Business groups sue to block new workers’ compensation rules

Business groups have challenged an emergency rule that would allow essential employees, including nurses, first responders and paramedics, to receive workers’ compensation if they contract COVID-19.

The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association and the Illinois Retail Merchants Association filed a lawsuit Wednesday to block the rules from being implemented.

“If left unchecked, this emergency rule will add billions of dollars in costs on Illinois employers, including manufacturers who are operating during this global pandemic in order to provide medical supplies, protective equipment for first responders, and a safe and stable supply of food,” the associations said in a joint statement.

Under the rule, announced earlier this month, essential employees who apply for workers’ compensation as a result of contracting COVID-19 will be “rebuttably presumed” to have contracted the virus through their employment.

“My intention is to protect the workers of Illinois, the people who are most affected by COVID-19,” Gov. JB Pritzker said when he unveiled the rule. “We are in a pandemic… this is what we need to do right now to protect people.”

The associations argue in their lawsuit that such a substantial change to the process must be made through the legislative process.

“As a result, such emergency amendments are void as a matter of law, should be invalidated and the defendants should be enjoined from implementing these emergency amendments,” the lawsuit states.

Pritzker declined to comment on the litigation during his Wednesday press conference.

Health News Illinois is removing the password on all stories related to the coronavirus. For the latest developments follow us on Twitter at @healthnewsil or check out our website. For complete healthcare coverage, sign up for a free trial to our daily email newsletter.