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The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires many employers with ten or more employees to keep a record of serious work related injuries and illnesses (certain low risk industries are exempted).  Employers must report any worker fatality within 8 hours and any amputation, loss of an eye, or hospitalization of any worker within 24 hours.  Minor injuries requiring only first aid do not need to be recorded.   This information helps employers, workers and OSHA evaluate the safety of a workplace, understand workplace hazards and prevent future workplace injuries and illnesses.

OSHA recently announced it is expanding its “Injury and Illness Record-keeping Rule” to encourage greater transparency of employer injury and illness data.  Starting in 2017, the Rule will also require some employers to disclose occupational injury and illness information to OSHA electronically.  Some of the electronically submitted data will then be posted to OSHA’s website.  OSHA believes that this public disclosure of employer information will “nudge” employers to improve workplace safety and provide valuable information to workers, job seekers, customers, researchers and the general public.  The amount of data submitted and publically posted will vary depending on the size of the company and the type of the industry.

The expanded Rule prohibits employers from “discouraging” workers from reporting an injury or illness.  The final Rule requires employers to inform employees of their right to report work-related injuries and illnesses free from retaliation; implement procedures for reporting injuries and illnesses that are reasonable and do not deter workers from reporting; and incorporate the existing statutory prohibition on retaliating against workers for reporting injuries and illnesses.   Originally slated to take effect August 10, 2016, OSHA is delaying enforcement of the anti-retaliation provisions in its new Injury and Illness Record-keeping Rule to provide education and outreach to employers.  Enforcement of the anti-retaliation provisions of the Rule will now begin November 1, 2016 and the record-keeping rule takes effect on January 1, 2017.

You might feel confident that your workplace is already in compliance with the “anti-retaliation” provisions of OSHA’s Injury and Illness Recordkeeping Rule.  You may even be asking yourself, “How is this a change in the law?  Isn’t it already against the law to retaliate against an employee for reporting a workplace injury or illness?”  While section 11(c) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act prohibits any person from discharging or discriminating against an employee for reporting an injury, illness or fatality, OSHA may not act under that section unless the employee files a complaint within 30 days of the retaliation.  OSHA believes the new Rule is vital as it gives OSHA the “ability to protect workers who have been subject to retaliation, even when they cannot speak up for themselves”. Further, the issues under the expanded rule are more complicated than they first appear. You could be inadvertently violating provisions of the rule and unexpectedly land yourself in hot water with OSHA.

Here are some common workplace safety policies that could result in violations of OSHA’s new anti-retaliation provisions:

1. Mandatory post-accident drug testing programs: The OSHA rule specifically recommends against “blanket post-injury” drug testing policies. However, OSHA also specifically indicates the rule does not prohibit post-injury drug testing of employees.  It only prohibits employers from using drug testing, or the threat of drug testing, as a form of retaliation against employees who report injuries or illnesses.  That being said, in connection with the rule, OSHA stated, “OSHA believes the evidence in the rulemaking record shows that blanket post-injury drug testing policies deter proper reporting.”  Therefore, OSHA’s position on blanket post-injury drug testing appears to be equivocal and leaves employers without clear direction.  OSHA’s recommendation against blanket post-injury drug testing may prove particularly problematic, given that Colorado’s Worker’s Compensation Act clearly contemplates post-accident drug and alcohol screening in light of C.R.S. sections 8-42-112, (“safety rule violation”), 8-42-112.5, (the “intoxication defense”), 8-42-103(1)(g) and 8-42-105(4)(a), (the “termination statutes”).  For employers with “zero tolerance” policies, a positive post-accident drug or alcohol test could result in the termination of an injured employee’s employment, reducing their temporary indemnity benefits to zero.  If the employer proves either an intoxication defense or safety rule violation, the injured employee’s indemnity benefits, temporary and permanent, would be reduced by 50 percent.  While these concerns may not directly impact the course of worker’s compensation litigation, they could give rise to employment litigation outside the workers’ compensation system, particularly in light of OSHA’s independent ability to raise the retaliation issue under the expanded rule, without the need for the worker to file a complaint.

2. Providing incentives exclusively to employees that have not been involved in workplace incidents or accidents: While OSHA indicates the rule does not prohibit incentive programs, it does state employers must not create incentive programs that deter or discourage an employee from reporting an injury or illness. For example, if you are trying to minimize injury by providing cash bonuses, paid time-off, employer-sponsored parties, or other compensation, for a certain number of “injury-free” days, or “no lost time”, you could be in violation of the rule. Unfortunately, OSHA’s alternative direction is vague at best.    OSHA recommends incentive programs that “encourage safe work practices” and “promote safety-related activities”.

