Mussman Supports Efforts to Reduce Costs for Businesses While Protecting Workers

Schaumburg, Ill. – State Rep. Michelle Mussman, D-Schaumburg, is encouraged by efforts in Springfield to totally revamp the state’s unfair workers’ compensation structure, having recently supported a workers’ compensation package that is far fairer to workers, businesses, insurance companies, and taxpayers.

“It is about time that we put politics aside to address a glaring problem with how our state handles its workers’ compensation claims,” Mussman said. “The bill I supported reduces costs for local businesses while protecting their workers. Illinois needs to hold insurance companies accountable which passes the savings on to our local small businesses. Another added benefit of the bill is that the state will first focus on addressing rampant fraud and abuse which reduces the overall cost of claims without breaching the rights of our workers.”

Mussman recently supported Senate Bill 2901 because among several measures, the bill doubles the amount of fraud investigators, incentivizes safety and return-to-work programs, and forces insurance companies to justify their rate increases to an independent board. The workers’ compensation revamp has also garnered support from medical groups like the Orthopedic Surgeons for Responsible Reform group and from labor unions like Laborers’ International Union of North America.

“Compared to our neighboring states, Illinois has lower medical costs per claim than Indiana, Wisconsin, and Iowa because of reforms enacted back in 2011,” Mussman said. “The next critical step is to see that savings are passed on to employers, which will ultimately help grow our economy. There is always more work to be done, but the lesson here is that when we tackle fraudulent claims while holding massive insurance companies accountable, good things happen.”

Mussman serves the 56th District, which includes portions of Schaumburg, Hoffman Estates, Elk Grove Village, Hanover Park, Roselle, Rolling Meadows, and Palatine.