The Women’s Business Enterprise Council PA-DE-sNJ Certification Committee has granted ACS Claim Service certification as a WBENC for another year!

The PA Workers’ Compensation laminated Rate cards for the 2017 calendar year are now available and can be requested from ACS Claim Service via assignment@acsclaim.com

Our move went very smoothly. We are still learning the new phone system, but are very excited about the additional features.

ACS Claim Service will be closed Monday, December 26th for the Christmas Holiday so our ACS family can spend time with their families.

We hope you have a relaxing and happy holiday.

Our after hour phone service will be available for new claims and the staff will be rested and ready on Tuesday morning the 27th.

Just a reminder with our move our mailing address stays the same along with our main phone numbers and fax number.

Thank you for your patience and understanding and have a very Merry Christmas.

USA TODAY reports on CDC’s opinions regarding opiates. Here are some quotes from the article, that will make you go hummmmmmmm.

 About 40 Americans are dying each day from overdosing on rx painkillers.
 Treating common pain conditions with long-term opioids is inappropriate
 Rx opiates on the market are as addictive as heroin and poorly control chronic pain
 Prescribing these drugs over 7 days is rarely necessary

Here is a link to the article: : http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/03/15/cdc-issues-new-guidelines-opiate-prescribing-reduce-abuse-overdoses/81809704/

Do you want to see your claimant, we can be your eyes in the field. The Cold Call Disability Confirmation (CCDC) allows you to add your claimant to our CCDC roster and we stop by for a visit, without an appointment. You’d be surprised what we see and learn. Such things as: a home based business, home repairs, car repairs, doesn’t live there anymore, not following his recovery regimen, baby sitting, packing for vacation and activities not in line with his/her injury. You also get a picture of the visit and an emailed report.

We stop by when we are in the area on other matters. So we can do this for a flat rate of $110, and we actually talk with the claimant. If he/she isn’t home, no charge.

You can’t beat this program with any other field based alternative. Consider requesting the cold call before your TNCP expires.

My friends,

I have had a chance to review the Commonwealth Court decision noted above. This decision ruled that the Impairment Rating Exam of the WC Act is unconstitutional I have included a link to the decision so you may read it for yourself – page 16-19 provides the order and it’s reasoning.

Basically, the court ruled that the General Assembly didn’t allow for further regulation review on how to use future AMA editions of the guides. You’ll recall the approved reforms to the WC Act creating the IRE process, only referred to the 4th edition of the guides and future “most current” editions.

The clt argued that were some changes to the guides in future AMA Guides editions which altered the disability determinations. The Courts believe the General Assembly should be required to review, act and approve these changes and a private enity AMA does not have that right.

We are now going to have to sit back and see how the WC community will react to this decision. It should be noted that the instant case was remanded back to the WCAB/WCJ for further findings. In eshence asking the WCJ to rule on disability rating in accordance with the 4th edition of the AMA guides. I assume this will require a new examination, using the 4th edition guides. Having said that; I’m still unsure what will happen on cases where the clt did not appeal the IRE conversions; did they waive the unconstitutional argument by accepting the conversion Or… if the case was heard by a WCJ and awarded the conversion to TPD, did the clt waive his right to contest the unconstitutionality. All questions that need to be answered.

Everyone will have to make that determination within their own operation. Should we go back thru our claim investory and “re-do” IRE exams, asking that they be completed using the 4th edition of the guides. Perhaps we let the clt file a review petition first? Cerainly going forward we should require our IRE examinaer to use the 4th edition.

My Best,
Dennis McKendry
Director of Claims
ACS Claim Service, Inc.

http://www.pacourts.us/assets/opinions/Commonwealth/out/1024cd14_9-18-15.pdf#search=%22protz%22