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Workers Comp Matters

Catering to both lawyers and their clients, Workers’ Comp Matters focuses on people and the law. Host and workers’ compensation attorney Alan S. Pierce interviews industry leaders, lawyers, and doctors, covering all elements of workers’ compensation from cases and benefits to recovery.

Jun 16, 2020

Medical Marijuana Reimbursement in Workers’ Compensation Systems

George Flores shares insights from his article “Lewis and Bourgoin: The Growing Divide Over Reimbursement for Medical Marijuana in the Workers’ Compensation System.”

May 6, 2020

QCARE Designation: What it Means for Texas Injury Benefit Programs

Bill Minick explains the QCARE designation for Texas employers who have opted out of traditional workers’ comp programs.

Apr 2, 2020

Impacts of COVID-19 on Workers’ Compensation

Amie Peters and Mack Babcock answer common workers’ comp questions arising from the pandemic.

Jan 23, 2020

How Inspiring Others Makes You a Better Lawyer

Michael Fanuele shares how lawyers can apply tactics from his book, “Stop Making Sense: The Art of Inspiring Anybody,” to improve their legal practices.

Dec 17, 2019

Workers’ Comp Clients: When to Seek Counsel

Bernard Nomberg offers insights for injured workers on when and how to go about seeking legal advice for workers’ comp cases.

Dec 3, 2019

Defining Employment Relationships in the Gig Economy–Can It Be Done?

Roger Finderson explains the nuances of employee-employer relationships in the gig economy

Nov 4, 2019

Pooled Special Needs Trusts: Low-Cost Asset Management for Injured Workers

Andrew Reinhardt and Joanne Marcus discuss the benefits of pooled special needs trusts for injured workers with disabilities.

Oct 4, 2019

Peter Rousmaniere: Reflections from a Career in Workers’ Comp

Peter Rousmaniere shares insights from his career as a workers’ comp consultant and journalist.

Aug 30, 2019

Examining State Variations in Opioid Dispensation with WCRI’s Dr. Vennela Thumula

Dr. Vennela Thumula gives an overview of the recently published study, Interstate Variations in Dispensing of Opioids, 5th Edition.

Jul 31, 2019

Health Insurance and Outcomes of Injured Workers

Bogdan Savych discusses his study into how recent changes in the health insurance landscape affect outcomes for injured workers.

Jun 28, 2019

The Evolution of Workers’ Compensation with Alan Pierce

Alan Pierce reflects on his career spanning 50 years in the area of worker’s compensation and discusses needed changes in current systems.

May 30, 2019

Putting Workers Comp Policies Under the Microscope

Ramona Tanabe discusses WCRI’s work and shares some of the most interesting trends her organization is seeing in the field today.

Apr 25, 2019

Drug Formularies in Workers’ Comp—Good for Injured Workers?

Tom Holder talks about the role of drug formularies in workers’ compensation.

Apr 3, 2019

Subrogation and Workers’ Compensation Liens on Third Party Settlements.

Cathy Surbeck discusses subrogation and liens on third party settlements.

Feb 20, 2019

Wage Theft: From Investigation to Resolution

Karla Zarbo discusses wage theft and its related issues and talk about the processes involved in investigating the many types of wage complaints.

Dec 28, 2018

History of Workers’ Compensation with John F. Burton, Jr.

John F. Burton, Jr. talks about his career as a workers’ compensation expert, which has spanned over 50 years.

Nov 30, 2018

How Millennials and Work Remotes are Impacting Workers’ Comp

Ryan Benharris talks about the gig economy, millennials vs. boomers, working remotely and workers’ compensation.

Oct 30, 2018

Nursing The Wound: The Law and Ethics of Disability Management in Workers Compensation

Justin Beck talks about the role of nurse case managers and highlight the ways they promote synergy between the carriers, providers, and patients involved in a claim.

Sep 28, 2018

Controversy Over the AMA Guides, Sixth Edition

Chris Brigham talks about the sixth edition of the AMA Guides Impairment and whether it is a valid measure of disability ratings in the workers’ compensation setting.

Aug 28, 2018

The Attorney’s Role in Workers Compensation

Bob Wisniewski talks about his experience as a workers’ compensation attorney and explains why an injured worker would seek out legal representation for a claim.

Jun 28, 2018

Opioid Alternative Treatment Pathway

Omar Hernández explains the Opioid Alternative Treatment Pathway, which is a program that Massachusetts’ DIA launched, talks about how it works, and how it helps address the opioid epidemic.

May 21, 2018

Are Student Athletes Eligible for Workers Comp?

Taylor O’Toole talks about the debate on whether student athletes at larger universities should be considered employees and, as such, should be entitled to workers’ comp.

Apr 24, 2018

Changes to Workers Comp Coverage in the Political Climate

Rick Victor discusses major changes in the workers compensation system and the new conflicts injured workers are dealing with.

Mar 29, 2018

Technology’s Impact on the Future of the Labor Force

Erica Groshen discusses the trends that characterize the future of the U.S. workforce and how robotics and artificial intelligence could have an impact on employment.

Feb 22, 2018

Dealing with Chronic Pain in the Workplace

George Beilin talks about the different methods of measuring pain and the importance of coping with pain in a healthy way.

Jan 30, 2018

Does Workers’ Compensation Cover Hate Crimes in the Workplace?

