 Quinn said the reforms he signed Tuesday will lower costs for
businesses and improve the state's business climate. He touted the
new law at stops in Chicago, Rockford, Champaign and southern
Illinois.The reforms create an entirely new system for handling
workers' compensation cases. The governor will appoint new
arbitrators, state employees who hear workers' compensation cases,
for no more than three years. Employers now can send injured workers
to one doctor instead of two. Doctors' fees are slashed by 30
percent, and the number of weeks workers can collect compensation
for certain injuries is reduced.
The governor and business leaders say the new reforms could save
employers $500 million or more.
But critics, including workers' compensation attorney Jim
Nawrocki, say the reforms are too business-friendly and won't work.
Nawrocki specializes in workers' compensation claims for the Chicago
firm of Goldman, Weisman and Cairo, one of the largest workers'
compensation firms in Illinois, but he handles cases statewide.
Nawrocki said the arbitration process could be filled with
"political appointees and hacks," who will not be able to handle the
complexities of workers' compensation cases.
"I know that the whole purpose of (these reforms) was to make
things easier, cheaper and faster," said Nawrocki. "But I think
what's going to end up happening is there is going to be a lot more
litigation" when workers appeal their arbitration decisions in
circuit court.
Quinn said the new law will cut costs for companies that have
been paying some of the highest workers' compensation rates in the
country. Illinois businesses could see their workers' compensation
insurance premiums drop by nearly 15 percent.
Quinn said he expects to see companies stay in Illinois and add
new workers as a result of the reforms.
"There's no better way to help people than with a J-O-B," said
Quinn. "(And) we're going to be helping the employers of Illinois,
the workers of Illinois, all of those who are committed to economic
growth."
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David Vite, president of the Illinois Retail Merchants
Association, which represents stores and shops across the state,
agreed. Illinois' retailers were among some of the biggest
supporters of the new reforms.
"While there may be critics, this clearly moves reform
significantly down the road and sends the message that Illinois is
serious about economic development," Vite said.
The lower workers' compensation insurance rates will result from
the 30 percent cut in doctors' fees, which could undermine medical
care for injured workers, said Dr. Wayne Polek, president of the
Illinois State Medical Society.
"We predict injured workers will wait longer for care, thus
triggering higher medical care costs and delays in their return to
work," Polek said.
But Tino Oldani, president and CEO of Ingersoll Machine Tools,
which develops advanced machine tools for heavy industries, said the
new reforms could have a different effect on his medical costs and
his workers.
"Ingersoll (now can) balance between ensuring that injured
employees receive the necessary care while allowing the company to
manage their medical expenses," said Oldani. "This needed reform
helps Illinois manufacturers compete in the global marketplace."
The new reforms go into effect July 1, but some aspects of the
new law make take a few months to implement, such as finding and
confirming new arbitrators.
[Illinois
Statehouse News; By BENJAMIN YOUNT]
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