winston-Salem , NC . So, the wedding was canceled, we drove down, and he had the surgery. Regrettably, the nerve damage to his optic nerves was too great to restore much of his vision. He can see some out of his right eye, but out of the left he can only see light. He is considered legally blind. Fortunately for us then, the hospital helped him get his disability approved very quickly. See, the hospital wanted their money. The surgery, hospital bills, and doctor bills came to a total of around $200,000, and they knew the only way they were going to get their money was to push his disability through. This way his surgery would be covered retroactively. Then he started getting very very sick (which is a whole other long story in itself). To make a long story as short as possible it took us a long time to discover what was causing him to be so sick and in so much pain. For years everyone, the ER doctors, the specialists, the hospitals, every single healthcare professional that saw him, told us his symptoms were psychosomatic. One of the Gastroenterologists even wrote in Rick’s records that he was faking and only coming in for the drugs. I still would like to know how you can fake vomiting massive amounts of blood or extremely high white cell counts. Well of course after that no doctor wanted anything to do with him. We finally found a doctor, a surgeon, who actually listened to what we had to say and realized there was no way he could be faking some of the symptom he was exhibiting. This doctor ran a multitude of test on Rick till he finally found the problem. It turned out that he had a genetic defect in his pancreas which was causing him to have Chronic Pancreatitis. The pancreatitis had gone for so long untreated that he had lesions and tumors throughout his pancreas and had started spreading into his small intestine. He ended up having to have his pancreas removed which caused a multitude of other problems. He has been extremely ill for 8 out of the ten years we have been engaged to one another, and has had to be hospitalized much of the time as well. Since the problems with his vision and his illness we have not been able to get married because of the way the system works. Even now while I’m on the Workman’s Comp., and only making half of the wage I was paid when I was working, with my income added to his they say we make to much for him to keep his medical insurance. With him being so sick this is not an option, so we were never able to get married.
So, now we are both sick, and I’m so tired of dealing with doctors who act like they know everything, insurance companies, the red tape, and all the just plain bull that the healthcare system in this country keep trying to feed to us. I was a state employee when I got hurt, and since then I have been treated worse by both the state and the healthcare system than they would treat a dog. This whole situation has been going on for so long now that I have become severely depressed. I used to tell myself that things would get better eventually, but I’m afraid eventually is never going to come. Every time I think I’m taking a step forward, the system shoves me back two. For example, when I was finally diagnosed with fibromyalgia I thought, “O.K. now that we know what’s causing me so much pain, we can finally do something that will help me.” Then they drop the bombshell and tell me they don’t treat fibromyalgia there and that I am on my own. Well, it has been almost a year since I was diagnosed and I still have not received any treatment whatsoever. So, that is my basic story. To anyone who actually reads this, I’m sorry it is so long, but believe me, this is the short version.
After reading about the terrible state of affairs happening in Las Vegas with their Worker's Comp system and reading Workcomp1 (Ron Markowicz's) blog and the tragic circumstances he has been put through by the system, I felt I needed to blog once again about his story and the LACK of effort on the part of investigative journalists not only in Las Vegas, but also in the National Media. I just can't understand why Ron's story has NOT been reported on by any journalist, as this is certainly NEWSWORTHY and would more than likely win a pulitzer prize for the journalist that writes/reports the piece. After reading the story written by George Knapp, which references a lot of the problems Ron has faced in the worker's comp system in Nevada, I am hopeful that Mr. Knapp will report on Ron's case specifically as the groundwork has already been laid and Ron's story will force the Nevada worker's comp system to be overhauled and changed for the better.
And as in George Knapp's article which you can view at the end of this blog:
I live in California and have been through the Worker's Comp system here and found it to be pretty well managed. Of course, I did not go through any of the problems Mr. Markowicz has faced, but at least I received medical treatments, was compensated in a timely manner, was able to use the Independent Medical Review (to have a State certified Doctor) review my case and see if he found the same disability rating as my treating specialist (as the Insurance Company was trying to settle the claim for a very small amount & I did not agree with that rating).
As with many people here on The Disability Digest, these injustices CANNOT be allowed to continue and the community has to stand up and make a stand against the companies, attorneys, insurance companies, medical practitioners that mis-treat them. You would hope there would be some legal remedy, but in Ron's case it seems that his attorney (that he recently fired was asleep at the wheel)--malpractice, the one surgeon that removed the stimulator device from his back and left metal in his back--(malpractice)...There has been ONE shining light in Ron's story..His first Doctor who has been trying to help Ron get the treatment he needs, yet this Doctor has not been paid by the Worker's Comp system. Sometimes it can take 1 year or more for these Doctors to get paid by this system. What a travesty of justice NV has. Ron's Doctor's name is Dr. Daniel Fabito and should be highly commended and applauded for his efforts and his highly ethical treatment of Ron's case. This is a medical practitioner that more should try to be like as he has the care and well being of his patient in mind and he goes to great lengths to fight the good fight on the patient's behalf. I would recommend that anybody that gets injured on the job would go to this Doctor because he truly cares about his patients. Keep this Doctor in mind if you ever get injured while working in Las Vegas. Here's the Doctor's info:
Comprehensive & Interventional Pain Management Daniel Fabito MD AMA Board Certified www.DrFabito.com
Workers' Compensation: Injured Workers at Disadvantage
Nevada's long-troubled workers' compensation system was drastically revised five years ago in hopes of streamlining the process of caring for injured workers. But if you are injured in the workplace now, the private companies that have taken control of the program could leave you without medical care, without compensation, and without a job.
John Taylor, with the Association of Injured Workers, said, "They stretch it out as long as they can. Taylor speaks from experience when he says the Nevada workers' compensation system delays the claims filed by injured workers. During the years he worked at the Nevada Test Site, Taylor lost an eye, demolished his hearing, and wrecked his back. He's spent the past 13 years fighting the system, which he says was bad when the state ran it and went downhill from there.
John Taylor said, "Other states, they've privatized. There you can still sue. Nevada is the worst."
Along with privatizing workers comp, Nevada also exempted insurance companies from legal damages if the companies ignore the law. The worst that could happen to them is they might have to pay out what they should have paid out in the beginning. So, why not deny and delay?
Dean Hardy, an attorney for injured workers, said, "So there is no incentive to say yes to compensation, or yes to medical care, or yes to a change of doctors. It gives blanket immunity to a third party administrator or insurer for violating the statues they're supposed to be upholding"
One of Dean Hardy's clients is a firefighter who suffered on the job injuries while fighting the early 80s blazes at the MGM and the Hilton, and other injuries as well. The county doesn't want to pay for his medical care so the fireman has had to go to court to try and get his medical bills covered. At every step, the deck seems stacked against the injured worker.
A 2005 legislative audit found that many workers aren't informed of their rights when injured. If they don't file a claim within seven days, it's too bad and too late. The state's Division of Industrial Relations is supposed to oversee the private insurers, but the audit found in more than half of the cases, the D.I.R. failed to force insurers to meet the statutory deadlines in handling claims and were lax in fining employers who had it coming.
Aubrey Goldberg, an attorney for injured workers, says the state seems to have little appetite for sanctioning companies that break the rules. "I find it's hard to get them to do those things most of the time. Is it much zeal? My personal view is no, there isn't."
Worst of all for the injured worker, Goldberg says, is the move to managed care programs. A worker injured on the job will be sent to a doctor or clinic that essentially works for the insurance company. "Their primary loyalty is to the people who are paying them and not to the injured worker," Goldberg added.
Dean Hardy says doctors have been known to reverse findings favoring the injured worker after being contacted privately by the insurers. "The doctors recognize what keeps them on the panel -- opinions that do not favor the injured worker. Oftentimes those opinions aren't medically supportable, and that's really tragic. They will taint medical opinion and try to tailor it for the employer or insurer... I do see it happen."
Those doctors who do the right thing get fired, Hardy says. Workers who try to appeal bad rulings in hearings often find themselves up against lawyers or other experts hired by the other side.
Kelly Oakley, who demolished his back working at McCarran Airport, was terminated for medical reasons. A hearing officer was sympathetic but ruled for the other side. Oakley said, "Workers' comp? It's maybe one step above welfare, if that. They treat you like you're on welfare."
Officials at the Nevada Division of Industrial Relations, which is supposed to oversee the privatized workers' compensation program, declined repeated requests by the I-Team for on camera interviews. However, they told us off-camera that injured workers are often at a disadvantage, especially if they have to fight for their claims without legal representation.
Eyewitness News plans to keep an eye on the workers' compensation story in the months ahead.
An earlier post from this blog annotates the woeful and absolute outrageous treatment being heaped upon one of our members, Ron Markowicz, by the Worker’s Comp System, including his own attorney, whose firm appeared to be in collusion with the Insurance Carriers by ceasing all pertinent services to his case apparently driven by fear of potential corporate harm through future litigation. No medical help for months. No answers from the attorney—-only mis-statements. No help anywhere.
As a former vocational counselor, I have seen this type behavior before—and it generally stems from a surgical mistake, then when an injured worker continues to complain, the first thought emanating from the Carriers, attorneys, et. al is:
‘Stop the services! Send out false information to the worker! Make outrageous claims that the worker is not complying with the various service providers! Cover your ass!’
And ad naeuseum….the spin merchants, coupled with loss prevention departments of these huge insurance conglomerates begin to work their magic—–here’s what they do to a lot of people who might have a legitimate complaint: they simply stop sending their monthly check. No explanation. Can you imagine the panic?
As it is, you are lucky if you receive two thirds of your normal salary while on the Comp System—and now, suddenly, you have no money to pay for anything! Most of the times, they will re-start the financial benefits, but not before causing the injured person to suffer further through stress by making them late for credit card or rent payments. Add to it a nightmarish quality– I have personally heard insurance company rehab co-ordinators, while at industry ‘functions’, exclaim great humor at how many people they ‘put the screws to’ that week.
Folks, this stuff is industry wide, and it sickens me to watch it continue. This should be considered health care reform, too, and the political writers seem to simply ignore the horrendous level of abuse perpetrated by the ‘business’ side of this system, while the person who is already hurt and suffering, suffers further at the hands of those who should be honestly assisting them to achieve their best level of gainful re-entry to the work world. (or determine that will never be possible)
It should be obvious to all that creating an adversarial system, instead of a truly philanthropic, medically progressive streamlined system, the worst of all possibilities occur, where delays are normal, and communication among the providers is poor, at best. Built for failure.
And, as all our members know, the Social Security Disability system certainly seems bad enough— difficult and hurtful at many turns.
At this writing, there over a million cases which are officially ‘backlogged’ in the Social Security Disability system. Unless you take the free course offered here at the Disability Digest, you can easily wait three full years before receiving benefits. (and that’s if you’re not backlogged) Three years! No excuse can be offered which might even approach credibility.
But the Worker’s Comp System—-if anything can be more problematic than Social Security Disability, it’s this damnable system in which Ron Markowicz continues to suffer. But, some progress had been made. There may be a ray of sunshine.
While I cannot comment on case specifics, I can say that some advancement is being made on the medical side, as Ron’s original physician is only now re-activating his services to him, but still faces an uphill battle against a stone-walling industry.
Also, due to many different and serious inquires to the Nevada Governor’s Office, there has been progress toward publicizing Ron’s case fully, exposing it for the utter disgrace it remains. As it may involve the National media, his case could be re-opened, and the proper medical procedures enacted post haste. These major corporations do not appreciate black marks against them, as stockholders are already nervous these days.
