San Francisco, CA – The Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) has received notification from the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) that the final version of the proposed Medical-Legal Fee Schedule (MLFS) was forwarded on March 30, 2021 to the office of the Secretary of State for filing and printing. This action represents official adoption of… [Read more]
Legislative & Regulatory News
Gregory M. Derwart Named Deputy Commissioner of MD Insurance Administration
Baltimore, MD – Maryland Insurance Commissioner Kathleen A. Birrane recently named Gregory M. Derwart as Deputy Commissioner of the Maryland Insurance Administration. Since July 2020, Derwart has served as Chief of Staff for the Administration, acting as a strategic advisor to Commissioner Birrane, directing operational activities, leading special projects and coordinating the Administration’s engagement with… [Read more]
CA CHSWC Commissioners Doug Bloch and Martin Brady Reappointed by Governor Newsom
Oakland, CA – The Commission on Health and Safety and Workers’ Compensation (CHSWC) announces the reappointment of Doug Bloch and Martin Brady to the Commission. A total of eight (8) Commissioners are appointed by the Governor and the Legislature. Labor Code 75 establishes that two of the employer members and two of the labor members… [Read more]
MIOSHA Submits Request for Formal Rulemaking Related to COVID-19 Rules
Lansing, MI – The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) is initiating the process of formal rulemaking that will preserve requirements to mitigate and control the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace beyond their emergency rulemaking authority under the Administrative Procedures Act. The agency has submitted a Request for Rulemaking to the Michigan Office… [Read more]
OSHA Launches High Risk Coronavirus Worker Protection Program, Focuses on Retaliation
Washington, DC – In response to President Biden’s executive order on protecting worker health and safety, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has launched a national emphasis program focusing enforcement efforts on companies that put the largest number of workers at serious risk of contracting the coronavirus. The program also prioritizes… [Read more]
CA DWC: Emergency Regs for Med-Legal Evals & Reporting in Effect Thru October 12
Sacramento, CA – The Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) recently announced its emergency regulations 36.7 and 46.2 for medical-legal evaluations and reporting, which became effective on May 14, 2020 and were set to expire in January 2021, have been extended until October 12, 2021. The new expiration date is in accordance with Executive Orders N-40-20… [Read more]
CHSWC Releases 2020 Annual Reports on CA Systems and WOSHTEP Program
Oakland, CA – The Commission on Health and Safety and Workers’ Compensation (CHSWC) recently released two annual reports, one for the Commission’s work and one for the Worker Occupational Safety and Health Training and Education Program (WOSHTEP). CHWSWC 2020 Annual Report CHSWC’s 2020 annual report, the Commission’s 26th, presents information about the health and safety… [Read more]
NCCI Releases 2021 Legislative Trends: Issues to Watch & COVID-19 Court Cases Update
Boca Raton, FL – NCCI recently released a new Insights brief, 2021 Legislative Trends: Top Issues to Watch, which covers legislative activity that could impact the workers compensation system. NCCI monitors legislative activity that could impact the workers compensation system and notes that 2021 is already shaping up to be a busy legislative season. The… [Read more]
LA Commissioner Donelon Approves 4.1% Workers’ Comp Rate Reduction
Baton Rouge, LA – Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon recently approved the annual loss cost filing of the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) effective May 1, 2021. The filing reduces workers’ compensation rates -4.1% and continues the downward trend of seven of the last eight years, including 2021’s rate decrease. Rates have had a… [Read more]
CWCI Offering Webinar on New Changes to CA Med-Legal Fee Schedule
Oakland, CA – The California Workers’ Compensation Institute (CWCI) will present a live, one-hour webinar on Thursday, March 18 beginning at 9:30 a.m. (Pacific) to introduce workers’ compensation professionals to changes to the California Workers’ Compensation Medical-Legal Fee Schedule (MLFS) that the Division of Workers’ Compensation announced have been filed with the Office of Administrative… [Read more]