News and Information
from Voices, Inc.
April 2007 - VOICES publishes amendments which would be of great assistance to injured workers. Also published were Please support injured workers, and We Can't Wait - letters to legislators by Mary Bailey, and Talking Points 2007.
April 2007 - Listen to We Are The Voices, composed and performed by Richard Berman, Esq. Many thanks for his contributions to and his heart for VOICES. Good song, Richard!!March 19, 2007 - VOICES rallies at the Capitol and the Florida Supreme Court. At the press conference, Rep. Susan Bucher blasts the inequity of the workers comp system.
2007
April 2006 - April Legislative Campaign encourages injured workers of this state to contact legislators with this message: we would like to know when you are going to seriously address our issue, which is to fix the comp system so that it works for the people it was intended to help - the workers.
February 11, 2006 - Lundy vs. Four Seasons, an important case regarding the ability of the legislature to severely limit claimant attorney fees, will be heard at the First District Court of Appeals in Tallahassee, Feb. 28, 2006. Join us in a silent but obvious statement of support..
February 7, 2006 - Since the new Medicare prescription beneefit has become law, its impact on injured workers who want to settle their cases has become problematic. See Comp and the Medicare Set-Aside before you consider settling!
Voices is pleased to let readers know of the the formation of the firm O'Brien, Weisberg & Brooks, LLC. It has been very supportive of injured workers and plans to continue to represent individuals in Personal Injury/ Wrongful Death, Workers Compensation and Social Security Disability matters. The principals will also be available to conduct circuit civil and workers compensation mediations. 2006 top
November 8, 2005 - Injured workers tend to have a heightened awareness of civil liberties, due to their all-too-frequent experiences as second-class citizens as members of the world of workers comp. Interested persons may examine civil liberties issues in "ACLU Freedom Files".
November 1, 2005 - Novemberr 05 Campaign - Toxic and Chemical Injury - starts. Posttings include talking points and a letter to lawmakers from Mary Bailey.
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October 1, 2005 - October 05 Campaign - Psychological Injury - starts. Postings include talking points and suggestions for more effective letter-writing.
September 29, 2005 - What To Expect At A Deposition is posted. Most people have never been closer to a deposition than watching a trial on TV. Real life is different. Read excellent ideas for handling yourself positively and effectively in a deposition.
June 8, 2005 - TAKE ACTION! was uploaded, a new page for giving supporters direction in ...well... taking action to make positive changes to Florida's workers compensation scene . The June Action Campaign is launched. Two sample letters are included for reference. Email addresses for all 2005 Florida legislators are posted. Just copy and paste them into your BCC (blind copy) section of your email addresses. Divided into groups of 10 for ease of usage.
VOICES officially takes a stand against the renomination of OJCC Deputy Chief Justice Scott Stephens. Read Mary's letter to the committee in charge of making (re)nominations to the workers compensation bench.
Read two letters to lawmakers urging them to take a stand for upgrading workers comp legislation FOR THE WORKERS this time. Letter one......Once More Forgotten and letter two.....For the workers this time.
March 21, 2005 - The VOICES publications developed for use at the Florida Capitol Rally on March 22 are posted. Letter to Lawmakers is Mary Bailey's letter to the lawmakers noting some of the strengths and weakness in the current comp legislation. 2005 Talking Points lists the top issues that lawmakers should know about and take action on. Advocates should print this one out. SB 2416 Overview is a synopsis of SB 2416. SB 2416 is a link to the comp bill that is for the workers this time. Thanks, Senator Tony Hill.
March 8, 2005 - GGood News Gone Bad is posted. A continuation of the account of the injured worker in A Bit of Good News...sorta (see Feb. 21, 2005).
February 21, 2005 - VOICES, INC. disclaimer posted. Let's not have any confusion about the limits of what VOICES can and will do. A MUST READ.
February 21, 2005 - "The Stigma With Psychiatric Care" by Mary Bailey is posted. If your poor treatment leads to distress that can be treated by a psychiatrist, carriers are prone to jump to the position that your entire injury is "all in your head" which then carriers use to dismiss your claims and needs, and delay or deny needed treatment and medicine. Consistently this is done in the absence of a phyicians's approval. Just who IS the doctor here? Isn't this practicing medicine without a license? In spite of this hassle, Mary reminds injured workers, "Please, do not allow the stigma that comes with psychiatric treatment to stop you from benefiting from the treatment" that you may need.
