Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Changes in Some Treatment Guidelines


The Colorado Division of Workers Compensation has issued revised treatment guidelines effective February 2012 for Chronic Pain and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome/Regional Sympathetic Dystrophy. The latter we used to call RSD and it along with Chronic Pain have seemed to evolve over the years. They are complicated matters and physicians have often disagreed with each other on diagnosis and treatment. Those utilized by insurers tend to be conservative and seldom side with the claimant and those utilized by claimants tend to be liberal and generally side with the claimant. The purpose of the guidelines is to set forth the recommended methodology and these matters are among the most difficult to deal with. The guidelines provide clues as to what to do when handling such matters. Since many claimants have chronic pain and RSD can be extremely disabling the guidelines afford us some idea of treatment. They are long but interesting to read. A claimant may want to be informed so he or she can discuss matters with the treating physicians. While the internet may have good information you can start your research by reading any guidelines posted on the Division website.

Sunday, April 01, 2012

Pinnacol spends plenty on privatization effort


Once again Pinnacol Assurance is in the news. The Denver Post is reporting in an article that they have spent $1.6 million since January in efforts to promote its privatization. Lobbying, advertising and public relations are part of this effort. This has raised concerns about what it has been doing and whether it is sensible though Pinnacol has defended by indicating it was due diligence to protect policyholders. The privatization effort remains controversial and many oppose it. You can read the article for more on Pinnacol's efforts. The story has been around for many months. You can expect the story to continue. My view is that Pinnacol is thriving and wants more autonomy. Private entities have less scrutiny and Pinnacol has seemed quite aggressive in its push for privatization.