3. If injured, off-work employees are excluded from workplace events, which could be considered a benefit of employment, such as luncheons, parties, football pools, birthday celebrations, or other work-related events or functions.

OSHA’s new Injury or Illness and Record-keeping Rule is complicated and could result in a quagmire of retaliation and perceived retaliation claims.  Your current safety policy and procedures should be reviewed for compliance with the expanded rule.  If you have questions about the rule, or whether your policies are in compliance, please contact us.

The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, through its Medicaid program, is responsible for collection of outstanding liens for the state.   This department is in charge of disbursement of state funds to indigent citizens in need of medical benefits.  Oftentimes, a claimant will pursue medical benefits through the department if they qualify.   This may be true even when a claimant has a current workers’ compensation claim on file with the Division of Labor.  Qualification for a particular program, through the state funded Medicaid partnerships, involves several criteria.  If a citizen qualifies, benefits may be paid regardless of the current status of a workers’ compensation claim.   The Medicaid department will assert its lien, (referred to as a “recovery right”), against the claimant and the workers’ compensation claim.

A lien usually arises at one of two points in the workers’ compensation litigation.  The first such instance occurs when a claim is denied by the carrier and the claimant chooses to pursue medical benefits through the applicable Medicaid programs.   These claims usually involve substantial forms of medical treatment, (i.e. surgeries), in which time is of the essence and a claimant cannot wait for resolution of compensability and causation issues in their workers’ compensation claims.  The claimant may choose to obtain the surgery through the authorized treating physicians or through their own personal care physician.  Should the claim be found compensable by an ALJ, it is important to distinguish between the benefits provided and through which physicians the claimant received treatment.   Regardless of the legal arguments to be made, Medicaid will assert its right of recovery against the benefits paid and will await resolution of the claim before doing so.

The second such instance occurs when a claimant has received medical benefits through the state funded Medicaid program and the treating physician finds a particular treatment to either be related to the claim, (or not related to the claim). The benefits are disputed through the workers’ compensation process, and the claimant obtains treatment without waiting for resolution of the workers’ compensation issues.   In this example, the opinions from the treating physicians will be important in determining liability for the outstanding lien.  If a treating physician deems the medical benefits to be related to the claim, and the claim is resolved through a settlement or other means, the carrier will be liable for payment of the lien.   Recovery of the lien cannot be shifted by the parties in the workers’ compensation claim.  However, if the treating physicians deemed the treatment to be non-work related, the carrier may be able to dismiss any causes of action by providing the opinions of the physicians to the proper investigative authorities within the department.

Legislative Authority

Colorado’s Medicaid programs derive their authority from one main portion of section 25.5 of the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing Act.  Section 25.5-4-301(5)(a), C.R.S. states, “When the state department has furnished medical assistance to or on behalf of a recipient pursuant to the provisions of this article, and articles 5 and 6 of this title, for which a third party is liable, the state department shall have an automatic statutory lien for all such medical assistance. The state department’s lien shall be against any judgment, award, or settlement in a suit or claim against such third party and shall be in an amount that shall be the fullest extent allowed by federal law as applicable in this state, but not to exceed the amount of the medical assistance provided.”

Additionally, section 25.5-4-301, C.R.S. states, “When the applicant or recipient, or his or her guardian, executor, administrator, or other appropriate representative, brings an action or asserts a claim against any third party, such person shall give to the state department written notice of the action or claim by personal service or certified mail within fifteen days after filing the action or asserting the claim. Failure to comply with this subsection (6) shall make the recipient, legal guardian, executor, administrator, attorney, or other representative liable for the entire amount of medical assistance furnished to or on behalf of the recipient for the injuries that gave rise to the action or claim. The state department may, after thirty days’ written notice to such person, enforce its rights under subsection (5) of this section and this subsection (6) in the district court of the city and county of Denver; except that liability of a person other than the recipient shall exist only if such person had knowledge that the recipient had received medical assistance or if excusable neglect is found by the court. The court shall award the state department its costs and attorney fees incurred in the prosecution of any such action.”   (Emphasis added)

Lastly, section 25.5-4-301(5)(b) states, “No judgment, award, or settlement in any action or claim by a recipient to recover damages for injuries, where the state department has a lien, shall be satisfied without first satisfying the state department’s lien. Failure by any party to the judgment, award, or settlement to comply with this section shall make each such party liable for the full amount of medical assistance furnished to or on behalf of the recipient for the injuries that are the subject of the judgment, award, or settlement.”