Kyle Black discusses what is legally considered a hate crime and the various factors and risks that affect whether or not a hate crime case meets the criteria for compensability.

Dec 29, 2017

New York Workers’ Compensation Changes in 2017

Michael Gruber discusses the controversial changes to New York’s workers’ comp rules that were put into place earlier this year.

Nov 30, 2017

Workers Comp Claims in Professional Sports

Gerry Carney talks about some of the unique challenges workers’ compensation lawyers face when representing professional athletes.

Oct 30, 2017

Social Security Disability Claims

Janice Skillings-Goff talks about social security disability claims including who’s qualified to make these claims and eligibility requirements.

Sep 29, 2017

Workers’ Compensation for Performing Artists

In this legal podcast, Justin Beck discusses the entitlement of performing artists to workers’ compensation.

Aug 31, 2017

The Fact-Driven Complexities of Personal Comfort Doctrine

This legal podcast looks at personal comfort doctrine including what it is, factors that affect the outcome, and what acts are not compensable

Jul 31, 2017

Constitutional Challenges to State Workers’ Compensation Laws

This legal podcast explores workers’ compensation laws that are affected by constitutional law.

Jun 28, 2017

How the Pawlosky Case Redefined Workplace Injury

Justin Beck and Vincent Quatrini discuss Pawlosky v. W.C.A.B. and how the case set a new precedent for burden of proof and causation standards.

May 31, 2017

Third Party Liability Waivers

This legal podcast discusses third party liability waivers in employee contracts and how both insurance companies and lawyers are reacting to them.

Apr 26, 2017

How Frances Perkins Impacted Workers’ Compensation

This podcast episode talks about the effect Frances Perkins had on worker’s compensation and safety.

Feb 23, 2017

Are Workers’ Comp Benefits Adequate?

Peter Rousmaniere talks about whether workers’ compensation benefits truly meet the needs of injured workers.

Jan 30, 2017

How the Trump Administration will Affect Workers’ Compensation

The potential effect of President Trump's administration, and a Republican majority in Congress on state-based workers’ comp programs.

Aug 25, 2016

Alternative Benefit Systems and the Future of Workers’ Compensation

Guest host Judson Pierce speaks with Workers Injury Law & Advocacy Group President Alan Pierce about the future of American workers’ compensation.

Jul 15, 2016

Using Neuroplasticity to Manage Chronic Pain

In this episode of Workers Comp Matters, host Alan Pierce talks with Dr. Roberto Feliz about pain management and Scrambler Therapy.

Jun 23, 2016

Workers’ Comp from the Other Side: Pain Management

Alan Pierce speaks with Rebecca Curtis about her work-related injury, her road to recovery, and the company she founded to help other injured workers like herself.

Jun 10, 2016

The International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions

Alan Pierce talks with Jennifer Wolf Horejsh about the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions (IAIABC) and the recent challenges to workers’ compensation in the United States.

Feb 19, 2016

National Implications of Opt Out in Workers’ Compensation

In recent years, opt out alternatives to workers’ compensation have become increasingly popular systems for handling work-related injuries. Under an opt out program, employers are allowed to create their own system for...

Jan 28, 2016

What Stahl v. Hialeah Hospital Means for Florida’s Workers’ Compensation Laws

In 1911, the U.S. created the first state-based workers’ compensation laws as a legislative solution between labor and management. In this “grand bargain,” employers provide compensation to employees injured on the job...

Aug 12, 2015

Section 28 of the MA Workers’ Comp Statute: Serious and Willful Employer Misconduct

In U.S. law, employers must provide workers’ compensation coverage and, in exchange, injured workers are unable to directly sue their employer. But what happens when a worker is injured due to intentional...

May 27, 2015

2015 Workers’ Compensation Research Institute Conference: Perverse Effects of Low Fee Schedules

Workers Comp Matters host Alan Pierce attended the 2015 Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) Annual Issues & Research Conference in March. While there, he interviewed Rebecca Yang, who presented ‘The Perverse Effects...

May 5, 2015

2015 Workers Compensation Research Institute Conference: Cost and Impacts of Physician Dispensing Drugs

At the 2015 Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) Annual Issues & Research Conference, panels of experts discussed the cost and impacts of physician dispensing drugs. Physician dispensed drugs are prescribed drugs available...

Mar 26, 2015

Chronic Pain, Opioid Addiction, and Injured Workers

“There are more people in chronic pain in America today than diabetics, those with heart disease, those suffering from strokes, and those with cancer combined.” – Dr. Joel Morton The prevalence of...

Feb 26, 2015

FECA and Workers Compensation for Federal Employees

Most workers compensation lawyers deal with state-based claims and private companies, but there is a separate section of workers comp law for federal and postal employees. The Division of Federal Employees’ Compensation...

Jan 30, 2015

Black Lung Disease: Coal Miners, Their Disability, and The Quantum of Proof

In 1969, Congress passed the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act to help miners who, as a result of their work, developed pneumoconiosis, an occupational sickness more commonly known as black...

Dec 30, 2014

Overtime and the Fair Labor Standards Act

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is often overlooked as a part of workers’ compensation because it does not involve injury. The FLSA was a job creation bill passed in the 1930s...

Your Hosts
Alan Pierce

Alan S. Pierce has served as chairperson of the American Bar Association Worker’s Compensation Section and the...

Judson Pierce

Judson L. Pierce is a graduate of Vassar College and Suffolk University Law School where he received...

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