Austin, TX – The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation (TDI‐DWC) is accepting comment on the proposed Fiscal Year 2018 Research Agenda of the Workers’ Compensation Research and Evaluation Group (REG). Labor Code §405.0026 requires the REG to prepare and publish annually in the Texas Register a proposed research agenda for commissioner review and approval. Under §405.0026, the commissioner must accept public comments on the research agenda and hold a public hearing on the proposed research agenda if a hearing is requested by interested persons.
Under Texas Labor Code §405.0025, the REG is charged with conducting professional studies and research related to:
- 1. the delivery of benefits;
- 2. litigation and controversy related to workers’ compensation;
- 3. insurance rates and ratemaking procedures;
- 4. rehabilitation and reemployment of injured employees;
- 5. the quality and cost of medical benefits;
- 6. employer participation in the workers’ compensation system;
- 7. employment health and safety issues; and
- 8. other matters relevant to the cost, quality, and operational effectiveness of the workers’ compensation system.
To comment on the proposed Fiscal Year 2018 research agenda or request a public hearing, it must be done in writing no later than 5 p.m. CST on Tuesday, February 20, 2018. A hearing request must be on a separate page from any written comments. The Texas Department of Insurance – Division of Workers’ Compensation requires two copies of comments or hearing request.
Send one copy by mail to:
Maria Jimenez
Office of General Counsel MS – 15
Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation
7551 Metro Center Drive, Suite 100
Austin, Texas 78744 – 1645
or by email to rulecomments@tdi.texas.gov.
Send the other copy by mail to:
D.C. Campbell
Director of the Workers’ Compensation Research and Evaluation Group
Texas Department of Insurance
Mail Code 107‐WC
P.O. Box 149104
Austin, Texas 78714‐9104
or by email to wcresearch@tdi.texas.gov.
If the commissioner holds a hearing, he will also consider written and oral comments presented at the hearing.
The proposed agenda was published in the January 19, 2018 issue of the Texas Register.
You may also visit the TDI website at www.tdi.texas.gov for copies of the proposed research agenda. You may send any questions you have regarding the proposed agenda to D.C. Campbell at wcresearch@tdi.texas.gov.
Source: TDI-DWC