So, with enough pressure, Ron would immediately receive the attention he needs, and in the proper order, which is vital in his case.
He is truly disabled, suffering the results of several breaks in his back from a serious fall while at work, then surgical mis-feasance resulting in pieces of metal floating in his back, now invading the surrounding soft tissue, creating intractable pain.
The link to the initial information in this case is a fairly long read, including my post describing the Worker’s Comp System, and the specific details of his case—then, a page of a well kept medical file which further elucidates Ron’s situation. Again, if any readers have a golden rolodex, please forward this appropriately.
We continue to press our efforts towards resolving this unsettling dilemma, as justice should have it. The overarching reality is: Ron’s case could be your own. He did not violate any ‘rules’ and was always forthcoming with his medical providers and insurance carrier. That was pre-surgery.
Today is a different story.
Best to all involved,
Advocate
john at thedisabilitydigest.com
PLEASE READ MY OTHER 2 BLOGS ON THE DIGEST AS WELL. PLEASE VOTE FOR THE WORKERS COMP. INJURED WORKERS BILL OF RIGHTS TO BE PASSED. CA AS WELL AS MANY OTHER STATES ARE TRYING TO PASS THIS BILL. OF COURSE NV WE ARE NO WHERE NEAR CLOSE TO BEING HEARD OF ANY RIGHTS WHAT SO EVER.
ONCE AGAIN I THANK EVERYONE ON THE DIGEST FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND WITH YOUR COMMENTS AS WELL AS YOUR RATINGS IT HELPS FIGHT THE FIGHT.
Instead of reacting in anger or haste Allowing worry to absorb our day What valuable energy we waste What if we took a deep breath
You hear news on the phone Explosion comes & you keep moving it along No thought to what affect it has on everyone What if we took a deep breath
The high pace world in which we live Takes from us as we give back to it Our bodies breakdown & suddenly nothing left to give What if we took a deep breath
Life's demands are truly our choices A choice to see demand or opportunity Can we see an opportunity to change our courses What if we took a deep breath
Blog Posts With the Most Comments
WorkComp1 - Bad News - Help! WorkComp1 - Bad News - Help!
A message to me from Workcomp1/Ron Markcowicz on Sunday 12/13/09:
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Yesterderday we where buying a few holiday gifts what we could afford for our girls. When we came home there where 2 large notes posted with BIG BLUE TAPE ALL OVER MY FRONT DOOR. IT SAID WE HAVE "UP TO OR LESS TAN 45 DAYS" THEN WE WILL BE FORCED TO "MOVE OUT"
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This is all that is necessary from the message for ALL OF US TO SEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I called Dina Titus office. They are refusing to help Ron out on his workers comp case. Dina's office is saying that to address the Workers Comp case to call the Governor's office.
I'm not one to dwell on negativity, but rather a solution. Unfortunately I have nothing positive to say except I feel a letter to the President of the United States is necessary. It may/may not save Ron's home. God has a plan that we don't always understand. I can call the Governor's office but I am only one person and there are a few members here who have helped but we need more help. At this point, I feel it is necessary to contact President Obama. He needs to know the injustice in this situation.
If you want to help, contact Governer's office in Nevada at 702-486-2500 - Inquire on Ron Marcowicz Workers Comp Case that has been unpaid and no action for over a year....THEY ARE AWARE OF IT. Major questions is WHO? WHAT? WHERE? WHEN? WHY? If they need to know that President Obama should be aware of what is happening and that we will puruse whatever means in God's will, then we will do so. Just please, open your hearts, remember the time of year. I am making my call today and will report what I find out.
WORKERS COMP INJURED WORKERS B WORKERS COMP INJURED WORKERS BILL OF RIGHTS
The Workers Compensation Injured Workers Bill of Rights
An injured worker shall have the right to select his own physician or at a minimum to be able to switch to a doctor of his choice after 30 days of treatment.
An injured worker shall have the right to a prompt hearing on any dispute, within 90 days of a request. Additionally in emergency medical or financial situations there should be a right to a hearing within 30 days to issue provisional orders on such emergency matters.
An injured worker shall have the right to have considered in his disability his loss of earning capacity along with any physical or mental impairment.
An injured worker unable to return to his trade or occupation as a result of a work injury shall have the right to an independent vocational assessment and to vocational rehabilitation if reasonably appropriate, with the goal being a return to the highest earning capacity possible within a reasonable time frame. Vocational rehabilitation benefits shall be at the same rate as temporary disability benefits.
An injured worker shall have the right to an impairment rating and disability determination which assesses chronic pain and depression along with any physical impairment. And if work related activities contribute to, result in or aggravate pain, limitation or impairment the claim shall be compensated.
An injured worker unable to return to substantial gainful work shall be entitled to permanent total disability benefits for as long as the disability continues.
An injured worker shall have the right to a non-party independent medical exam, paid by the insurer if there is a question concerning the treatment or opinions of the treating provider. All partisan IME's are to be banned.
An injured worker shall have the right to benefits based on his true take home pay including overall wage benefits and to permanent disability benefits based upon his disability not simply impairment.
An injured worker shall have the right to a second opinion, paid by the insurer, with a doctor of his choice, if surgery is being recommended. Any surgery can be declined without adverse consequences.
An injured worker shall be treated with dignity and respect by those within the wc system, to include doctors, nurses, adjusters, attorneys and judges..to the extent that the first priority and loyalty shall be to recovery and fundamental fairness. If not, substantial penalties should be imposed.
The physician treating the injured worker shall have the presumptive right to order any diagnostic tests or evaluations. The presumption can only be overcome by clear and convincing evidence which must be furnished within 20 days of any denial.
An injured worker shall have the right to all legal entitlements for his disability without offsets.
An injured worker shall have the right to realistic cost of living increases in his benefits and to have those benefits pass to his dependents upon his death.
An injured worker shall have the right as the ultimate consumer of medical services to be informed of the doctors education, experience and contractual arrangements with insurers when treatment commences. Additionally, the state shall monitor all doctors and maintain a record of complaints by injured workers concerning doctors which can lead to removal of the doctor from the ability to treat such workers for numerous or major complaints.
An injured worker shall have the right to privacy of his medical records. They are to be sealed and otherwise nondisclosable except as concerns claims by the worker , for statistical purposes only or to permit an accommodation in employment.
The Workers Compensation Injured Workers Bill of Rights was developed by members of the Injured Worker's of America (IWA), a division of The MedaKate Organization, November 22, 1998. This group includes Injured Workers, Physicians, Attorneys, and Registered Nurses. Please print them out and give them to your Physician, Attorney, Unions, Medical Facilities, Therapist, and the General Public.
http://www.workerscompensationinsurance.com/articles/billofrights.htm
After reading this Bill of Rights which is attended for Injured Workers then read the the post below which the Bill of Rights is not being up help in my case in any fairness to the injured worker at all for the past year.
The Digest has gone above and beyond for my cause and with the support from it's members educating eachother and knowing that in NV this is really happening with no one coming forth and saying this is wrong!
HERE ARE THE LAWS STRAIGHT OUT OF NV STATE REGARDING MEDICAL TREATMENT & WHAT I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR OVER A YEAR OF EVERY LAW BROKEN AS WELL AS STATUTES.
http://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-616B.html
NRS 616B.5273 Adequacy of medical and health care services, choice of providers of health care and cost controls; regulations.
1. A self-insured employer, an association of self-insured public or private employers or a private carrier shall not enter into a contract with an organization for managed care unless the organization’s proposed plan for providing medical and health care services:
(a) Will provide all medical and health care services that may be required for industrial injuries and occupational diseases that are compensable under chapters 616A to 617, inclusive, of NRS in a manner that ensures the availability and accessibility of adequate treatment to injured employees;
(b) Provides to injured employees an adequate choice of providers of health care who have contracted with the organization to participate in the proposed plan; and
(c) Provides appropriate financial incentives to reduce costs of medical and health care services without affecting the quality of any care provided to an injured employee.
2. The Division may adopt regulations to ensure the adequacy of an insurer’s panel of providers of health care established pursuant to subsection 1.
(Added to NRS by 2003, 1669)
NRS 616B.528 Restriction of or interference with communication between provider of health care and injured employee prohibited. An organization for managed care shall not restrict or interfere with any communication between a provider of health care and an injured employee regarding any information that the provider of health care determines is relevant to the health care of the injured employee.
(Added to NRS by 1999, 2212)
NRS 616B.5285 Contracts with providers of health care; prohibited acts. An organization for managed care shall not terminate a contract. ( SEE MY URL WORKCOMP1 AT BOTTOM OF PROFILE I WAS DROPPED AS A PATIENT BY WORKERS COMP NEUROLOGIST FOR NO REASON) THE REASON WAS THEY FOUND MANY THINGS AND MIS-DIAGNOSED ME THEN A MONTH LATER DROPPED ME AS A PATIENT.)
with, demote, refuse to contract with or refuse to compensate a provider of health care solely because the provider, in good faith:
1. Advocates in private or in public on behalf of an injured employee;
2. Assists an injured employee in seeking reconsideration of a determination by the organization for managed care to deny coverage for a medical or health care service; or
3. Reports a violation of law to an appropriate authority.
(Added to NRS by 1999, 2212)
NRS 616B.529 Inducements to deny, reduce or delay medically necessary services prohibited.
1. An organization for managed care shall not offer or pay any type of material inducement, bonus or other financial incentive to a provider of health care to deny, reduce, withhold, limit or delay specific medically necessary medical or health care services to an injured employee.
2. The provisions of this section do not prohibit an arrangement for payment between an organization for managed care and a provider of health care that uses financial incentives, if the arrangement is designed to provide an incentive to the provider of health care to use medical and health care services effectively and consistently in the best interest of the treatment of the injured employee.
(Added to NRS by 1999, 2213)
NRS 616B.528 Restriction of or interference with communication between provider of health care and injured employee prohibited.
restrict or interfere with any communication between a provider of health care and an injured employee regarding any information that the provider of health care determines is relevant to the health care of the injured employee.
(Added to NRS by 1999, 2212)
NRS 616C.157 Request for prior authorization: Time to respond; effect of failure to respond in timely manner.
1. An insurer, organization for managed care or third-party administrator shall respond to a written request for prior authorization for:
(a) Treatment;
(b) Diagnostic testing; or
(c) Consultation,
Ê within 5 working days after receiving the written request.
2. If the insurer, organization for managed care or third-party administrator fails to respond to such a request within 5 working days, authorization shall be deemed to be given. The insurer, organization for managed care or third-party administrator may subsequently deny authorization.
3. If the insurer, organization for managed care or third-party administrator subsequently denies a request for authorization submitted by a provider of health care for additional visits or treatments, it shall pay for the additional visits or treatments actually provided to the injured employee, up to the number of treatments for which payment is requested by the provider of health care before the denial of authorization is received by the provider.
(Added to NRS by 1999, 2214)
PLEASE EVERYONE READ THE ARTICLE FROM JOHN FROM POSTED MY SITUATION LAST MONTH AND AS OF TODAY I AM STILL NOT GETTING ANY OF THESE LAWS UP HELD IN ANY SENSE OF URGENCY.
EVEN INSIDE 222 BLOG ABOUT THE BROKEN SYSTEM HAS NOT YET HAD ANY ONE FROM THE MEDIA COME FORTH AND CALL HIM BACK.