February 21, 2005 - "A Bit of Good News...sorta" is posted. An eloquent, out-spoken appraisal of the state of workers comp from the writer's experience, a situation that anyone who is knowledgeable about injured workers will agree occurs nationally and too frequently. Posted without editorial editing.
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October 25, 2004 - Exclusive Remedy: Fix It or Ditch It! A letter to lawmakers explains how the exclusive remedy promise has been compromised to the point that it is more of a government bail-out for insurers than a protection for injured workers. By Mary Bailey.
October 25, 2004 - Questions You Should Ask Your Lawmakers - 24 good questions to ask yourself and then ask your lawmakers.
October 25, 2004 - Things To Know While You're In The Comp System "Required reading" for injured workers - Mary has compiled a list of some picky details about doctors, attorneys, carriers, settlements and retraining. Excellent information.
October 24, 2004 - Got Picturess?? Mary has found someone willing to produce a video on injured workers and their families from our viewpoint. It would not be a documentary. It would just be a video showing the lives of injured workers. It will be done tastefully. See the article for what you can do to assist and how to submit photos.
October 14, 2004 - Getting a doctor referral to another doctor can be a real pain in comp. There are lots of ways that the worker can get railroaded. Read this article for Tips when a doctor wants to refer you out.
August 5, 2004 - Links posted for early voting procedures and absentee ballot procedures . Also posted State legislators organized by counties including committee assignments, and contact information. Florida only.
August 5, 2004 - Comments by Mary Bailey posted: What Can We Do To Cause Change? Practical, hands-on ideas for participants in a democracy. Step out for your rights or get stepped on!
July 26, 2004 - Workers Comp Suffers $10 Million Cut - "The governor's veto means the JUA must ask the state to collect additional premiums to offset the loss." Article from Herald-Tribune, writers Rich Shopes and Michael Braga. "Bush said the state's critical needs -- education, health care, public safety and economic stimulus -- must take higher priority."
July 25, 2004 - What You Do In The Name Of Insurance , an open letter to lawmakers, outlines the harassment that Mary Bailey has endured from her insurance carrier. She shows how injured workers never come out on top the workers comp court system, citing examples of how her losses, leading to bankruptcy and foreclosure, have led to higher insurance and other costs. These costs are NOT reimbursable although they are the direct result of the carrier's illegal actions. Nice system for carriers, huh??
July 25, 2004 - "Fla. DFS Fines Workers' Comp Carriers, Self-Insured Plans More than $875,000 for Violations"
On July 13, the Florida Division of Financial Services, Division of Workers Compensation, Bureau of Monitoring and Audit announced a list of carriers which were fined during 2003-2004. Heading the list was Travelers Ind. Co. of Illinois ($229,600.00) followed by Associated Industry Insurance ($115,751.61).
Also announced were the following companies as "Audits Closed April 1, 2004 to June 30, 2004" which were fined a total of $89,211.62:
Download original file at http://www.fldfs.com/pressoffice/pdfs/carrierfines.pdf. There are additional findings for timely payments to workers, providers, etc. First Commercial Mutual had the most dismal findings and had the largest fine as well. top
January 19, 2004 - Injured in Florida after October 1st, 2003? Some suggestions and contacts for helping those dealing with the most horrible legislation in year against injured workers.
January 19, 2004 - Posted: A Directory of Florida Division of Workers Comp phone numbers and websites for the director and the bureaus in the division.
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September 9, 2003 - What is the Human Cost? A provocative article by Mary Bailey, examining the cost of the workers comp system in American in human costs rather than dollar terms. The people lose; the carriers win. Surprised??
June 29, 2003 - We know about Jeb Bush's stand on working people. Now take a look at Dubya's track record on on the issues America's workers and families care about.
June 26, 2003 - A third letter from a representative is added to Comparison of Two Votes. So now it's three votes.
June 21, 2003 - An instructive, side-by-side Comparison of Two Votes is posted. The votes by two Florida representatives are explained in these actual letters to constituents. One representative voted 'yay'; the other voted 'nay.' Read them for two takes on the reasons for their votes.
