Worker Compensation reform...A case of insurance company Profits over injured workers?
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I was proud to see this week that the leadership in the South Caroline Senate is standing up to the insurance industry. Workers Compensation insurance has gone out of site over the past few years and it has the small business community screaming for reform.
Insurance companies are making millions off of South Carolina's workers' compensation program, Senate President Pro Temp Glenn McConnell said Thursday. "With workers' compensation reform being debated, don't you think that this General Assembly cannot turn its head to the fact that the insurance companies appeared to have been grazing on an oat field, some of them, apparently ... while this state is suffering higher and higher rates?" he asked.
It is easy for me to understand how a small businessman may temporary forget about the welfare of his injured workers and their families when the business's bottom line continues to shrink. The business community needs some relief but not at the expense of those suffering legitimate on the job injuries.
The insurance industry wants to blame the lawyers and doctors for the rate increase. Lord knows that if we didn't help those injured on the job, the insurance adjustors would take grotesque advantage of them. Many doctors have to hire extra staff to fight for approval from the insurance companies to perform necessary procedures. You also should know that the insurance industry, in many cases, then cut the doctors fees by bundling their collection codes and then slow pay them.
Senator McConnell is not alone. "You're absolutely correct," said Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Bonneau. "The profit seems to be obscene."