These three portions of the statute are important to remember prior to resolving any workers’ compensation claim.  Specifically, if the carrier or the insured has any knowledge that Medicaid paid for any potential treatment in connection with the workers’ compensation claim, the carrier must investigate and contact the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to inquire about any potential liens.  The duty to investigate is not on Medicaid or the State of Colorado, but rather the duty rests with each party to the workers’ compensation claim.   Failure to notify Medicaid prior to resolution of the workers’ compensation claims will cause the outstanding balance to become due and owing in full unless a separate argument can be made regarding the medical benefits provided to the claimant recipient.  This is the case regardless of any language placed into any agreements, stipulations, settlements, or the like that are agreed upon between the parties.

Recommendations

The carrier and the Employer, (either through counsel or individually), should always investigate whether any Medicaid liens exist at the state level.   Outstanding Medicaid liens differ from other liens due to the duty imposed on the carrier through statute.  Failure to investigate any outstanding liens could lead to potential reopening of claims long after they have been resolved.  Investigation could happen in a number of ways.  The simplest way involves contacting the department in writing and providing the identifying information of the claimant to search for any liens.  The department will usually respond within a few days notifying the carrier of any issues.    However, this manner may be problematic for adjusters especially in light of the volume of claims at any given time.  If counsel is assigned, the inquiry can be made by email or through general discovery pending on a litigated claim.  Discovery responses from the claimant can reveal receipt of any benefits through Medicaid or otherwise.

For more information about specific Medicaid issues on any workers’ compensation claims and recovery of liens, please feel free to contact us.   References about the Colorado Medicaid programs can be found here.

This is the final piece of a three-part series surveying the history of workers’ compensation. Prior to 1911, an individual residing in the United States, regardless of their state residency, who suffered a workplace injury could only recover damages by utilizing traditional tort based law. In other words, an injured worker would need to sue their employer and claim the employer’s negligence or intentional conduct caused the subsequent injury. The employer could raise defenses such as contributory negligence or assumption of risk to bar the receipt of monetary damages. This system was often cumbersome, time-consuming, unpredictable, and expensive for both the employer and employee.

In 1911, the State of Wisconsin passed the first statutory law specifically addressing workers’ compensation entitlement benefits. The goal of the act was to create an efficient system to adjudicate claims while reducing legal hurdles for the injured worker thus creating a predictable system where the employer could foresee limited monetary risks. The Wisconsin system created a “no-fault” legal system in which the injured worker would no longer need to prove that the employer engaged in some type of culpable negligent or intentional conduct. According to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, “the intent of the law was to require an employer to promptly and accurately compensate a worker for any injury suffered on the job, regardless of the existence of any fault or whose it might be.” The legislation provided for wage loss benefits, cost of medical treatment, disability payments, and payment for vocational rehabilitation training.

The legislation also eliminated an injured workers’ right to seek damages historically available through the tort system. As discussed in part two of the series, by 1911 the general public had become more concerned about the deplorable and often unsafe working conditions in factories across the nation. The Wisconsin Workers’ Compensation Act barred the injured worker from pursuing non-economic damages awarded by juries, including pain and suffering and loss and enjoyment of life. Similar to today’s ubiquitous state-based worker’s compensation acts, the Wisconsin Act enumerated the specific type of damages an injured worker could receive, thereby duly preventing the injured worker from requesting a jury to adjudicate damages. The judge adjudicating workers’ compensation claims, as a finder of fact, could not award benefits beyond the provided benefits in each respective act. The Wisconsin Act, while providing for specific benefits and shifting liability to the employer under the no-fault system, also provided employer’s with protection by limiting the scope of damages and removing the question of damages from unpredictable juries.

In the decade following the Wisconsin Act, nearly every state in the union promulgated some form of a workers’ compensation act. Mississippi was the last state to pass an act, but did so by 1948. Interestingly, as Gregory Guyton points out in his “Brief History of Workers’ Compensation,” the medical profession did not receive the worker’s compensation system with open arms. Medical professionals generally viewed worker’s compensation as a form of socialized medicine. According to Guyton, when the Social Security disability insurance act was created in the 1930s, disability based medicine expanded becoming lucrative for medical professionals. On the heels of the respective disability acts, the American Medical Association published the first guides to the evaluation of permanent impairment in order to develop a method to provide compensation evaluations. In Colorado, the legislature has decided to continue using the third edition of the AMA Guides to permanent impairment. The guide is currently available in six editions.

