New York bill would make work-related opioid overdose deaths compensable

New York lawmakers have proposed amending the state’s workers compensation law to make work-related opioid overdose deaths a compensable claim.

Assembly Bill 1499, filed Tuesday, states that the death of an injured worker due to opioid overdose would be compensable in situations where the injured worker was prescribed the painkilling drug as a result of a workplace injury.

The measure would amend the section of the workers compensation law dealing with presumptions.

According to a report from the National Safety Council, some courts have ruled that opioid overdose deaths are compensable in situations where injured workers died while taking doctor-prescribed opioids to treat occupational injuries.