LA is a state still in disrepair; still attracting back the population that lived there, trying to re-establish its culture and roots. In the process, trying to move back in the healthcare community that was displaced or near-bankrupted by Katrina and the loss of citizenry to treat.

LA’s legislature would do well to make the environment open and hospitable to business of all types, and put into place some regulatory guidance that will make workers compensation coverage easy to attain, affordable to maintain, and fair for all workers in the state. This attracts industry and business to their state.

It seems to me that nobody wins here. The employers don’t win because they don’t gain the savings value that the provider discount provides. The insurance carrier, administrator or self-insured employers don’t win because they don’t gain additional savings -which by the way relates directly to their workers’ compensation costs being higher and thus paying higher premiums.

The injured worker may or may not win because who’s watching the provider in terms of the treatment rendered? Just a nurse case manager, maybe. But not another network provider related professional or organization.

I just don’t see anyone winning, just a collective few reaping financial benefit from lawsuits and creating further damage to the LA marketplace regarding providers and plan entities like PPO’s.

LA should take notice and create legislation that proactive and truly helpful for healthcare network companies and others, providers and employers working hard to do business in LA . Medical Cards are challenging and have not proved themselves in the workers compensation arena in other states in the past. I do hope that the LA Legislature and their new governor take a look at what has gone on here and move to toward change. Then LA employers, carriers and others can once again enjoy lowering workers compensation costs.