Given the volume of claims in any one state for benefits, each state may elect to create administrative agencies to adjudicate workers’ compensation claims. Colorado, for example created the Office of Administrative Courts in 1976 to hear an array of limited subject matter cases, including workers’ compensation. Prior to that time, the District Court handled worker’s compensation claims. Any individual working in workers’ compensation is familiar with the respective administrative system and ministering the claims. As the American workforce changes in age, and disability laws, including the ADA, become more pervasive in the work environment, there are open questions as to whether disability acts or managed health care administered by the federal government will substitute various aspects of workers’ compensation. For now, the workers’ compensation model most are familiar with will remain stable, subject to changes made by each respective legislation.

This is a question that I repeatedly see throughout the year and it comes in a variety of contexts. Often times, employers who may have recently terminated an employee, are suddenly posed with a request from that former employee for his/her personnel file. Sometimes, within a workers’ compensation or other employment related claim, the worker is seeking copies of the personnel file in an effort to bolster his or her claims. Additionally, employers receive requests from plaintiffs or third-parties seeking copies of personnel files concerning witnesses or company representatives. Consequently, employers are often placed in a decision whether or not to disclose this information and if there are any privacy issues with disclosing the information.

While the Colorado Supreme Court and Court of Appeals have not definitively addressed this issue head on, there is support for the conclusion that personnel files are property belonging to the employers and not the employees. In Corbetta v. Albertson’s Inc., it was the first time the Colorado Supreme Court addressed the issues of personnel files and privacy interests. The case involved a suit by a customer of Albertson’s alleging a variety of claims arising out of the plaintiff cracking several teeth on a pebble in a spinach salad she purchased. As part of discovery, plaintiff requested the entire employment files of the store manager, all assistant managers and all deli employees. Albertsons objected to the disclosure of these files invoking a right to privacy argument of the employees. The trial court ordered production of the files and concluded that while the personnel files were the property of Albertsons, disclosure was appropriate under the circumstances.

The Supreme Court overturned the trial court’s decision noting primarily that it did not appropriately balance the privacy interests involved and make appropriate factual findings and conclusions in addressing those privacy interests. However, the Supreme Court, in this decision, did not overturn the conclusion of the trial court that the personnel files were the property of the company. Accordingly, employers can rely on this decision for the conclusion that personal files are company property and not the property of the specific employee. Furthermore, while the Supreme Court did provide a right to privacy balancing test for determination of whether a personal file can be disclosed, the Court later in In re District Court, Cty and County of Denver revised this test, which now is the current law.

The case of In re District Court, Cty and County of Denver involved a former client of a law firm suing for legal malpractice and breach of fiduciary duties. As part of discovery, the former client requested financial information of the law firm members. The Supreme Court determined that when discovery requests implicate right to privacy interests:

• The requesting party must first prove that the information requested is relevant to the subject of the action;
• If shown relevant, then the party opposing the request must show that it has a reasonable expectation that the requested information or materials is confidential and will not be disclosed;
• If the trial court finds that there is a legitimate expectation of privacy in the materials, the burden then shifts back to the requesting party to prove either that disclosure serves a compelling state interest or that there is a compelling need for the information AND that the information is not available from other sources.

There are other issues that implicate personnel files. First, employers are not required to give employees access to their personnel records. Access to personnel files and the information they contain should be restricted. Only authorized employees, supervisors or managers should be permitted to access personnel records on a “need to know” basis. Second, records regarding confidential, sensitive information unrelated to job performance, such as regarding citizenship, garnishments and any medical condition that could cause someone else to conclude the employee has a communicable disease (e.g., HIV), should be maintained in separate, confidential files. For example, if an employee suffers a workers’ compensation claim, it is highly recommended that a separate file be created to avoid confidential and private information being contained within his or her personnel file, such as medical reports.

Take Away

Personnel files are the property of the employers and thus, it is recommended that outside the scope of litigation, any such request for disclosure be denied. When requests are made as part of litigation or insurance claims, it is imperative that the right to privacy issue be properly considered and that the litigants requesting the information properly meet their burdens before a trial court.