• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Subscribe
Program Guide
Watch Live

CCX Media

Skip NavigationMenu
  • News
    • Close
        • CCX News
          • CCX News Home
          • News Stories
            • CCX Daily Newcast
          • CCX News Special Reports
          • CCX Media Schools
        • Feature Segments

          • Business Matters
          • School Spotlight
          • Standout Student
          • Weekend Showcase
          • Newsmakers
        • News Tip

          Send us a story idea or news tip!
          Facebook Instagram Twitter
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
        • Apple News
    • Close
  • Sports
    • Close
        • CCX Sports
          • CCX Sports Home
          • Sports Tips
          • Hall of Fame
          • Upcoming Event Coverage
          • Play of the Week
        • Sports Coverage

          Adapted SportsAdditional SportsBaseballBasketballFootball
          GymnasticsHockeyLacrosseSoccerSoftball
          Swimming & DivingTennisTrack & FieldVolleyballWrestling
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter Instagram
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
          Shop/Order
    • Close
  • Cities
    • Close
        • CCX Cities
          • CCX Cities Home
          • The Connection
          • In The Community
          • Our Town’s Story
          • Community Resources
          • CCX Media Schools
          • City Meetings
        • Your City

          Brooklyn Center Local News and Events
          Brooklyn Park MN Local News and Events
          Crystal
          Golden Valley
          Maple Grove
          New Hope
          Osseo
          Plymouth
          Robbinsdale
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
    • Close
  • Create
    • Close
        • CCX Create
          • CCX Create Home
          • Channels
          • Resources
          • Meet The Create Team
          • CCX Create Virtual Tour
        • Get Creative

          • Make Your Own Show
          • Free Classes
          • Contact Us
          • Polka Spotlight
          • Diversity Minute
        • RueShare

          • Member Login
          • Member Guide
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter Instagram
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
    • Close
  • Subscribe
  • Program guide
  • Watch Live

Hortman, Winkler Address COVID-19 Response; Lawmakers Approve Workers Compensation Bill for First Responders

2:01 PM | Tuesday, April 7, 2020

State lawmakers approved legislation Tuesday to help first responders, police, firefighters, nurses, doctors, and other health care providers with workers compensation claims for COVID-19. The Minnesota House vote was 130-4.

The bill, HF-4537, was taken up during an unusual floor session with lawmakers calling in remotely and other lawmakers socially distancing themselves in legislative chambers. The Minnesota Senate later approved the measure 67-0.

House Floor

House Speaker Hortman wears mask during floor session.

Local lawmakers addressed the bill Tuesday morning with CCX News and other media outlets.

Rep. Winkler holds remote media availability.

“If we don’t pass this bill today, they will not have protection tomorrow,” said Ryan Winkler, DFL-Golden Valley. “We will figure out the costs.”

The legislation would make it easier for health care workers and first responders to receive compensation claims. However, lawmakers must still figure out the costs and how to pay for them.

COVID-19 Workers Compensation Cost Estimates Vary

The most likely cost projection is around $320 million for COVID-19 workers compensation claims. But that could go up to $580 million under a worst-case scenario, says Winkler. The Minnesota Department of Commerce and the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry are putting together cost projections.

“We will continue to work at it to make sure that we are being responsible and distributing the costs out of this proposal to as much of the state as possible so no one group is hit too hard by this cost,” said Winkler.

House Speaker Hortman addresses questions remotely.

House Speaker Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, says federal money could also be used for workers compensation claims. She pointed to the $1.87 billion that Minnesota expects to receive through the federal CARES Act.

“We owe a duty to these folks and we will find a way to pay for it,” said Hortman.

A Doctor’s Note Will Suffice

Under the bill, first responders and health care providers won’t have to prove through a court of law or through the workers compensation system where they contracted COVID-19. That’s different compared to other workers comp claims where workers must establish how they got a disease or injury through their employment.

“We are treating COVID-19 differently than we treat an occupational disease normally,” said Hortman.

If a test for COVID-19 is unavailable, a doctor or health care provider can provide a written statement for purposes of proof.

A Lot of Unknowns

There are several unknowns with the legislation, such as how many first responders will get COVID-19. There’s also disagreement between DFL and Republican leaders on payment options, though Hortman is confidant that can be worked out.

“It’s really important that the workers compensation system be sound and stable for all the workers that rely on it,” said Hortman.

So far, workers comp claims for COVID-19 are quite low, Winkler said. A recent model published by The University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation pointed to Minnesota reaching peak cases April 23 with deaths peaking on April 26.

coronavirus How COVID-19 is impacting our community 

Find all of our latest COVID-19 stories here

Corey Bork, reporting

Brooklyn Center | Brooklyn Park | Crystal | Golden Valley | Maple Grove | New Hope | Osseo | Plymouth | Robbinsdale

Related Stories

Authorities ID Brooklyn Park Boy Killed in Maple Grove Crash:  Authorities say the child killed in a… Read More
Golden Valley Animal Humane Society Rescues 23 Beagles:  Twenty-three dogs arrived at Golden… Read More
Grumpy Claude’s Food Truck Serves up Taste of the Caribbean:  Claude Alkins is in the business… Read More
Brooklyn Park Fines Huntington Place Apartments Owner for Repair Failures:  Brooklyn Park to Levy… Read More
Brooklyn Park Launches Nationwide Search For New Police Chief:  Brooklyn Park has officially… Read More
Anoka-Hennepin School Board Approves Hire of More Teachers:  The Anoka-Hennepin School Board approved… Read More

Footer

NAVIGATE

  • CCX Media
  • NEWS
  • SPORTS
  • CITIES
  • CREATE
  • Job Opportunities
  • Meet the CCX Media Team
  • ABOUT CCX MEDIA
  • Annual Programming Reports
  • CABLE COMMISSION

SUBSCRIBE

Get email updates for daily story previews. “Week in Review” video links, and programming previews.

Subscribe Today

CONNECT

HAVE A NEWS TIP? CALL OUR TIPLINE AT:  763-533-1710
Send us story ideas and comments!
Get in touch with us
               
 NEWS   SPORTS
 SHOP/ORDER

LOCATION

CCX Media
6900 Winnetka Avenue North
Brooklyn Park, MN 55428

Main Phone:  763-533-8196

CCX Media serves the northwest suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota, including Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Golden Valley, Maple Grove, New Hope, Osseo, Plymouth and Robbinsdale.
Copyright © 2022 CCXMedia | All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Statement
Web Design and Development by CEL Marketing PR Design and BizzyWeb | Log in