Workers’ comp in Idaho has paid more than $2 million connected to COVID-19

The Idaho Legislature considered amending the workers’ compensation law in Idaho to include vaccine injuries, but the state has already paid out more than $2 million for COVID-19 illnesses and vaccine injuries.

Idaho workers’ compensation is regulated by the Idaho Industrial Commission. If an employee is injured at work, the employee can file a claim through the commission.

According to records obtained by Idaho Reports from a records request, the Idaho Industrial Commission received 2,338 employee claims related to COVID-19 as of Oct. 31. Most were related to illness from the disease: 1,520 were medical-only claims, including 713 with lost wages.

Fifty-three claims were related to COVID-19 vaccines. Of those, 39 were approved as medical-only claims. Three were approved as indemnity claims, seeking compensation for damages or less related to vaccine injury. Eleven claims were denied.

A bill introduced when the Legislature convened for three days last week would have required businesses that mandate their employees to be vaccinated pay the employee workers’ compensation if the employee receives a vaccine injury.

Idaho law does not currently specify vaccine injury. The bill Rep. Jason Monks, R-Meridian, would have included all mandated vaccines, not just those for COVID-19.

On Tuesday, Monks’ bill passed the House in a 67-3 vote. On Wednesday, the Senate State Affairs Committee held the legislation in committee. The Legislature then adjourned without a Senate vote on it.

This story is abridged from the original. Read the full Idaho Reports story at https://bit.ly/3oOY3rv.

This story was originally published November 22, 2021 at 4:00 AM.