Author: Sarah Cohen
A New Year Means New Rules and Guidelines
As we hit the ground running in 2022, there are few rule changes to keep in mind when administering claims in Washington. I’ve included a summary of the several changes and updates to keep in mind. Heading into January 2022, the Department has extended its emergency rule related to employer…
Washington Implements Masking and Vaccine Mandates
With increases in COVID-19 caused by the delta variant, the state of Washington and the Department of Labor and Industry have provided updated guidance and extended masking and vaccination rules for business’s and workers. Governor Inslee has amended Proclamation 20-25 to adopt a recent face covering order issued by the…
Governor Inslee Expected to Sign Additional COVID-19 Related Legislation
Over the past year, the Washington legislature has passed several bills meant to protect workers from the impacts of COVID-19. During the most recent session, additional legislative bills have been passed by the House and Senate creating additional protections for workers impacted by COVID-19 and future public health concerns. These…
Reflecting on 2020 and Looking Ahead to 2021
The past year brought many changes within the world of Washington workers’ compensation. Some changes were planned, such as the Department’s updated forms and templates and new rules for exempt employee salaries, while other changes were born out of necessity following the global outbreak of COVID-19. As we say goodbye…
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Upholds Hanford Presumption Law
On August 19, 2020, the Ninth Circuit issued an opinion finding Washington was not in violation of federal law when it implemented HB 1723, also known as the “Hanford Presumption”. HB 1723 was signed into law in March 2018 and created a presumption that certain illness or conditions diagnosed in…
Adjusting to the New Normal – Washington Claims Processing and COVID-19
As the impact of COVID-19 continues to reverberate through Washington, it has created numerous challenges for employers and claims managers who are working hard to process claims properly and as efficiently as possible. Within this ever-evolving situation in mind, this post discusses some of the common issues that have arisen…
New Washington Law: First Responder Presumption
On June 7, 2018 the First Responder Presumption, House Bill SB 6214 became law and changed the way workers and employers approach mental health claims filed by firefighters and law enforcement officers throughout the state of Washington. Before the First Responder Presumption, all workers, including first responders, were typically prevented…