An earlier post from this blog annotates the woeful and absolute outrageous treatment being heaped upon one of our members, Ron by the Worker's Comp System, including his own attorney, whose firm appeared to be in collusion with the Insurance Carriers by ceasing all pertinent services to his case apparently driven by fear of potential corporate harm through future litigation. No medical help for months. No answers from the attorney--only mis-statements. No help anywhere.
As a former vocational rehabilitation counselor, I have seen this type behavior before-and it generally stems from a surgical mistake, then when an injured worker continues to complain, the first thought emanating from the Carriers, attorneys, et. al is:
'Stop the services! Send out false information to the worker! Make outrageous claims that the worker is not complying with the various service providers! Cover your ass!'
And ad naeuseum....the spin merchants, coupled with loss prevention departments of these huge insurance conglomerates begin to work their magic--here's what they do to a lot of people who might have a legitimate complaint: they simply stop sending their monthly check. No explanation. Can you imagine the panic?
As it is, you are lucky if you receive two thirds of your normal salary while on the Comp System-and now, suddenly, you have no money to pay for anything! Most of the times, they will re-start the financial benefits, but not before causing the injured person to suffer further through stress by making them late for credit card or rent payments. Add to it a nightmarish quality- I have personally heard insurance company rehab co-ordinators, while at industry 'functions', exclaim great humor at how many people they 'put the screws to' that week.
Folks, this stuff is industry wide, and it sickens me to watch it continue. This should be considered health care reform, too, and the political writers seem to simply ignore the horrendous level of abuse perpetrated by the 'business' side of this system, while the person who is already hurt and suffering, suffers further at the hands of those who should be honestly assisting them to achieve their best level of gainful re-entry to the work world. (or determine that will never be possible)
It should be obvious to all that creating an adversarial system, instead of a truly philanthropic, medically progressive streamlined system, the worst of all possibilities occur, where delays are normal, and communication among the providers is poor, at best. Built for failure.
And, as all our members know, the Social Security Disability system certainly seems bad enough- difficult and hurtful at many turns.
At this writing, there over a million cases which are officially 'backlogged' in the Social Security Disability system. Unless you take the free course offered here at the Disability Digest, you can easily wait three full years before receiving benefits. (and that's if you're not backlogged) Three years! No excuse can be offered which might even approach credibility.
But the Worker's Comp System--if anything can be more problematic than Social Security Disability, it's this damnable system in which Ron Markowicz continues to suffer. But, some progress had been made. There may be a ray of sunshine.
While I cannot comment on case specifics, I can say that some advancement is being made on the medical side, as Ron's original physician is only now re-activating his services to him, but still faces an uphill battle against a stone-walling industry.
Also, due to many different and serious inquires to the Nevada Governor's Office, there has been progress toward publicizing Ron's case fully, exposing it for the utter disgrace it remains. As it may involve the National media, his case could be re-opened, and the proper medical procedures enacted post haste. These major corporations do not appreciate black marks against them, as stockholders are already nervous these days.
So, with enough pressure, Ron would immediately receive the attention he needs, and in the proper order, which is vital in his case.
He is truly disabled, suffering the results of several breaks in his back from a serious fall while at work, then surgical mis-feasance resulting in pieces of metal floating in his back, now invading the surrounding soft tissue, creating intractable pain.
The link to the initial information in this case is a fairly long read, including my post describing the Worker's Comp System, and the specific details of his case-then, a page of a well kept medical file which further elucidates Ron's situation. Again, if any readers have a golden rolodex, please forward this appropriately. I have included the link in the resource box.
We continue to press our efforts towards resolving this unsettling dilemma, as justice should have it. The overarching reality is: Ron's case could be your own. He did not violate any 'rules' and was always forthcoming with his medical providers and insurance carrier. That was pre-surgery.
Today is a different story.
Best to all involved,
Update: as of this writing, Ron has terminated the services of his attorney, and suddenly, approval has been granted for an' emergency injection', treatment which has been withheld for the past four months. Real medical treatment necessary for his survival. Great news!
John Woodworth is the editor of the Disability Digest, a 50,000 member strong advocacy organization. The Disability Digest is managed by disabled individuals from a variety of professions. Mr. Woodworth has been a business owner and consultant, a vocational rehabilitation and psychiatric counselor, and an innovative business marketing specialist. He has spent the last eight years researching medical issues and legitimate work at home programs.
Disability Digest owner Brian Therrien has recently added an entire section for Veteran's help, as many medical and social services are due these individuals, with a lot of help necessary to deliver them. His free course is effective in maximizing the returning veteran's benefits, and providing updated government policies.
Regarding Social Security Disability, Brian literally wrote the book on minimizing time to qualify for, and obtain deserved benefits. His free, 11 part email course has helped literally thousands of disabled folks cut the wait time by at least half, sometimes helping to obtain benefits in a few months. Currently, one can expect to wait up to three years to obtain benefits, and additionally, there is a one million application backlog in the Social Security Disability system as of early 2009.
For free newsletter and Social Security Disability course: http://www.thedisabilitydigest.com/1.html
Disability Digest Blog: http://www.thedisabilitydigest.com/blog
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Woodworth
To: Elizabeth Cohen
Senior Medical Correspondent
CNN News
Good Morning Elizabeth,
By way of introduction, I am the west coast editor of The Disability Digest, a 40 thousand member strong nationwide organization.
We are an group made up largely by disabled individuals from many walks of life. Our main function with the Digest is to disseminate valuable information to disabled individuals, particularly those attempting to obtain Social Security Disability benefits. We do not charge for our service, nor do we take any Federal, State, or any governmental funds to operate.
While we are used to many complaints about the Social Security System, and how difficult they are to deal with, we occasionally encounter situations which egregiously represent the worst of what a system of 'health care' can do to a person.
In this particular case, it is associated with the Worker's Compensation system, and in the State of Nevada.
As a former vocational rehab counselor, I can personally attest to how ineffective, and seemingly capricious the worker's comp insurance carriers can be. And there is no reason for this to be the case.
I have seen many situations where a client, already suffering from a loss of income of one-third (not to speak of the pain associated with case) has to deal with the insurance company when they suddenly cut off their desperately needed monthly payment.
And, for no reason.
But the case before us now represents conditions far worse than I have ever seen, truly endangering this individual's life by the insurance carrier's unwillingness to give consent to further medical treatment.
This is very serious, and despite intervention by Congresswoman Dina Titus's office, and the Nevada Governor's office, the person in question still cannot get the emergency treatment he needs. And so, I am turning to you.
To be brief, after 5 surgeries due to a serious fall, there is metal still floating in this man's back, and no one will treat him, strictly because mistakes were made during the surgeries, and lies were told, and now-----the system shuts down because it is a worker's comp case, and everyone involved is concerned about liability. Meanwhile, the patient is in intractable pain, and is in danger of serious complications if not treated immediately.
As a journalist, I understand the power which can be brought to bear by the media---especially when they are taking the position to right a wrong.
I am sending you to a blog post of mine---and at the end is another URL directing you to the specifics of the case (they are not that lengthy)
I am asking for your help by way of publicizing this case----it is absolutely unconscionable what the insurance carrier is doing to this man. At age 38, and having worked diligently in his profession for twenty years, he is in so much pain, he cannot even hold his two year old daughter to give her a hug----he must have had a horrible Father's day.
In any case, CNN is in a position to help----and I am respectfully asking for it.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
John Woodworth
Editor
The Disability Digest
john@thedisabilitydigest.com
http://www.thedisabilitydigest.com/blog/235/missing-in-action-justice-for-disabled-injured-worker/
Workcomp1 Advocate Letter to S Workcomp1 Advocate Letter to Senator Harry Reid
Alliance For The Disabled
Oregon business license
291968-96
The Waitting Game The Waitting Game
I've been unable to work since 2000,all this time I've been fighting for disability.I've gotton a lawyer from the start of my first filing,the odds are better I was told.So 7 years have past,and I've been denied every time I've apealed,or have been in front of a Judge.I'm 47,and have been told that that is one of the reasons why I'm being denied.Also that I can do sedemtary work.Currently,my case has been sent to Church Hill Va. to go infront of the Board there.That has been 17 months ago.I'm at my witts end about it all.I've lost all faith in the system that I paid so much, for so long,into.I've been living off of The state of Ohio Disability.($115 a month,with $200 food stamps) and am required to pay that back if ever I'm approved.I'm in constant pain,taking so much pain meds I can hardly function at times.I can hardly do for myself much less an employer.Meanwhile my symtoms continue to worsen.Whats wrong with this system.Why must it take so long to be given what I have been promised.I'm so depressed,I feel like I've fallen thru the cracks....
Let’s Help Each Other Out Let’s Help Each Other Out
Those of you out there that already have a web site up and running maybe we can help each other....
Here is what I am thinking we all earn money various ways on the internet some of us are affiliates, some of us set up individual agreements with other web sites and some of run ads - maybe we can figure out a way to work together.
For instance I am an affiliate for Amazon.com BUT Amazon will not pay me if I click on one of my ads and purchase a product and I buy monthly from them. But one of you may have an affiliate link to Amazon.com that I would be happy to click on each month and YOU would earn the affiliate income.
Another example is that I earn money for getting people to sign up for an eco-tips newsletter maybe some of you out there could sign up and help me earn some extra cash.
Let’s all brainstorm and come up with a list of affiliate links, newsletter signups etc… and help each bring in some extra cash this New Year!
If you are interested just leave a comment at the bottom with your information and I will edit this blog to include any affiliate links or information you would like to include.
You may want to include:
1) Your name
2) web site name and address
3) description of web site
4) affiliate programs and links
Hey just a thought maybe we can start a directory of sorts.............
Also to anybody that has a current web site I have a fantastic list of tips that can help you drive more traffic to your site just drop me a note on my Bio Page or email me directly via my web site and I will send it right out.
The Disability Digest Business to Business Directory
Michelle Toole
Website: Healthy Holistic Living
Description: A site dedicated to sharing information on how to manage a chronic illness, creating a healthy home and tools and techniques to gain spiritual, physical and mental holistic health.
Ways you can support my site:
Interested in Eco-Living you can sign up for Ideal Bite I earn a commission for everyone that signs up for their newsletter. I would appreciate anyone that has the time to sign up and check out there daily bites and earn me a bit of $$ at the same time! Remember you can always unsubscribe in a couple of days : ) !
If you are interested in organic Herbs, Mountain Rose Herbs is the best in the business.
Any of you out there with a web site that are looking for an additional way to monetize you should consider in-text advertising. I have tried a few companies and infolinks.com by far pays the highest in the industry. It is the same company that I recommended to Brian to use on The Disability Digest and yes I get a commission but I sure as heck wouldn't reccomend them unless they were a great company.
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Theresa Johnson
Web site #1: Ebonywoman
Description: Ebonywoman is about Technology, Entrepreneurship and Health
Ways you can support my site: Follow this link to Ebonywoman Store and while you are there check out the side bar affiliate links including hostgator, neosoul essentials, become a blogger, and "Biz Opportunities."
Web site #2: All About Vegas Travel
Description: All About Vegas Travel is about Las Vegas Travel
Ways you can support my site: Follow these links All About Vegas Travel, Vegas Travel and don't forget to check out the affiliate links on my side bar.
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Michael Dougherty
Web site: I Buy World Wide
Description: Amazon products including movies, books, home and garden, music, toys, video games and software.
