Waterbury, CT – Governor Ned Lamont recently held a bill signing ceremony at Engine 10 of the Waterbury Fire Department to commemorate the adoption of a state law that will provide workers’ compensation benefits to police officers, parole officers, and firefighters who have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after witnessing an unnerving event in… [Read more]
Legislative & Regulatory News
CA DWC Posts Adjustment to OMFS (Pathology and Clinical Laboratory Section)
San Francisco, CA – The Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) has posted an order adjusting the pathology and clinical laboratory section of the Official Medical Fee Schedule (OMFS) to conform to changes in the Medicare payment system, as required by Labor Code section 5307.1. The pathology and clinical laboratory fee schedule update order adopts the… [Read more]
CA DWC Posts Updated MTUS Drug List Effective August 1, 2019
San Francisco, CA – California Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) Administrative Director George Parisotto recently issued an order updating the Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule (MTUS) Drug List effective August 1, 2019 pursuant to Labor Code section 5307.29. The Administrative Director’s update order adopts changes to the MTUS Drug List, based on the American College of… [Read more]
Tri-State Labor Departments Form Alliance to Protect Workers and Employers
Atlantic City, NJ – Labor departments from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware recently signed a reciprocal agreement designed to better protect workers and employers through a newly established pipeline of information sharing and coordination of enforcement efforts. This agreement grants new powers to each state, including strategic data-sharing, interstate case referrals, and joint investigations that… [Read more]
NJ Governor Murphy Signs Legislation to Protect First Responders, Including 9/11 Volunteers
Trenton, NJ – Governor Phil Murphy recently signed A4882 and S716 into law, which will enhance protections for first responders, including those who volunteered for 9/11 rescue, recovery, and clean-up efforts at World Trade Center sites. “Thousands of courageous volunteers put their lives on the line in order to save those affected by the devastation… [Read more]
CA DWC Posts Additional Adjustments to OMFS (Hospital Outpatient Depts/ASCs)
San Francisco, CA – The Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) recently posted an order adjusting the Hospital Outpatient Departments/Ambulatory Surgical Centers section of the Official Medical Fee Schedule (OMFS) to conform to relevant changes in the Medicare payment system as required by Labor Code section 5307.1. The order is the second Administrative Director order for… [Read more]
APCI: P/C Insurers Report Strong First Quarter Underwriting Results
Jersey City, NJ – Private U.S. property/casualty insurers’ profitability as measured by their annualized rate of return on average policyholders’ surplus increased to 9.4 percent, the best first-quarter result since 10.8 percent in 2015, according to Verisk (Nasdaq:VRSK), a leading data analytics provider, and the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA). The industry’s surplus grew… [Read more]
WA Workers’ Compensation Benefits to Increase by 5.5 Percent
Tumwater, WA – For most workers injured on or before July 1, 2018, time-loss and pension benefit payments increased by 5.5 percent based on the change in the state’s average wage as announced by the Washington State Employment Security Department. State law requires that benefits be recalculated each year to reflect the change in the… [Read more]
TDI-DWC Working On New Protections for Injured Employees
Austin, TX – The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) is working on rules to enact new legislation that prevents injured employees from getting surprise medical bills after receiving treatment at federal military facilities. DWC asked lawmakers to look at the issue after seeing an increase in complaints from injured employees who… [Read more]
Ohio BWC Board Approves $1.5 Billion Dividend for Ohio Employers
Columbus, OH – The Board of Directors for the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) recently approved a proposal from Ohio Governor Mike DeWine to send $1.5 billion of the agency’s revenues to Ohio employers covered by the BWC system. BWC, the state’s insurance fund for injured workers, will begin sending checks to approximately 180,000… [Read more]