June 20, 2003 - Mary Baileey's letter to Governor Jeb Bush Veto SB 50A is posted. She notes what the bill does, what it does not do and outlines several options that would actually save money without further crippling injured workers.
May 31, 2003 - The worst workers comp bill in 25 years passed the Florida legislature on a mostly party line vote. It is considered so flawed that some members voted for it only after Senate President King promised to have interim meetings to sort it all out for a glitch bill in the 2004 session. The summary of SB 50A is posted on May 31, 2003. Direct links to the legislation at myflorida.com are posted on the same page.
May 10, 2003 - Why Is Mary Ann Stiles Smiling? is posted. This is a great letter to legislators during the 2003 Florida regular session. Robert Shapiro, Esq., advocate for injured workers, lays it on the line. What does AIF want after it gets its pint of blood? Great letter, Bob.
May 3, 2003 - Code of Ethics for Adjusters from the Florida Administrative Code is posted. Read what an adjuster is supposed to do and not do. The page also includes links and phone numbers to the Employee Assistance and Ombudsman Office where one may report problems with adjusters and carriers.
------ Florida Administrative Code link is posted on the links page. Section 4 is for insurance. Included in it are the adjuster rules (page 635) and rules for workers comp claims (page 989), compliance (page 1019), and more W/C topics to the end of the document (last page 1046).
April 4, 2003 - Position Statement to House Insurance Committee on PCB In 03-02 by Mary Bailey and Karen Woodall. This statement outlines the major problems with the bill.
March 8, 2003 - What Would You Do If..., an article by Mary Bailey, lists 20 problematic scenarios that commonly occur to injured workers. She asks legislators how they would respond to them. Also available as a brochure downloadable in .pdf format and .doc format.
February 20, 2003 - Mary Bailey's letter to Rep. Connie Mack. She offers reasons why he should reconsider supporting the Coalition/Chamber of Commerce Bill. Please think about it, Mr. Mack.
February 18, 2003 - Injured workers testify at House Select Committee on Workers Comp:
Mary Bailey's testimony: Misconceptions About Comp and Injured Workers.
Martha Stanley's testimony: Eight Trends. top
February 10, 2003 - Insurance Policy, Not Retirement Retirement Policy - Mary Bailey's response to the insulting and ignorant comment from persons who state "But workers comp is not supposed to be a retirement policy."
February 7, 2003 - Editorial Opinion : The Governor's Commission on Worker's Comp by admin@voicesflorida.com
January 31, 2003 - Mary Bailey's Response to Division of Workers' Compensation Reform Needs and Goals for 2003. (The links for this have been removed from the source site. Go here for information about the sponsoring organization.)
The date for the 2003 annual INJURED WORKERS NATIONAL PROTEST DAY rally is announced. If you're interested in being a state or area coordinator or you would like more information, go to this site.
---- California Workers Try To Secure Benefits. This 1997 article describes how one million times a year, California workers seek help from their employers for an on-the-job injury. The article hasn't aged a bit.
January 30, 2003 - This website is renamed. The URL is now http://www.voicesflorida.com.
January 26, 2003 - Article by Mary Bailey "The Great American Insurance Crisis" is posted. She thinks it's time for the insurance industry to be held accountable for its own actions and to stop trying to get above average profits every year.
January 26, 2003 - Article on how injured federal workers suffer an astonishingly similar fate as Florida injured employees is posted. The Federal Workers' Compensation Program: Are Injured Federal Workers Being Treated Fairly? While this is an older article (2000), it resonates completely with the status of injured employees in Florida today.
January 1, 2003 - Coalition Bill available. This bill is a rehash of AIF-promulgated legislation that failed to pass in previous sessions. It is very nasty to injured workers and not at all upsetting to carriers. Go figure. Be sure to read the summary by clicking on the link. Have your Tums handy.
2003 top December 30, 2002 - Agenda posted for Jan. 9, 2003 meeting in Ft. Myers of the Governor's Commission On Workers Compensation. This is probably the final meeting of this commission. If you have something you wish them to consider, put it in writing and send it to Mary Bailey so she can forward it to them in person. They may feel free to disregard anything but hard-copy information, delivered face-to-face.
---This website gets a new index page and a site map. These should help make navigating easier.
December 26, 2002 - The Voices Easy-To-Do Advocacy Kit is posted at www.voicesfloridacom. Go here to get names, addresses, and pertinent information to make your advocacy efforts effective and efficient.
