What Happens in Alaska Doesn't Always Stay in Alaska

Emerging trends in workers’ compensation nationally include workers filing post-traumatic stress disorder claims from events that they experienced on the job. These events will typically be something traumatic, like witnessing a violent event while on the job or the aftermath of a horrific accident — but not always (think first responders, too).

Emperion hosted an educational webinar on changing PTSD regulations in Alaska, delivered by Michelle Meshke, an Associate at Russell Wagg Meshke & Budzinski, P.C. You may be thinking, "We don't handle many or any claims in that jurisdiction." That may be true. But we all realize that what happens in one state can pave the way for regulatory change in others.

If you are interested in PTSD Regulatory changes or handle claims in Alaska, watch the recording by clicking here.

Discover how the updated criteria for PTSD claims differ from previous standards and why securing an independent medical examination is crucial in these cases.

Who is affected by the new legislation?

Employers, employees, and adjusters involved in first responder, medical, and home health fields; administrators and owners of such practices.

What was covered?

How can we effectively manage these claims? What strategies can we use to gather evidence to defend a claim? How the use of an Independent Medical Examination (IME) from a qualified psychiatrist or psychologist can help determine if the cause of PTSD is related/unrelated to work, providing crucial insights for claim evaluation.

More about Michelle Meshke
Legal Associate, Russell Wagg Meshke & Budzinski, P.C.

A lifelong Alaskan, Michelle graduated from the University of Oregon School of Law and specializes in workers’ compensation defense litigation. Her legal background includes extensive litigation experience in insurance defense and as an Assistant District Attorney for Alaska. Michelle represents employers and insurance companies statewide and nationally. She represents the firm in the National Workers' Compensation Defense Network and is a founding board member of Kids’ Chance Alaska. Michelle practices before the Alaska Workers’ Compensation Board, Appeals Commission, and Supreme Court, and is a member of the Workers’ Compensation Section of the Alaska Bar Association.