Ways you can support my site: If you are planning on buying any products from amazon.com stop by my site, I Buy World Wide and select the product via my site!
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How to Shape the community! How to Shape the community!
I would value your opinion on how we can run a successful online community "All About Disability" that provides value to members and allows those that run the community to earn Money for their effort. YOu can post you comments here or email them to me....
Please provide me with any insight you think would be helpful and let me know you specific thoughts
about these 4 points
1. What tasks need to be done to run a successful community, run groups, approve content, invite others ....
2. What is top 2 most important community rule we should have,
3. Other than the current information covered by the Disability Digest what other type of content should we have?
4. Do you have an idea for a contests Ie: best blog, photo, poem, video story ..winner gets cash prizeThanks for your input, its valuable input to help us shape the community
Brian Therrien
brian@thedisabilitydigest.com
Discrimination in housing! Discrimination in housing!
I became disabled almost one year ago! I broke my leg severely, it hasnt healed properly and have many complications form it. I still cant walk withought the aid of crutches and in the morning i still have to use a wheelchair. To make a really long story shorter.
I live in public housing, the rent is subsidized from the government. (I have allot of empathy for people with disabilities now more than i ever did before) My daughter and her baby lived with me until Sept. of 2009. She moved back in with her father because she coul not really handle seeing me in a wheelchair! I live in a 2 bedroom apartment. Which left my apartment underutilized, since i now live here by myself. I have been fighting to keep my place to live, especially since i have a couple more surgeries to look forward to. they have been trying to kick me out of here since October. I have had numerouse eviction notices. The first which was totally illegal, since i signed a one yr lease which was'nt up until jan 2010. So, here I am, still fighting. Just to add I didnt do anything wrong, like not pay rent, disturb neighbors or anything like that.
I have allot of time on my hands, Thank God for the internet, to try and figure out how I can stay longer. I dont have ANY income, i have filed for disability and everyone knows how long that could take, if ever. I requested two different Reasonable Accomadations to the housing authority. They denied both of them right away, there reason for denying was "JUST BECAUSE YOU BROKE YOUR LEG DOESNT MEAN YOU ARE DISABLED!" I sent the requests with a letter from my doctor! Saying that at this time I am disabled and have to use crutches to get around and so on.
I filed a discrimination complaint with HUD! And finally I have gotten someone to help me. They got the housing authority to let me stay until they investigate all of this. The same day the Housing authority gave me another 30 day eviction notice. Lets just say that was wrong.
The purpose of writing to this Blog, is to, let people know to stand up for their rights, and dont give up!! I have learned allot, form my months of persistance. Most people dont have any idea what is available to them-via internet! People say that there is a reason for everything! I think maybe all of this, the reason being, ewould I think I would really like to be an advicate for people with disabilities!
Have a great day!
Beachy2009
ENOUGH OF THE SLOW MOVING WHEE ENOUGH OF THE SLOW MOVING WHEELS OF NV WORKER'S COMP, NV MEDIA & NV JUSTICE...WE NEED CHANGE & ACTION NOW FOR MR. MARKOWICZ!!!
This really has gotten under my skin now even more so since I first posted in regards to the lack of coverage shown to Ron Markowicz's case. I have had it up to my eyes with the lack of dedication the media gives to an actual newsworthy story (such as Ron's), the utter lack of follow through by the system put in place by the State of NV to handle these cases (and it really DOES NOT WORK AT ALL), the minimal if any effort placed forth by the legislature of the State of NV (namely Harry Reid's office and Dina Titus's office)--as they both are quite aware of Ron's case and the sickening effort put forth by the NV Workers comp board to correct the wrongs that have already & continue to occur and I must say that the Nevada News Media is just the worst of the worst in existence, because the one outlet (Las Vegas Review Journal) that actually sent a reporter to interview Ron aAND his Doctor (who took time out of his already busy schedule to be there for the interview), has put Ron's story on the backburner for the H1N1 Flu (aka Swine Flu). The flu happens to people but can be prevented BUT we don't need to be inundated with constant coverage of this minor problem, when we all should be finding out how the NV system of Worker's compensation actually operates AND does not benefit the injured worker whatsoever, instead it seems to side with the employer.
This is simple and obvious mis-justice and as Christine said it is time for all those that read my blog, Ron's blog & Christine's blog to go ahead an contact Dina Titus' office as well as Mr. Reid's office and complain, complain, complain that you feel you are not being justly represented by your elected officials as they are allowing this tragedy to unfold right in front of their eyes. Perhaps they feel that this Obama Health plan is more important, but I would suggest that is just another diversion created by the news media ( as has been done in the past with other topics. We all need to press the issue with the Las Vegas Review Journal reporter by calling his office and complaining that the story has NOT been published and you are absolutely sickened by the lack of attention given to a story that could just as easily happen to any worker in a hotel, restaurant, bar golf club or casino (just as it did happen to Ron). That is SCARY to get injured on the job, go through the proper steps to get treated and then have a botched surgery, an incompetent worker's comp system and only ONE Doctor (who actually cares--but has not gotten paid by Worker's Comp--instead he has been threatened to omit certain statements from his reports otherwise face not receiving any monies from Worker's Comp). This is corruption at its best/worst. I could go on and on about corruption in the systems that we think are impervious to such betrayals, but this is one of the best examples of such an injustice against Ron in this case BUT also you -the potential injured worker.
I really hope that those who read these blogs, understand the power of the voice you actually have and Certainly USE that voice to express your disgust at the workings of a failed system, for at least one worker's comp. injured individual, not receiving adequate care/medication because Worker's Comp does NOT want to pay for his treatments. Please read the other blogs for the phone numbers to call and send emails, make the phone calls and lets rally the troops to hopefully help Ron get the treatment he needs so he can live a "normal" life once again with his wife & two daughters and hopefully NOT lose his home in the meantime.
Any feedback on this blog is greatly appreciated and YOUR ACTION IS NECESSARY!!! Thanks for all of you who read this & take the actions needed to help Ron and others in similar situations.
INSIDE222
Step Towards Good 4 Workcomp1 Step Towards Good 4 Workcomp1
All:
This is dedicated to WorkComp1 - Ron Markowitz:
A week ago, I asked if the readers of the blogs on Workcomp1's behalf could make a phone call to Congress Woman Dina Titus. I had entered a phone # from Google that I found as a contact number for her. After repeatedly calling and getting no calls answered, I decided to do more research on Dina Titus. Well, I found a new site with the correct number for Dina Titus, Nevada. The correct number for people to call is 702-387-4941.
Now, I have some potentially good news. When I called today I called the Washington D.C. office of Dina Titus. I spoke to a woman named Meredith. I gave her a rundown on WorkComp1's story and that Dina is aware of it. I told her how I knew him and that the blogs on his story are getting thousand and thousand of hits a week. She promised me she was going to share ths information with those in the office there at D.C. and have someone call me back. She did say however that calling the Nevada office is the best place to get help.
PLEASE CALL DINA TITUS' OFFICE IN NEVADA AT 702-387-4941 - All YOU NEED TO SAY IS THAT YOU ARE CALLING ON BEHALF OF RON MARKOWITZ. LET THEM KNOW THAT DINA TITUS IS AWARE OF RON'S STORY AND EVEN HAD A JOURNALIST GO TO HIM AND WRITE A STORY. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM IS THE STORY WAS NEVER PUBLISHED AND DINA NOR THE GOVERNOR (ALSO AWARE OF RON'S STORY) HAVE YET TO DO ANYTHING. IT HAS BEEN ALMOST 2 MONTHS AND HE HAS METAL FLOATING IN HIS BACK AND WORKERS COMP IS NOT PAYING FOR HIS HEALTHCARE AND HE HAS ONLY 1 DOCTOR WHO HAS BEEN TREATING HIM FOR FREE FOR A YEAR. JUST LET THEM KNOW THIS MAN NEEDS HELP AND IS LOSING HIS HOME OVER NEVADA'S FAILURE TO SERVE IT'S OWN PEOPLE.
1 PHONE CALL TOOK ME ABOUT 5 MINUTES. IF THEY HAVE JUST 10 CALLERS WHO INQUIRE, THEY WILL FEEL THE PRESSURE. RIGHT NOW THEY FEEL NO PRESSURE. ARE THERE 10 PEOPLE ON THIS FORUM WHO CAN DO THIS??? YES! YES! YES! PLEASE HELP AND REMEMBER WHEN YOU HELP OTHERS IT WILL BE RETURNED TO YOU IN ABUNDANCE!!!!!!
Blessings To All,
Christine Messaros
P.S. - I did something else today that took about 5 minutes of my time. I got tired of Yahoo printing all the stuff about Tiger Woods. I confronted the topic of the media reporting on a "good cause" rather than potential gossip. I challenged the 'writer' to take on a story about a man in NV who is not getting medical care due to negligence of a surgeon and the Workers Comp System. I also added that this story would blow the socks off of Americans. I gave my email address for further story details. My attitude and thinking is try anything....just don't stop doing.
Finally Approved Finally Approved
I was finally approved for Social Security Disability. My attorney said that my written statement that describes my condition and how it renders me physically was a wonderful addition to my file. Then I appeared before the judge and in all of ten minutes he was ready to rule. He asked me the usual questions like name, birth date, etc., then he asked what a bad day for me was like and I gave him a visual description through words. "I get flu-like symptoms, well actually I am having a bad day," I said, "and when I walk out of this room it will feel like I am walking on broken glass. Then the pain will radiate straight up to my legs, hips, into my back and down my arms and on up to my neck and spine which ultimately cause a migraine." He abruptly interrupted me and said he had heard enough and was ready to rule.
I believe that writing a statement to add to your file is crucial. Description of your condition and rebuttal to rejected decisions add crucial evidence to your case. Feel free to describe in all honesty the day to day frustrations and inabilities you face. Do not harp on trivial matters. But do give the reader a visual experience through words. If you have received a rejection notice. Read it carefully and look for contradictions on the Federal Reviewing Officials part. It will be there in black and white. Rebut these inconsistancy's and reveal the truth regarding his/her decision. They reject in hopes that you'll give up. If you need help, don't be afraid to ask for it. Some people are born to write more effectively and eloquently than others. If you have a relative or friend who has a way with words, ask if they can put your description into words that will be most effective to your case. It will only add to your quest, so go for it.
How to Build a Successful On-l How to Build a Successful On-line Business while on Disability: The Basics
So you think you want to build a business on-line? That’s great, but do you know how to go about selecting the kind of business that will succeed on the Internet? And, do you know where and how to start?
I now have a successful business on-line, but when I got started I knew nothing about how to begin. I floundered for a while until I found the right way to go about it.
The first thing I learned was that the most important principle you need to understand is WHAT DRIVES THE INTERNET. You may think you know, after all you have searched a ton of successful sites and it all looks fairly simple. But building a business on the Internet has its own set of rules and principles.
What then is the best way to build the kind of business that will succeed on-line? Well, success on the Internet all begins with a critical mind-set shift. This means replacing that well known off-line strategy of location, location, location with.....INFORMATION, INFORMATION, INFORMATION.
That’s right, Information. Most of us use the Internet as a searching tool. We search for credible, high value information or solutions, anything that can fulfill a wish that we hold dear or solve a troublesome problem that we are experiencing. So, then, it is clear that we are all searching the Internet for information and solutions. Well, guess what, that is exactly what you are going to give them!
