An independent medical examination (IME) is a valuable tool to set your claim up for success. However, like all tools, the ultimate value of an IME will depend on how you use it. To get the most value out of an IME, it is important to think critically about: (1) the specialty of the IME…

New legislation affecting healthcare and frontline workers sets forth a different exposure standard for each affected group to establish an occupational disease presumption. In response to the global pandemic, the Washington State legislature recently passed SB 5115 (“Health Emergency Labor Standards,” or “HELSA,” for short) and SB 5190 (“Providing health care workers with presumptive benefits…

Attorney Jenn Truong guest blogged for Approach Management Services on April 21, 2021. “When to Hire a Workers’ Comp Attorney” discussed not only claims litigation, but also employer audits and WISHA citations. Click here to read her blog.   

In 2020 and 2021, there was a lot of action in Washington’s legislature surrounding the rules for when and how employers can obtain Independent Medical Examinations (IMEs) in Washington workers’ compensation claims. In 2020, various iterations of IME updates were proposed and discussed, with final versions enacted effective January 1, 2021. In 2021, additional restraints…

A new statutory change to the Claim Resolution Structured Settlement Agreement (CRSSA), signed into law by Washington Governor Inslee April 16, 2021, provides a new lump sum payment option, in addition to initial payment and subsequent monthly payments. The lump sum payment provision now makes CRSSAs an even more attractive settlement option for employers and…