John Burton on the history of Federal oversight of workers comp

John Burton is one of the true experts in workers comp. He has a long record of invilvemt in the comp system including participation on the Federal comp review
conducted back in the early nineteen-seventies.
Dr Burton spoke at today’s AmComp meeting in New York, giving details about that experience and sharing data about the decline in wage replacement adequacy over the last twenty-five years. He noted that standards of eligibility for comp claims have been steadily tightened over that time; reported that his data indicates well over ninety percent of medical costs for occupational diseases are missed by workers comp; and lamented the end of the second injury fund system.
With tongue firmly in cheek, Dr Burton said the myriad failures of states’ workers comp systems can only be attributed to a conspiracy on the part of mysterious forces with the goal of forcing Federal regulation of workers comp. There is no other explanation, except, Burton noted, inattention on the part of legislators and regulators.
In response to a question Burton lamented the lack of research done by states, many of which don’t have any formal research function.
This was written ony iPhone. Apologies for typos.