With that in mind, here is your first guiding principle: “GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT” How do you go about fulfilling this principle? Simple. You will accomplish this by building a THEME-BASED CONTENT WEB SITE. What does that mean? It means building a simple site that contains information based upon a MAIN SUBJECT. Where each page focuses upon a single topic that is related to the overall theme or subject.
By providing your visitors with high-value content, over delivering on the information they were seeking, visitors start to like and trust you. Your content-rich site builds trust and credibility.......which leads to an OPEN-TO-BUY MINDSET. Good content encourages your visitor to think about you as a friend or expert rather than as a stranger. People buy from those they know and like. They resist sales efforts from everyone else.
So it's clear that by creating a relationship with your readers and giving them the solutions or information they are seeking leads to MONETIZATION opportunities, which of course translates to MONEY!
Easy enough to understand, but what type of web site should YOU build? What will be PROFITABLE to YOU and how do YOU get started?
Good Questions.... Download Ken Evoy's Free e-book, Make Your Site Sell it will provide you with the basic principles and steps that will help guide you to your goal of building a successful business on-line.
You can check out my web site at Healthy Holistic Living. Curious about the tools I used to create a successful on-line business? Go to Site Build It
If you have questions about how to start your own on-line business you can contact my via my Bio Page or you can contact me via my web site
Keep in mind when starting a business it's important to understand how much money you can make and keep your benefits, knowledge is power! Stay up-to-date and on top of the latest information listen to Brian's audio How to Supplement your Income without Reducing Your Monthly Check!
WORKERS COMP. INSURANCE COMPAN WORKERS COMP. INSURANCE COMPANY FINALLY BEING INVESTIGATED VIEW MICHIGAN SUPREME COURT CASE.
Are Federal (RICO) Racketeering Lawsuits The Solution To Finally Get Justice For America’s Injured & Disabled Workers?
Please take the time to watch a youtube video
It starts off slow but is well worth your time.
click here
Are Federal (RICO) Racketeering Lawsuits The Solution To Finally Get Justice For America’s Injured & Disabled Workers?
(October 23, 2008)
A federal appeals court on Thursday reinstated a lawsuit and cleared the way for discovery to begin in an action brought by workers at a trucking company who claimed they were fraudulently denied their Workers’ Compensation benefits.The workers sued Illinois-based Cassens Transport Co., insurance claims adjuster Crawford & Co., and Warren physician Dr. Saul Margules, alleging mail fraud, wire fraud and violations of the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. It is alleged that the defendants conspired to falsely deny Workers’ Compensation claims.
“They further pleaded that Cassens, Crawford, and Dr. Margules, as well as other ‘medical whore’ doctors, engaged in a pattern of racketeering activity that denied the plaintiff’s Workers’ Compensation claims,” the court wrote. “Specifically, the plaintiffs alleged that Cassens and Crawford deliberately selected and paid unqualified doctors, including Margules, to give false medical opinions that would support the denial of Workers’ Compensation benefits, and that defendants ignored other reasonable medical evidence in denying them benefits.”
6th Circuit Allows RICO Decision Against Employer to Stand
The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals permitted its favorable decision for employees and against an employer, its workers’ compensation insurance carrier and its examining physician to stand. The Court, on January 5, 2009, denied a Rehearing and a Rehearing En Banc request made by the defendant who were held to be in violation of the Racketeer Influence and Corrupt Organization Act (RICO).
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Tuesday, May 12, 2009
RICO Case Goes to the US Supreme Court
A Petition for Certiorari has been filed in Brown v. Cassens Transport Co., 546 F.3d 347 (6th Cir. Oct 23, 2008) (NO. 05-2089), following the rehearing and rehearing en banc denied (Jan 05, 2009). The Petition was filed on May 6, 2009. In a landmark decision of immense national significance, the US Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a RICO claim brought by injured workers against their employer, insurance carrier and employer medical expert could proceed.
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It starts off slow but is well worth your time.
click here
Racketeering and Comp: When the Denial of an Injury is an Injury
Imagine you work as a commercial driver for a long-established trucking firm that self-insures for workers comp. You are injured on the job. You seek benefits under the comp statute. The TPA handling the claim refers you to a company doctor. The doctor determines that the injury is not work related. The adjuster for the TPA denies the claim. End of story?
Not quite. What if you shared your story with five other employees, all of whom filed comp claims, all of whom saw the same doctor (a family practitioner), with the same result: claim denied by the same adjuster at the TPA? A coincidence or a conspiracy?
Five employees of Cassens Transport in Michigan concluded that there was a conspiracy to deny their claims. They filed suit in federal court, alleging a violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”). A district court dismissed their claims, finding that their individual claims did not constitute a "pattern" of activity and that invocation of the RICO statute would violate the McCarren-Ferguson Act by interfering with state regulation of insurance.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit reviewed the case and overturned the district court's ruling. Now the U.S. Supreme Court, by declining to get involved, has upheld the Appeals Court. The Appeals ruling is a fascinating document which explores the nature and definition of racketeering, the relationship of workers comp benefits to insurance and the roles of state and federal governments. It's required reading for attorneys and highly recommended for all others.
Criminal Acts?
The district court has been ordered to reconsider the allegations. The five Cassens drivers allege that Cassens, their self-insured employer, Tina Litwiller, a claims adjuster for the TPA Crawford and Co., and Dr. Saul Margules conspired to deny their comp claims. (While you might expect Dr. Margules to be board certified in occupational medicine, he appears to be a family practitioner.) The Appeals Court does not address the substance of the allegations: it simply rules that denial of the workers comp claims might involve a violation of the RICO statute and thus is appropriate fodder for the federal courts.
Some folks are alarmed that the feds are getting involved in what is usually a state issue. That might be a problem, but let's not lose sight of the delicious prospect before us. During the course of the new hearings, plaintiff attorneys will seek access to some fascinating communication records: between Cassen and Crawford, detailing the status of individual claims; Ms. Litwiller's claim notes; and communications between Crawford and Dr. Margules, who had so much difficulty finding a connection between a given injury and work. As much as I enjoyed the Appeals Court's discussion, I am really looking forward to the nitty-gritty details of the proceedings in the district court. (You don't suppose that some of the written and electronic communications have disappeared, do you?)
At heart, this is a very serious matter. The five employees allege that they have been unlawfully denied the protection of Michigan's workers comp law through a conspiracy of company, TPA and doctor. If the allegations are proven, if the accused violated the RICO statute, they will face the consequences of a criminal conspiracy. In the Insider's burgeoning annals of fraud - employee, employer, attorney, doctor, agent, insurer - this case will surely offer one of the more compelling narratives.
Posted by Jon Coppelman
Worker’s Comp System Severly Abuses Disabled Man
An earlier post from this blog annotates the woeful and absolute outrageous treatment being heaped upon one of our members, Ron Markowicz, by the Worker’s Comp System, including his own attorney, whose firm appeared to be in collusion with the Insurance Carriers by ceasing all pertinent services to his case apparently driven by fear of potential corporate harm through future litigation. No medical help for months. No answers from the attorney—-only mis-statements. No help anywhere.
As a former vocational counselor, I have seen this type behavior before—and it generally stems from a surgical mistake, then when aninjured worker continues to complain, the first thought emanating from the Carriers, attorneys, et. al is:
‘Stop the services! Send out false information to the worker! Make outrageous claims that the worker is not complying with the various service providers! Cover your ass!’
And ad naeuseum….the spin merchants, coupled with loss prevention departments of these huge insurance conglomerates begin to work their magic—–here’s what they do to a lot of people who might have a legitimate complaint: they simply stop sending their monthly check. No explanation. Can you imagine the panic?
As it is, you are lucky if you receive two thirds of your normal salary while on the Comp System—and now, suddenly, you have no money to pay for anything! Most of the times, they will re-start the financial benefits, but not before causing theinjured person to suffer further through stress by making them late for credit card or rent payments. Add to it a nightmarish quality– I have personally heardinsurance company rehab co-ordinators, while at industry ‘functions’, exclaim great humor at how many people they ‘put the screws to’ that week.
Folks, this stuff is industry wide, and it sickens me to watch it continue. This should be considered health care reform, too, and the political writers seem to simply ignore the horrendous level of abuse perpetrated by the ‘business’ side of this system, while the person who is already hurt and suffering, suffers further at the hands of those who should be honestly assisting them to achieve their best level of gainful re-entry to the work world. (or determine that will never be possible)
It should be obvious to all that creating an adversarial system, instead of a truly philanthropic, medically progressive streamlined system, the worst of all possibilities occur, where delays are normal, and communication among the providers is poor, at best. Built for failure.
And, as all our members know, the Social Security Disability system certainly seems bad enough— difficult and hurtful at many turns.
At this writing, there over a million cases which are officially ‘backlogged’ in the Social Security Disability system. Unless you take the free course offered here at the Disability Digest, you can easily wait three full years before receiving benefits. (and that’s if you’re not backlogged) Three years! No excuse can be offered which might even approach credibility.
But the Worker’s Comp System—-if anything can be more problematic than Social Security Disability, it’s this damnable system in which Ron Markowicz continues to suffer. But, some progress had been made. There may be a ray of sunshine.
While I cannot comment on case specifics, I can say that some advancement is being made on the medical side, as Ron’s original physician is only now re-activating his services to him, but still faces an uphill battle against a stone-walling industry.
Also, due to many different and serious inquires to the Nevada Governor’s Office, there has been progress toward publicizing Ron’s case fully, exposing it for the utter disgrace it remains. As it may involve the National media, his case could be re-opened, and the proper medical procedures enacted post haste. These major corporations do not appreciate black marks against them, as stockholders are already nervous these days.
So, with enough pressure, Ron would immediately receive the attention he needs, and in the proper order, which is vital in his case.
He is truly disabled, suffering the results of several breaks in his back from a serious fall while at work, then surgical mis-feasance resulting in pieces of metal floating in his back, now invading the surrounding soft tissue, creating intractable pain.
The link to the initial information in this case is a fairly long read, including my post describing the Worker’s Comp System, and the specific details of his case—then, a page of a well kept medical file which further elucidates Ron’s situation. Again, if any readers have a golden rolodex, please forward this appropriately.
http://www.thedisabilitydigest.com/blog/235/missing-in-action-justice-for-disabled-injured-worker/
We continue to press our efforts towards resolving this unsettling dilemma, as justice should have it. The overarching reality is: Ron’s case could be your own. He did not violate any ‘rules’ and was always forthcoming with his medical providers and insurance carrier. That was pre-surgery.
Today is a different story.
Best to all involved,
Advocate
john at thedisabilitydigest.com
THE ARTICLE ABOVE IS THE SAME INSURANCE CO. THAT RON HAS AND THAT JOHN WOODWORTH CONSISTENTLY TALKS ABOUT THE INCLUSION FROM RON'S ADJUSTER (CRAWFORD) IN LAS VEGAS, NV. AS SEEN ABOVE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS GETTING INVOLVED BECAUSE HOW BIG CRAWFORD & CO IS AND THEY WILL STOP AT NOTHING TO SCARE THE MEDIA, DOCTORS, PATIENTS WHERE A JUDGE FINALLY MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE AND 5 PEOPLE INCLUDING THE ADJUSTER AND THE DOCTOR FOR ILLEGAL DENIAL OF CLAIMS WHERE DONE.
