Oklahoma Governor Says She Won’t Replace Workers’ Comp System

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Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin says recommendations from a panel she appointed to overhaul the workers’ compensation system won’t include a proposal to change to a system where workers with claims don’t have to file lawsuits.

A bill in the Legislature would eliminate workers’ need to go to court. Some other states have systems in which claims are heard by administrative law judges who operate separately from the rest of the civil court system.

Fallin said the changes she wants won’t be that drastic but will make important changes.

“We’re looking at reducing the time delays in the system, better tracking of data,” Fallin told The Oklahoman on Feb. 18 after a speech in Oklahoma City.

After she was elected in November, the Republican governor formed a panel to look at ways to make the workers’ compensation system more efficient. The committee’s recommendations will be announced this week, she said, adding that any changes will be to the current system and not overhauling it.

“We’re going to be looking at fraud and abuse and even looking at rising medical costs and certainly how we can reduce our legal costs within the system,” Fallin said.

On Feb. 8, Fallin stood with more than three dozen GOP legislators and pledged to reform the system so it costs businesses less money. However, critics said the changes could come at the expense of workers who suffer disabling injuries while on the job. Oklahoma has about 170,000 open claims for workers compensation, Fallin said.

Speeding up the system will give injured workers a quicker resolution, while reducing fraud and controlling medical and legal costs will help keep the system affordable to employers.

A number of bills changing the system have been filed. Any of them could be amended to incorporate the committee’s ideas.

Republicans control both houses and the governor’s office. Former Democratic Gov. Brad Henry often blocked changes put forth by the GOP.

Lawyers who specialize in representing injured workers say placing caps on awards will hurt workers who deserve payments and that examples of outrageous jury awards are misleading.

The state legislature made significant changes to the state’s workers’ compensation system last year, which then-Gov. Brad Henry signed into law in June 2010.

Information from: The Oklahoman