letter back

[backache]

Hello,
As I told you I was going to get busy and write letters to everyone I could think of who is an elected official in PA. I wrote many letter to State reps and one to our Senator. At this point I have only received one response to my concerns with WC and it was from the Dem. state rep. that I knew would answer. In my part of PA we are very priviledged to have a Democratic State Rep that actually listens to the people who have put their trust in him.
I wrote to him about the difficulties that the hard working people in this country go through once they are injured at work. I told him the difficulties the WC insurance adjusters put us through. I will only write portions of his response since I know we are not permitted to use names etc. He wrote.
"Thank you for your letter regarding workers compensation."
"Your first- hand description of the difficulties you have faced and the resulting anguish from the workers comp. system are one of the many I have heard about that collectively demonstrate the unfairness to workers."
It went on to say how he strongly opposed the workers comp. changes that had been made in the 1990's which subsequently caused the problems I had described. He stated big corperation and insurance companies were given far too much consideration at the expense of the injured workers after the ill advised "reforms" to WC law were enacted over a decade ago.
He ends by saying "Please be assured that I will continue to fight for injured workers' rights in Pennsylvania at every opportunity." He also said I could contact him with any questions.
I know the majority of you think that all state offices reply in about the same way, but I have known this man for years and I trust him. I gave him the forum address so that he can see first hand how the injured American workers are being treated. I will contiue to write letters to anyone that may be able to help us and listen to our problems because God knows we need the help.
One thing I'm going to ask he looks into is that the IC in PA should have to pay for travel expenses which we do not get reimbursed for at this point in time.
Please keep writing to as many elected state reps as you can. My Mom always said "the squeaky wheel gets the oil." So I'm going to complain until something is done about the way we are treated by WC.

[vickinat]

Backache,
Thank you for doing this. If you don't mind, would you email me or PM me witha some of the PA. addresses to mail to also. I may have to wait till my litigation is done, but every bit helps. I also agree about the getting reimbursed for our mileage. Mine only will do it if it's over 80 miles roundtrip and to an IME or someone that they set me up with. This sucks since most of my appointments are 30-35 miles one way. Thanks for all that you are trying to get accomplished.
Take care
Vickie

[Still in Limbo]

I'm glad You got a Response Backache! If enough People are made Aware of Our Problems, maybe some will Act on it! I read an Article the other Day that Recently there was a Convention of w/c Reps. in D.C., and a Keynote Speaker was an Advocate for the Injured Worker, and they were from Pa. The Person went on to Speak of the Dis-Respect We Receive, and with Better handling of Our Claims Sooner, and Respect for the Injured Worker, Many More Millions can be Saved by the i/c's, due to the Fact that the Worker that gets Proper Care has a Better chance f Returning to Work, and with More Respect from the i/c's, Injured Workers would be less disgruntled, and therefore be less inclined to File Suit!! Now We may not See any change for Us, but if it can Help others in the Future, I'm All For It!! Thanks for Your Great Work, and Keep up the Good Job!!

[sparkey]

I still do not know why so many states do not reimburse for mileage to doctors appts. etc. I have never had a problem getting any reimbursement even if it was 5 miles down the road here in NH. Just today i had to drive 100 miles round trip to pick up my prescriptions i dropped off 2 days ago that i was waiting on approval for and i am sending in the mileage today. I will be paid back 50.00 for my gas i used just doing that today.

I think it is so unfair that not all states have that in the WC system. There really needs to be something done about that, and hopefully soon with the prices of gas these days.