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE SEEN RON'S STORY NOT BEEN PUBLISHED AT THE LAST MINUTE WHY BECAUSE SOMEONE WAS THREATENED INCLUDING RON'S DOCTOR. RON JUST RECEIVED ANOTHER DROP LETTER FROM HIS UROLOGIST ON 12/29/09 STATING THEY WILL NOT COVER HIM ANY MORE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPEND TO HIM, THIS SIMPLE REASON. HIS INSURANCE COMPANY STOPED PAYING THAT DOCTOR AND THEY DROPPED RON AS A PATIENT. WHEN IS THE MEDIA GOING TO GO AFTER CRAWFORD IN VEGAS?
THIS STORY WAS PUBLISHED BY THE WORKERS COMP MEDICAL AFFILIATION AND WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION AS WELL BECAUSE CRAWFORD IS THE SAME COMPANY DOING THE SAME EXACT TACTICS DONE IN THIS SUPREME COURT RULING.
THIS IS ALL TRUE AND YOU CAN CHECK THE FACTS AS WELL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE A NEWS STORY HAS BEEN PUT UP SINCE THE REPORTER IS NOT GOING TO DO ONE THEN I WILL REPORT THE FACTS ABOUT WHY RON CAN'T GET THE MEDICAL HELP AND HIS DOCTOR IS REALLY NOT GETTING PAID WITH BEING THREATEND NOW.
HAPPY HOLIDAY AND GOD BLESS ALL THE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
Affordable Insurance for Unins Affordable Insurance for Uninsurable
I've gotten a lot of good information from the various posts, yet noted one statement in the low cost/no cost medical care and medication. President Clinton signed into law in 1998 that every state has to provide coverage opportunity for those who are uninsurable. Apparently there's some wriggle room as Arizona and Florida don't have it, along with 15 other states.. If you follow the links to the source article you will find a link to the state insurance programs, and the contact numbers. I'll add that link at the end of this blog The premium in Alabama is outrageous ($499/month for individual coverage, medication $299/month) yet I get the same coverage as state employees. In looking this up I also found several other options at this address: http://ezinearticles.com/?Finally-a-Legitimate-Defined-Benefit-Health-Insurance-Option-For-the-Uninsurable!&id=1392633. If two people (usually a husband and wife) form a s-Corp (small corporation) they can purchase a group policy for a reasonable rate, in spite of the fact that there are only 2 of them. Several options are mentioned in this article. Several links with more information are available through this site. I stumbled on this information accidentally. I was looking for the link describing the required state policies and found this second site. Each state sets up it's own insurance guidelines. In my case, a State Farm agent knew of the policy (Alabama Health Insurance Policy) and I got in touch with them. I had to use my Cobra until it ran out, then apply to AHIP within 60 days. If someone misses that window, they are no longer eligible. Check on the link above though. It appears to open a large number of windows for us.
http://www.naschip.org/states_pools.htm
INJURED WORKERS @ A DISADVANTA INJURED WORKERS @ A DISADVANTAGE
Workers' Compensation: Injured Workers at Disadvantage
Nevada's long-troubled workers' compensation system was drastically revised five years ago in hopes of streamlining the process of caring for injured workers. But if you are injured in the workplace now, the private companies that have taken control of the program could leave you without medical care, without compensation, and without a job.
John Taylor, with the Association of Injured Workers, said, "They stretch it out as long as they can. Taylor speaks from experience when he says the Nevada workers' compensation system delays the claims filed by injured workers. During the years he worked at the Nevada Test Site, Taylor lost an eye, demolished his hearing, and wrecked his back. He's spent the past 13 years fighting the system, which he says was bad when the state ran it and went downhill from there.
John Taylor said, "Other states, they've privatized. There you can still sue. Nevada is the worst."
Along with privatizing workers comp, Nevada also exempted insurance companies from legal damages if the companies ignore the law. The worst that could happen to them is they might have to pay out what they should have paid out in the beginning. So, why not deny and delay?
Dean Hardy, an attorney for injured workers, said, "So there is no incentive to say yes to compensation, or yes to medical care, or yes to a change of doctors. It gives blanket immunity to a third party administrator or insurer for violating the statues they're supposed to be upholding"
One of Dean Hardy's clients is a firefighter who suffered on the job injuries while fighting the early 80s blazes at the MGM and the Hilton, and other injuries as well. The county doesn't want to pay for his medical care so the fireman has had to go to court to try and get his medical bills covered. At every step, the deck seems stacked against the injured worker.
A 2005 legislative audit found that many workers aren't informed of their rights when injured. If they don't file a claim within seven days, it's too bad and too late. The state's Division of Industrial Relations is supposed to oversee the private insurers, but the audit found in more than half of the cases, the D.I.R. failed to force insurers to meet the statutory deadlines in handling claims and were lax in fining employers who had it coming.
Aubrey Goldberg, an attorney for injured workers, says the state seems to have little appetite for sanctioning companies that break the rules. "I find it's hard to get them to do those things most of the time. Is it much zeal? My personal view is no, there isn't."
Worst of all for the injured worker, Goldberg says, is the move to managed care programs. A worker injured on the job will be sent to a doctor or clinic that essentially works for the insurance company. "Their primary loyalty is to the people who are paying them and not to the injured worker," Goldberg added.
Dean Hardy says doctors have been known to reverse findings favoring the injured worker after being contacted privately by the insurers. "The doctors recognize what keeps them on the panel -- opinions that do not favor the injured worker. Oftentimes those opinions aren't medically supportable, and that's really tragic. They will taint medical opinion and try to tailor it for the employer or insurer... I do see it happen."
Those doctors who do the right thing get fired, Hardy says. Workers who try to appeal bad rulings in hearings often find themselves up against lawyers or other experts hired by the other side.
Kelly Oakley, who demolished his back working at McCarran Airport, was terminated for medical reasons. A hearing officer was sympathetic but ruled for the other side. Oakley said, "Workers' comp? It's maybe one step above welfare, if that. They treat you like you're on welfare."
Officials at the Nevada Division of Industrial Relations, which is supposed to oversee the privatized workers' compensation program, declined repeated requests by the I-Team for on camera interviews. However, they told us off-camera that injured workers are often at a disadvantage, especially if they have to fight for their claims without legal representation.
Eyewitness News plans to keep an eye on the workers' compensation story in the months ahead.
Email investigative reporter George Knapp at gknapp@klastv.com
Worker’s Comp System Severly Abuses Disabled Man
An earlier post from this blog annotates the woeful and absolute outrageous treatment being heaped upon one of our members, Ron Markowicz, by the Worker’s Comp System, including his own attorney, whose firm appeared to be in collusion with the Insurance Carriers by ceasing all pertinent services to his case apparently driven by fear of potential corporate harm through future litigation. No medical help for months. No answers from the attorney—-only mis-statements. No help anywhere.
As a former vocational counselor, I have seen this type behavior before—and it generally stems from a surgical mistake, then when an injured worker continues to complain, the first thought emanating from the Carriers, attorneys, et. al is:
‘Stop the services! Send out false information to the worker! Make outrageous claims that the worker is not complying with the various service providers! Cover your ass!’
And ad naeuseum….the spin merchants, coupled with loss prevention departments of these huge insurance conglomerates begin to work their magic—–here’s what they do to a lot of people who might have a legitimate complaint: they simply stop sending their monthly check. No explanation. Can you imagine the panic?
As it is, you are lucky if you receive two thirds of your normal salary while on the Comp System—and now, suddenly, you have no money to pay for anything! Most of the times, they will re-start the financial benefits, but not before causing the injured person to suffer further through stress by making them late for credit card or rent payments. Add to it a nightmarish quality– I have personally heard insurance company rehab co-ordinators, while at industry ‘functions’, exclaim great humor at how many people they ‘put the screws to’ that week.
Folks, this stuff is industry wide, and it sickens me to watch it continue. This should be considered health care reform, too, and the political writers seem to simply ignore the horrendous level of abuse perpetrated by the ‘business’ side of this system, while the person who is already hurt and suffering, suffers further at the hands of those who should be honestly assisting them to achieve their best level of gainful re-entry to the work world. (or determine that will never be possible)
It should be obvious to all that creating an adversarial system, instead of a truly philanthropic, medically progressive streamlined system, the worst of all possibilities occur, where delays are normal, and communication among the providers is poor, at best. Built for failure.
And, as all our members know, the Social Security Disability system certainly seems bad enough— difficult and hurtful at many turns.
At this writing, there over a million cases which are officially ‘backlogged’ in the Social Security Disability system. Unless you take the free course offered here at the Disability Digest, you can easily wait three full years before receiving benefits. (and that’s if you’re not backlogged) Three years! No excuse can be offered which might even approach credibility.
But the Worker’s Comp System—-if anything can be more problematic than Social Security Disability, it’s this damnable system in which Ron Markowicz continues to suffer. But, some progress had been made. There may be a ray of sunshine.
While I cannot comment on case specifics, I can say that some advancement is being made on the medical side, as Ron’s original physician is only now re-activating his services to him, but still faces an uphill battle against a stone-walling industry.
Also, due to many different and serious inquires to the Nevada Governor’s Office, there has been progress toward publicizing Ron’s case fully, exposing it for the utter disgrace it remains. As it may involve the National media, his case could be re-opened, and the proper medical procedures enacted post haste. These major corporations do not appreciate black marks against them, as stockholders are already nervous these days.
So, with enough pressure, Ron would immediately receive the attention he needs, and in the proper order, which is vital in his case.
He is truly disabled, suffering the results of several breaks in his back from a serious fall while at work, then surgical mis-feasance resulting in pieces of metal floating in his back, now invading the surrounding soft tissue, creating intractable pain.
The link to the initial information in this case is a fairly long read, including my post describing the Worker’s Comp System, and the specific details of his case—then, a page of a well kept medical file which further elucidates Ron’s situation. Again, if any readers have a golden rolodex, please forward this appropriately.
http://www.thedisabilitydigest.com/blog/235/missing-in-action-justice-for-disabled-injured-worker/
We continue to press our efforts towards resolving this unsettling dilemma, as justice should have it. The overarching reality is: Ron’s case could be your own. He did not violate any ‘rules’ and was always forthcoming with his medical providers and insurance carrier. That was pre-surgery.
Today is a different story.
Best to all involved,
Advocate
john at thedisabilitydigest.com
PLEASE READ MY OTHER 2 BLOGS ON THE DIGEST AS WELL. PLEASE VOTE FOR THE WORKERS COMP. INJURED WORKERS BILL OF RIGHTS TO BE PASSED. CA AS WELL AS MANY OTHER STATES ARE TRYING TO PASS THIS BILL. OF COURSE NV WE ARE NO WHERE NEAR CLOSE TO BEING HEARD OF ANY RIGHTS WHAT SO EVER.
ONCE AGAIN I THANK EVERYONE ON THE DIGEST FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND WITH YOUR COMMENTS AS WELL AS YOUR RATINGS IT HELPS FIGHT THE FIGHT.
WORKCOMP1
Nevada Worker Compensation System Flaws Detailed BY NV GOVERNMENTWORKERS COMP INJURED WORKERS BILL OF RIGHTS
WORKCOMP1
Fibromyalgia Education Fibromyalgia Education
I was recently researching Fibro information for an article and discovered several interesting pieces of information that have come from recent research.
People with Fibro have high levels of Substance P in their system. Substance P is the neurological signal that is sent from the nerves to the brain that say, "HELP ME I'M HURT!" Researchers are speculating that this difference in patients with Fibro means that they are highly sensitive to pain and have low levels of pain tolerance.
