IL Business’ WC Reform bill falls short in Senate vote

Two Senate workers’ compensation reform bills were presented to the full Illinois Senate for debate and vote on April 14, 2011, SB 1349 and SB1147. While Illinois employers scored a victory in the Senate with SB1147, the main WC reform efforts contained within SB1349 lost. You may recall that following the highly publicized workers’ compensation …

Let’s Just Eliminate the IL Workers’ Compensation system??

If Illinois Rep. John Bradley (D-Marion) has his way, Illinois employees and employers will need to take matters to Illinois’ already over-burdened circuit court system.  Rep. Bradley is sponsoring HB1032, which in his own words will “abolish [Illinois’ workers’ compensation system] and send the cases back to the circuit court.”  In his opinion, the system …

Gov. Quinn proposes workers’ compensation changes

According to Crain's Chicago Business and the AP, Gov. Pat Quinn is proposing changes to the workers' compensation system in Illinois "to prevent potential abuses and to save employers money."  As we've been reporting, these proposals come amid a federal investigation into possible workers' compensation abuses. Quinn administration officials on Friday released some of the …

Federal investigation of Illinois workers’ compensation

Federal prosecutors are investigating potential fraud in the Illinois workers’ compensation cases at various Illinois government agencies due to payments of almost $10 million in benefits at Menard Correctional Center and questionable practices by three arbitrators.  Subpoenas were issued to the Department of Corrections, the Department of Central Management Services, the Department of Insurance and …