Boca Raton, FL – NCCI recently releases its Insights Report, 2021 Marijuana Legalization Update: Five Things You Need to Know – detailing marijuana legislation in more than 20 jurisdictions and at the federal level. NCCI noted that while COVID-19 continues to be the hot topic for workers compensation in 2021, the legalization of marijuana and… [Read more]
Legislative & Regulatory News
IL Governor Pritzker Appoints Three New Arbitrators to Workers’ Comp Commission
Springfield, IL – The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commisssion recently welcomed new Arbitrators after their appointment by Governor JB Pritzker: Roma Parikh Dalal, Antara Nath Rivera, and Ana Vazquez. Roma Parikh Dalal Roma Parikh Dalal will serve as an Arbitrator on the Workers’ Compensation Commission.* Dalal has most recently served as a Partner at Wiedner &… [Read more]
US DOL Announces RFI on Group Health/Insurers Reporting Pharmacy Benefits, Drug Costs
Washington, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor along with the Department of the Treasury, Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of Personnel Management recently announced a Request for Information seeking public input on the implementation of a new law requiring the collection and publication of data on pharmacy benefits and prescription… [Read more]
TDI-DWC Releases Plan to Update Notices and Forms
Austin, TX – On May 10, 2021, the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) issued a proposed plan to update DWC notices and forms with a new letterhead and mailing address. In some cases, TDI will also modernize forms and notices for content, font size, and plain language. DWC received three comments… [Read more]
CA OSHSB Votes to Adopt Revised COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards
Sacramento, CA – The Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board today adopted revisions to the COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards that account for recent guidance from the California Department of Public Health based on increases in the number of people vaccinated. Governor Gavin Newsom has signed an executive order (PDF) enabling the revisions to take… [Read more]
CA Governor Newsom Appoints Guzmán Legislative Director at DIR
Sacramento, CA – Governor Gavin Newsom recently announced the appointment of Sulma Guzmán, 36, of Lanham, Maryland, as Legislative Director at the California Department of Industrial Relations. Guzmán has been Policy Director and Legislative Counsel at Centro de los Derechos del Migrante (Center for Migrants’ Rights) since 2019. She was an Attorney for the Workplace… [Read more]
OSHA Issues Emergency Temporary Standard to Protect Health Care Workers from Coronavirus
Washington, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently announced it will issue an emergency temporary standard to protect healthcare workers from contracting coronavirus. The standard focuses on healthcare workers most likely to have contact with someone infected with the virus. OSHA announced the new standard alongside new general industry… [Read more]
OK WCC Commissioner Jordan Russell Named as Chairman
Oklahoma City, OK – Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Commission (WCC) Commissioner Jordan Russell was recently named Chairman of the WCC by Governor Kevin Stitt. His appointment to the Chair is effective June 1, 2021. Chairman Russell will be replacing Commissioner Mark Liotta as Chairman. Commissioner Liotta has made clear his intention to serve out the remainder… [Read more]
CA DWC to Hold Public Hearing Call for Proposed Anxiety Disorders Update to MTUS
San Francisco, CA – The Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) has issued a notice of conference call public hearing for a proposed evidence-based update to the Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule (MTUS), which can be found at California Code of Regulations, title 8, section 9792.23.8. The conference call public hearing is scheduled for Friday, June 11,… [Read more]
New WA L&I Agriculture Safety Team to Focus on Protecting Washington Farmworkers
Tumwater, WA – As the growing season gets underway, the Washington state Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) is taking a major step to help make sure farmworkers are safe on the job. L&I’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) is launching a new safety team known as the Agriculture Compliance Unit. When fully… [Read more]