Another piece of research shows that Fibro patients have low levels of Seratonin. Seratonin regulates mood and sensitivity to pain. Again, researchers are speculating that Fibro patients have hypersensitivity to pain because of low levels of Seratonin.
Finally, people with Fibro have unusually low periods of REM sleep. REM (rapid eye movement) sleep is the phase of sleep that is the deepest and usually is associated with dreaming. Since such small amounts of this deep sleep happen for Fibro patients, they often wake feeling very fatigued and even have difficulty with concentration (Fibro Fog) as a result of not enough restorative sleep.
I have Fibromyalgia. I know that I am often completely exhausted even though I sleep MANY hours. I seem to be unusually sensitive to pain, and I have a lot of pain because I also have Lupus.
I have taken this new information and used it to show my doctor (who doesn't seem to have a clue sometimes) that I'm not making things up just because I have time on my hands to be annoying. I have also taken this information and put it in my SSI file to use as supportive evidence.
Lupus unlike others Lupus unlike others
I had hives over my entire body for years. And when I say entire, I mean there were no parts un touched by this massive hive outbrake. I had known for years there was something wrong with me, but I was a guinea pig for the most part. I started in CA and worked my way east. Landing in AR. Heck I was ready for them to take a stab at what was going on with me. My hair would fall out, I had hives so bad from the top of mt head to the bottoms of my feet and everywhere in between. My face would blister and kinda heal on and off. I had no energy to do anything.I had bones that would break and not heal.My weight went up and up never down. no matter what I did. I was diagnosed with Graves Diesease first, and was treated for that for several years. People would stare at me like I was taking bad street drugs. I felt like I was in my own Hell for so many things. And it seemed like treating one thing meant that I'd have to be treated for what caused. Three years ago, I made an appointment to see a Dermatologist. He wanted to do biopsys on a few spots on my face. I was to come back in a week. So after wondering what was wrong now, he said he knew from looking at me but need the proof before he could say for sure. Out came the words LUPUS. Sure there are different types, some not as bad as others, and I always try to think positive. And for the good it did I did have the mild form on my face, but when the lab came back, I also had the worst kind runing through my body. I didn't know what I was up against untill I came home and started reading. This explained so much to me. I won't heal good, I will get sick, I will have good and bad days. My eyes are going to get worst. This wasn't a story about take care of yourself and you'll get over it. It was more of how comfortable to you want to be and how much do you want to do to stay that way. Now my life consists of a cocktail of medicine every night before bed, and a booster in the morning. Usually I'm so tired I can't get up till mid afternoon. By then my whole body hurt. Now I'm have broken bones that are unable to be fixed, cut off so the rubbing against other bones isn't painful. Thats not working either. I wish there was someone out ther that knew what I was going through, just a friend to talk too.
Julie S: My Story Julie S: My Story
I use to work in the field of Psychiatric Nursing for the State of Virginia at Eastern State Hospital , one of the state’s mental institutions for the criminally insane. I enjoyed my job immeasurably. Unfortunately, a few years ago, one of my patients kicked me in the face causing two fractures of my jaw and the loss of much of the hearing in my left ear. The blow also jerked my neck around leaving me with nerve damage. I was told by my doctors that I would never be able to work in my profession ever again. I was completely devastated. Not to mention that I am still paying on student loans for an education I can no longer use. I was put on Workman’s Comp. which is supposed to pay any medical bill that are related to my accident at work, but I can only go see the specific doctors that they send me to (including specialists) some of which are located in Richmond, VA, 1 1/2 to 2 hours from where I live . I went though every kind of therapy imaginable, but nothing worked. My pain and other symptoms just kept getting worse and worse. Then the doctors started canceling my appointments because the state had not paid any of the bills, so they refused to treat me anymore until the bills were paid in full. I figured while I was fighting with the state to get my medical bills paid I would use my regular health insurance to continue seeing these specialists for further treatment, but I soon discovered that the state had cut off my health insurance entirely. So now I have no health insurance save for the Workman’s Comp., which only covers problems related to the accident, and they weren't even paying those bills even though they are the ones who sent me to see those doctors in the first place. Well, now after several years I am still fighting to get my medical bills paid. My credit is completely ruined because of all this, and because my health insurance was taken away from me I’ve been having to pay doctors out of my own pocket. My savings is all gone, and my physical condition has deteriorated to the point that I cannot work at all. I am struggling to even function right now. I was finally diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Pulmonary Sarcoidosis, Fibroadenoma, Arthritis, and Depression about a year ago by Rheumatologists at the Medical College of Virginia, but although they diagnosed me with these diseases I was told they would not treat me for these problems there. They also suspect that most of my problems, especially the Fibromyalgia, is a result of the trauma I sustained from the accident at work, which would mean that the state should have to pay for my medical bills related to the Fibromyalgia as well. Unfortunately, there is no legal way to prove that the two things are related. So, I am stuck paying for everything myself without the benefit of insurance. Since then I have been referred to Rheumatologists and Pain Management Specialists all over the area to get some help, but they either won't see me at all because I don't have insurance or they keep wanting to pass me off to other doctors. So, I have spent all this money and have not received any kind of treatment. I am exceedingly tired, I'm enormously frustrated, I'm in tremendous pain all the time, and no one will help me!!!! I also applied for disability and was denied. I am now working on filing my appeal, but it is slow going and I am running out of time.
Well, that is my basic story except for the fact that I also have a fiancé named Rick. Rick and I have been engaged now for 10 years. We were supposed to get married in 1998, but two days before the wedding Rick woke up in the morning and could not see. We could not understand what was going on. Nothing had happened; he just woke up like that. We made an emergency visit to the eye doctor who told us that both of his retinas had detached, and that he had to have emergency surgery within 72 hours to reattach the retinas or he would lose all of his vision. The surgery was set up for the next day all the way down in Winston-Salem , NC . So, the wedding was canceled, we drove down, and he had the surgery. Regrettably, the nerve damage to his optic nerves was too great to restore much of his vision. He can see some out of his right eye, but out of the left he can only see light. He is considered legally blind. Fortunately for us then, the hospital helped him get his disability approved very quickly. See, the hospital wanted their money. The surgery, hospital bills, and doctor bills came to a total of around $200,000, and they knew the only way they were going to get their money was to push his disability through. This way his surgery would be covered retroactively. Then he started getting very very sick (which is a whole other long story in itself). To make a long story as short as possible it took us a long time to discover what was causing him to be so sick and in so much pain. For years everyone, the ER doctors, the specialists, the hospitals, every single healthcare professional that saw him, told us his symptoms were psychosomatic. One of the Gastroenterologists even wrote in Rick’s records that he was faking and only coming in for the drugs. I still would like to know how you can fake vomiting massive amounts of blood or extremely high white cell counts. Well of course after that no doctor wanted anything to do with him. We finally found a doctor, a surgeon, who actually listened to what we had to say and realized there was no way he could be faking some of the symptom he was exhibiting. This doctor ran a multitude of test on Rick till he finally found the problem. It turned out that he had a genetic defect in his pancreas which was causing him to have Chronic Pancreatitis. The pancreatitis had gone for so long untreated that he had lesions and tumors throughout his pancreas and had started spreading into his small intestine. He ended up having to have his pancreas removed which caused a multitude of other problems. He has been extremely ill for 8 out of the ten years we have been engaged to one another, and has had to be hospitalized much of the time as well. Since the problems with his vision and his illness we have not been able to get married because of the way the system works. Even now while I’m on the Workman’s Comp., and only making half of the wage I was paid when I was working, with my income added to his they say we make to much for him to keep his medical insurance. With him being so sick this is not an option, so we were never able to get married.
So, now we are both sick, and I’m so tired of dealing with doctors who act like they know everything, insurance companies, the red tape, and all the just plain bull that the healthcare system in this country keep trying to feed to us. I was a state employee when I got hurt, and since then I have been treated worse by both the state and the healthcare system than they would treat a dog. This whole situation has been going on for so long now that I have become severely depressed. I used to tell myself that things would get better eventually, but I’m afraid eventually is never going to come. Every time I think I’m taking a step forward, the system shoves me back two. For example, when I was finally diagnosed with fibromyalgia I thought, “O.K. now that we know what’s causing me so much pain, we can finally do something that will help me.” Then they drop the bombshell and tell me they don’t treat fibromyalgia there and that I am on my own. Well, it has been almost a year since I was diagnosed and I still have not received any treatment whatsoever. So, that is my basic story. To anyone who actually reads this, I’m sorry it is so long, but believe me, this is the short version.
Blowing In The Wind Workcomp1 Blowing In The Wind Workcomp1
(For Ron Markowicz)
Blowing In the Wind
We expect promised rights for a hard working life
From the time we are old enough to read
We are taught goodness prevails for a man who works with great strife
So, how does the good man fall down, and get left blowing in the wind?
Consider a 25 year consistent worker, taxpayer and good historian
Who did as he was taught, dedicated and true American citizen
Never begging for handouts, only providing for himself with integrity and desire
Then suddenly, something fails, and he is left blowing in the wind
One day, in the food industry career that had brought him great favor
Was a simple matter of water lying on the kitchen floor
The dishwasher had leaked, and leaving an accident to happen
There came Ron into the wet floor, and away blowing in the wind
Blowing in the wind that is now what Ron Marcowicz does daily
With one fall, how one's life changes dramatically
The problem is that Ron had to learn more lessons than imagined
Now he was dealing with disability and a system of cruelty
Ron found his life disabled along with a flurry of injustice
Workers Comp fraudulent & unethical insurance acts
From Nevada's elected, Senator Reid and Congress Rep Titus
Governor and Mayor Goodman's office refuse to help, and they all have the facts!
Ron's home has already reached foreclosure due payments that lack
Workers Comp System refusing to pay and lying behind everyone's back
Threatening the doctors so they deny Ron service, for they fear injustice
Add to that the back surgeon who should be pursued for malpractice
To survive, Ron has had the fight of his life
He doesn't understand why those in able positions
Have ignored his pleas for help and his well deserving rights
Why do they allow him to blow in the wind?
As a handful of supporters make phone calls and written requests
To Nevada officials, TV and News journalists and radio stations across the US
Even a journalist who covered Ron's story but fails to publish
This is overwhelming, criminal and plain right foolish
If only all these who ignorantly turn away and pull their politics
Understood that at any moment their life and expectations could sway away
Their fall could be so drastic & they will expect their insurance
Along with support by officials, but it all could go blowing in the wind
Please wake up and see what you have not done for yours
Choose to attain to that which you promised as your purpose
Don't allow a human being so close to your hands
Be left blowing in the wind!
Why do I care about this man I have never seen or met?
My purpose was found through a surprising fall
And after I worked 21 years of my life
I was afraid me & my daughter would be left blowing in the wind
But God did find angels along my path
Many times as I had to push and pull my life along
I was caught by a system that did not fail me
And all my fears went blowing in the wind
So my plea is that there will be angels that will cross Ron's path
Who will fulfill their duties to include justice and their promises at last
Reach out to a fellow American whose life and family are falling fast
Please stop the wind, before they are lost, and let them stand still
NOBODY IN LAS VEGAS WANTS TO I NOBODY IN LAS VEGAS WANTS TO INVESTIGATE THE WORKER'S COMP SYSTEM...WHAT IS THE PROBLEM???
