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Letters Legislators seeking wrong solution for workers comp Editor: Your magazine has provided a forum for discussion of the current state of Illinois' workers compensation system. ("Workers Comp: renewed battle over business costs vs. employee rights," April 1995, page 17, and "Workers Comp article lacked balance," June 1995, page 40). Most of the arguments have been about the economic impact the current system has on business activity and viability in Illinois and fraud in the system. My belief is that the legislators and business activists are looking at the wrong cure for the disease. Central to the workers compensation problem are two related issues. First is the fact that health care providers receive little if any training in occupational medicine unless they specialize in that field. Without adequate training in obtaining a work/occupational history, treatment of occupational disease is difficult at best and usually not beneficial to the patient as there are myriad factors that enter into a prescription for treatment of an injured worker. The inability to access proper treatment usually results in protracted disability and loss of productivity and income for the worker and the business. Many physicians who are called upon to treat injured workers usually don't have the time to seek such training after entry into practice. Second, most business and insurance companies are not making any serious attempts to develop workplace strategies to prevent injuries. The idea of a 100 percent safe workplace is ideal but not practical. However, there are practices that can be put in place to reduce many of the repetitive motion and chemical exposure hazards that exist in the workplace. Prevention can be a significant factor in reducing health care costs, even for workers compensation. Without access to providers trained in occupational medicine and workplace strategies to prevent illness and injuries, the ultimate loser is the worker.
John E. Lopes Jr.
Governor's words and actions don't match Editor: "A Conversation with Our Readers" (June 1995, page 3) rightly emphasizes the need for more action on Medicaid, but, ironically, the Illinois Department of Public Aid took the wrong action by sending "Client Notice 95.25" to recipients of Aid for the Aged, Blind and Disabled, telling them that their dental, optical and podiatric benefits will end on July 1, 1995. The notice, which was sent without any warning, says, "You have the right to appeal. However, you will not be granted an opportunity for a hearing nor will your assistance be continued during the appeal process if the sole issue in your appeal is the reduction in covered medical services required by the state regulation cited above." That is typical of what has been happening under Jim Edgar's administration, and is made all the more ironic by the fact that Gov. Edgar was quoted (on page 13 of Chicago Life magazine, July/August 1995) as saying, "The government does have a role to play to help those who are particularly in need." The public aid department's action flies in the face of the governor's statement. It is sanctimonious hypocrisy to balance the budget on the backs of the aged, blind and disabled, while recognizing that they have a particular need for help from the government, and certainly are not the ones to blame for serious budget deficits and shortfalls.
Kenneth J. Epstein
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August 1995/Illmois Issues/37
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