--- "Common Sense Changes to Florida Workers Comp System" is posted. This letter was written by Mary Bailey and sent to the members of the Governor's Commission on Workers Comp and others. It lists 9 ways to improve the system. A must read for those advocating for work-injured persons.
December 23, 2002 - 2002-2004 Senators Email addresses posted. top
December 20, 2002 - Joan Claybrook, president of Public Citizen, testified at the governor's task force on medical malpractice. Her comments reveal her belief that much of the insurance crisis is the result of rate manipulations by insurance companies to compensate for poor investment returns when the stock market slowed after the 1990s boom. Further, the Florida Board of Medicine must be a better watchdog of doctors. "It would be a travesty of justice for this task force to take away patients' legal rights in the name of protecting insurance company profits and doctors' income," Claybrook said in her statement. "The fact is that the legal system is all Floridians have to ensure just compensation for injury and to force improvements in patient safety, as the regulatory system is not doing the job here or in most places across the country. Limiting legal rights will not solve the problem, because they are not the cause."More details.
December 15, 2002 - Voices, Inc. urges all interested parties to begin contacting their state legislators in preparation of the 2003 legislative session. The (likely) recommendation of the governor's commission and the so-called Coalition Bill are very pro-industry at the expense of the injured worker. Our education efforts must begin and be maintained. It's imperative that the legislators do NOT get all their information about w/c from the well-heeled lobbyists from carrier-influenced groups. It is important to initiate/maintain personal contact with the legislators and their aides. See the Voices Easy-To-Do Advocacy Kit.
---The website is updated. Changes include the newest names and addresses of VOICES, INC. officers and contacts. top
November 2002 - The Governor's Commission On Workers' Compensation acting chair Kevin McCarty refuses to let Mary Bailey speak at the commission. Citing incorrectly that she had spoken at every previous meeting, Mr. McCarty eventually allowed Ms. Bailey a short opportunity to be heard. Private citizens and reporters took note of the inequity of treatment by the commission toward injured workers.
October 2002 - The Governor's Commission On Workers' Compensation disrupted testimony by Karen Woodall and Mary Bailey by asking off-topic questions and by wasting the speakers' opportunity to testify. Other injured worker advocates were asked leading questions calculated to trick those testifying into agreeing that injured workers should give up their right to be heard by a judge in cases of disputes with carriers. Kudos to Deana Palmatier for standing fast and thinking fast.
top July 22, 2002 - Injured workers meet with Janet Reno
Injured workers were able to have 30 minutes of the undivided attention of Janet Reno today in Tallahassee. The thrust of their comments were to inform her about how horribly broken the workers comp system and how badly treated injured workers are. She heard generalities and specifics, comments about the problems of injured workers and comments from injured workers.
She listened very carefully. For example, when she looked at me, she 'locked on' to me and I KNEW I was being listened to. She did the same for every person speaking to her. She processed what she heard and asked a few questions that showed 1) that she had actually read the information packet sent to her earlier 2) that she had indeed been listening carefully and accurately 3) that she was looking at both the big picture and the details and 4) that she really did have a heart for this situation.
She is a tall woman. She had on a blue suit with pearls, very much like the one she wore on Saturday Night Live. She wasted no words, choosing them carefully and cogently. She is obviously a woman of intellect who has executive ability.
I believe the injured workers of Florida got well-heard today and that Ms. Reno got 'the message.'
Meetings with Mr. McBride and Mr. Jones are still in the works. Hopefully, each of these two gentlemen will 'get the message' as well. The more who do, the better.
July 2002 - Several publications become available by download. Included are a brochure to introduce VOICES, a legislative talking points brochure for the next session, a brochure (front page, back page) to explain the federal court suit mentioned below , and a VOICES application.
June 22, 2002 - Governor's Commission on Workers Compensation meets in Tallahassee. Four injured workers testify before the panel. Next scheduled meeting is August 21st.
April 2002 - Miami attorney Mark Zientz has agreed to file suit in federal court, asking the court to take over jurisdiction of Florida's workers comp system. $50,000 is needed to get things started. Injured workers in Florida have raised pledges of $7,000 and are being urged to contact workers comp attorneys and physicians for their financial support as well.