After reading about the terrible state of affairs happening in Las Vegas with their Worker's Comp system and reading Workcomp1 (Ron Markowicz's) blog and the tragic circumstances he has been put through by the system, I felt I needed to blog once again about his story and the LACK of effort on the part of investigative journalists not only in Las Vegas, but also in the National Media. I just can't understand why Ron's story has NOT been reported on by any journalist, as this is certainly NEWSWORTHY and would more than likely win a pulitzer prize for the journalist that writes/reports the piece. After reading the story written by George Knapp, which references a lot of the problems Ron has faced in the worker's comp system in Nevada, I am hopeful that Mr. Knapp will report on Ron's case specifically as the groundwork has already been laid and Ron's story will force the Nevada worker's comp system to be overhauled and changed for the better.
And as in George Knapp's article which you can view at the end of this blog:
I live in California and have been through the Worker's Comp system here and found it to be pretty well managed. Of course, I did not go through any of the problems Mr. Markowicz has faced, but at least I received medical treatments, was compensated in a timely manner, was able to use the Independent Medical Review (to have a State certified Doctor) review my case and see if he found the same disability rating as my treating specialist (as the Insurance Company was trying to settle the claim for a very small amount & I did not agree with that rating).
As with many people here on The Disability Digest, these injustices CANNOT be allowed to continue and the community has to stand up and make a stand against the companies, attorneys, insurance companies, medical practitioners that mis-treat them. You would hope there would be some legal remedy, but in Ron's case it seems that his attorney (that he recently fired was asleep at the wheel)--malpractice, the one surgeon that removed the stimulator device from his back and left metal in his back--(malpractice)...There has been ONE shining light in Ron's story..His first Doctor who has been trying to help Ron get the treatment he needs, yet this Doctor has not been paid by the Worker's Comp system. Sometimes it can take 1 year or more for these Doctors to get paid by this system. What a travesty of justice NV has. Ron's Doctor's name is Dr. Daniel Fabito and should be highly commended and applauded for his efforts and his highly ethical treatment of Ron's case. This is a medical practitioner that more should try to be like as he has the care and well being of his patient in mind and he goes to great lengths to fight the good fight on the patient's behalf. I would recommend that anybody that gets injured on the job would go to this Doctor because he truly cares about his patients. Keep this Doctor in mind if you ever get injured while working in Las Vegas. Here's the Doctor's info:
Comprehensive & Interventional Pain Management
Daniel Fabito MD
AMA Board Certified
www.DrFabito.com
Contact: Info@DrFabito.com
George Knapp's story from workcomp1 website:
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INJURED WORKERS @ A DISADVANTAGE
Workers' Compensation: Injured Workers at Disadvantage
Nevada's long-troubled workers' compensation system was drastically revised five years ago in hopes of streamlining the process of caring for injured workers. But if you are injured in the workplace now, the private companies that have taken control of the program could leave you without medical care, without compensation, and without a job.
John Taylor, with the Association of Injured Workers, said, "They stretch it out as long as they can. Taylor speaks from experience when he says the Nevada workers' compensation system delays the claims filed by injured workers. During the years he worked at the Nevada Test Site, Taylor lost an eye, demolished his hearing, and wrecked his back. He's spent the past 13 years fighting the system, which he says was bad when the state ran it and went downhill from there.
John Taylor said, "Other states, they've privatized. There you can still sue. Nevada is the worst."
Along with privatizing workers comp, Nevada also exempted insurance companies from legal damages if the companies ignore the law. The worst that could happen to them is they might have to pay out what they should have paid out in the beginning. So, why not deny and delay?
Dean Hardy, an attorney for injured workers, said, "So there is no incentive to say yes to compensation, or yes to medical care, or yes to a change of doctors. It gives blanket immunity to a third party administrator or insurer for violating the statues they're supposed to be upholding"
One of Dean Hardy's clients is a firefighter who suffered on the job injuries while fighting the early 80s blazes at the MGM and the Hilton, and other injuries as well. The county doesn't want to pay for his medical care so the fireman has had to go to court to try and get his medical bills covered. At every step, the deck seems stacked against the injured worker.
A 2005 legislative audit found that many workers aren't informed of their rights when injured. If they don't file a claim within seven days, it's too bad and too late. The state's Division of Industrial Relations is supposed to oversee the private insurers, but the audit found in more than half of the cases, the D.I.R. failed to force insurers to meet the statutory deadlines in handling claims and were lax in fining employers who had it coming.
Aubrey Goldberg, an attorney for injured workers, says the state seems to have little appetite for sanctioning companies that break the rules. "I find it's hard to get them to do those things most of the time. Is it much zeal? My personal view is no, there isn't."
Worst of all for the injured worker, Goldberg says, is the move to managed care programs. A worker injured on the job will be sent to a doctor or clinic that essentially works for the insurance company. "Their primary loyalty is to the people who are paying them and not to the injured worker," Goldberg added.
Dean Hardy says doctors have been known to reverse findings favoring the injured worker after being contacted privately by the insurers. "The doctors recognize what keeps them on the panel -- opinions that do not favor the injured worker. Oftentimes those opinions aren't medically supportable, and that's really tragic. They will taint medical opinion and try to tailor it for the employer or insurer... I do see it happen."
Those doctors who do the right thing get fired, Hardy says. Workers who try to appeal bad rulings in hearings often find themselves up against lawyers or other experts hired by the other side.
Kelly Oakley, who demolished his back working at McCarran Airport, was terminated for medical reasons. A hearing officer was sympathetic but ruled for the other side. Oakley said, "Workers' comp? It's maybe one step above welfare, if that. They treat you like you're on welfare."
Officials at the Nevada Division of Industrial Relations, which is supposed to oversee the privatized workers' compensation program, declined repeated requests by the I-Team for on camera interviews. However, they told us off-camera that injured workers are often at a disadvantage, especially if they have to fight for their claims without legal representation.
Eyewitness News plans to keep an eye on the workers' compensation story in the months ahead.
Email investigative reporter George Knapp at gknapp@klastv.com
Worker’s Comp System Severly Abuses Disabled Man
An earlier post from this blog annotates the woeful and absolute outrageous treatment being heaped upon one of our members, Ron Markowicz, by the Worker’s Comp System, including his own attorney, whose firm appeared to be in collusion with the Insurance Carriers by ceasing all pertinent services to his case apparently driven by fear of potential corporate harm through future litigation. No medical help for months. No answers from the attorney—-only mis-statements. No help anywhere.
As a former vocational counselor, I have seen this type behavior before—and it generally stems from a surgical mistake, then when an injured worker continues to complain, the first thought emanating from the Carriers, attorneys, et. al is:
‘Stop the services! Send out false information to the worker! Make outrageous claims that the worker is not complying with the various service providers! Cover your ass!’
And ad naeuseum….the spin merchants, coupled with loss prevention departments of these huge insurance conglomerates begin to work their magic—–here’s what they do to a lot of people who might have a legitimate complaint: they simply stop sending their monthly check. No explanation. Can you imagine the panic?
As it is, you are lucky if you receive two thirds of your normal salary while on the Comp System—and now, suddenly, you have no money to pay for anything! Most of the times, they will re-start the financial benefits, but not before causing the injured person to suffer further through stress by making them late for credit card or rent payments. Add to it a nightmarish quality– I have personally heard insurance company rehab co-ordinators, while at industry ‘functions’, exclaim great humor at how many people they ‘put the screws to’ that week.
Folks, this stuff is industry wide, and it sickens me to watch it continue. This should be considered health care reform, too, and the political writers seem to simply ignore the horrendous level of abuse perpetrated by the ‘business’ side of this system, while the person who is already hurt and suffering, suffers further at the hands of those who should be honestly assisting them to achieve their best level of gainful re-entry to the work world. (or determine that will never be possible)
It should be obvious to all that creating an adversarial system, instead of a truly philanthropic, medically progressive streamlined system, the worst of all possibilities occur, where delays are normal, and communication among the providers is poor, at best. Built for failure.
And, as all our members know, the Social Security Disability system certainly seems bad enough— difficult and hurtful at many turns.
At this writing, there over a million cases which are officially ‘backlogged’ in the Social Security Disability system. Unless you take the free course offered here at the Disability Digest, you can easily wait three full years before receiving benefits. (and that’s if you’re not backlogged) Three years! No excuse can be offered which might even approach credibility.
But the Worker’s Comp System—-if anything can be more problematic than Social Security Disability, it’s this damnable system in which Ron Markowicz continues to suffer. But, some progress had been made. There may be a ray of sunshine.
While I cannot comment on case specifics, I can say that some advancement is being made on the medical side, as Ron’s original physician is only now re-activating his services to him, but still faces an uphill battle against a stone-walling industry.
Also, due to many different and serious inquires to the Nevada Governor’s Office, there has been progress toward publicizing Ron’s case fully, exposing it for the utter disgrace it remains. As it may involve the National media, his case could be re-opened, and the proper medical procedures enacted post haste. These major corporations do not appreciate black marks against them, as stockholders are already nervous these days.
So, with enough pressure, Ron would immediately receive the attention he needs, and in the proper order, which is vital in his case.
He is truly disabled, suffering the results of several breaks in his back from a serious fall while at work, then surgical mis-feasance resulting in pieces of metal floating in his back, now invading the surrounding soft tissue, creating intractable pain.
The link to the initial information in this case is a fairly long read, including my post describing the Worker’s Comp System, and the specific details of his case—then, a page of a well kept medical file which further elucidates Ron’s situation. Again, if any readers have a golden rolodex, please forward this appropriately.
http://www.thedisabilitydigest.com/blog/235/missing-in-action-justice-for-disabled-injured-worker/
We continue to press our efforts towards resolving this unsettling dilemma, as justice should have it. The overarching reality is: Ron’s case could be your own. He did not violate any ‘rules’ and was always forthcoming with his medical providers and insurance carrier. That was pre-surgery.
Today is a different story.
Best to all involved,
Advocate
john at thedisabilitydigest.com
PLEASE READ MY OTHER 2 BLOGS ON THE DIGEST AS WELL. PLEASE VOTE FOR THE WORKERS COMP. INJURED WORKERS BILL OF RIGHTS TO BE PASSED. CA AS WELL AS MANY OTHER STATES ARE TRYING TO PASS THIS BILL. OF COURSE NV WE ARE NO WHERE NEAR CLOSE TO BEING HEARD OF ANY RIGHTS WHAT SO EVER.
ONCE AGAIN I THANK EVERYONE ON THE DIGEST FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND WITH YOUR COMMENTS AS WELL AS YOUR RATINGS IT HELPS FIGHT THE FIGHT.
WORKCOMP1
Nevada Worker Compensation System Flaws Detailed BY NV GOVERNMENT
WORKERS COMP INJURED WORKERS BILL OF RIGHTS
WORKCOMP1
Keep up the good fight people and please rate this blog. Thanks and take care!!!
inside222
Take A Deep Breath (Poem) Take A Deep Breath (Poem)
Instead of reacting in anger or haste
Allowing worry to absorb our day
What valuable energy we waste
What if we took a deep breath
You hear news on the phone
Explosion comes & you keep moving it along
No thought to what affect it has on everyone
What if we took a deep breath
The high pace world in which we live
Takes from us as we give back to it
Our bodies breakdown & suddenly nothing left to give
What if we took a deep breath
Life's demands are truly our choices
A choice to see demand or opportunity
Can we see an opportunity to change our courses
What if we took a deep breath