SPRINGFIELD — Seeking to blunt Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s push for an overhaul of the state’s workers' compensation laws, Democrats in the Illinois House say a new report shows that changes enacted in 2011 are saving the state money.
The report, compiled by the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission, shows benefit payments to injured workers have dropped by 19 percent since the changes went into effect — the largest decrease in the nation.
The report also found Illinois’ average medical payment per case fell 16 percent from 2010 to 2012, moving it from the highest cost state to near the median.
Discussion of the report at a hearing last week came as Rauner continues to push for business-friendly changes to workers' compensation laws before he will sign off on a tax increase to avoid drastic cuts to state programs.
Rauner wants to increase the standards workers must meet to prove their injury occurred at the workplace, reduce reimbursement rates for medical providers who treat workers and adjust rules for workers who are injured while traveling to their job.
Last week, Rauner outlined a series of tweaks to a workers' compensation overhaul, including several changes he says are supported by Democrats.
Among those is the creation of a workers' compensation ombudsman who could assist injured workers.
Democrats who control the House and the Senate have resisted the governor’s proposals, saying they would hurt middle class workers. And, during the hearing Wednesday, they suggested that the 2011 changes are already proving to be beneficial for businesses.
"If you read the report, it is filled with good news," said state Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Collinsville.
Hoffman, who chairs House Labor Committee, accused the Rauner administation of blocking the author of the annual report from attending the hearing. In a letter to Hoffman, Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission Chairmwoman Joann Fratianni said she was too busy to attend the hearing.
"To say I am disappointed, that is truly an understatement," Hoffman said.
A Rauner spokeswoman did not respond to a request for comment.
State Rep. John Bradley, D-Marion, also bemoaned the absence of Fratianni, who was appointed to the position by Rauner. He said she might have helped lawmakers understand the effects of the 2011 changes.
Bradley said more than two million Illinoisans were represented by lawmakers attending the hearing.
"I don't think I would just disregard that," Bradley said.
But Republican lawmakers businesses haven’t seen the estimated $500 million that was supposed to be saved by the 2011 overhaul.
"There is still lots more room for improvement," said state Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington
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