The full Oklahoma Senate gave approval to Senate Bill 878 today, a workers compensation bill authored by Sen. Patrick Anderson, R-Enid, and Sen. Anthony Sykes, R-Moore. The bill was crafted in coordination with Governor Mary Fallin’s Workers Compensation Study Group, which includes members of the legislature and business professionals from various backgrounds. The bill was… [Read more]
Legislative & Regulatory News
Montana Governor Announces Appointments to State Comp Insurance Board
(HELENA) – Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer today announced appointments to various boards and councils: State Compensation Insurance Fund Board Elizabeth Best, Great Falls (named Chair). Qualification: public member. Best is an attorney in private practice. She earned her J.D. degree from the University of Montana and has served as a trustee for the Centerville School… [Read more]
Oregon to Net $3.6 million from AIG Workers’ Comp Misreporting Settlement
(Salem) — Oregon will receive about $3.6 million as part of a multi-state settlement with the American International Group (AIG) over misreporting of workers’ compensation insurance premiums. A two-year examination of AIG and its Chartis insurance companies found the companies misreported $2.12 billion in workers’ compensation premium nationwide as general or commercial automobile liability premium.In… [Read more]
SC Workers’ Comp Commission Creates a Surgical Implant Advisory Committee
In 2006 the Hospital Advisory Committee recommended a change in the In-Patient Hospital Fee Schedule. The Commission approved the Hospital Fee Schedule. However, they deferred action on the Committee’s recommendation for surgical implants. The Committee recommended the maximum allowable payments for surgical implants in the fee schedule separate from the diagnostic related groups and based… [Read more]
AIA Endorses Proposed Regulation Establishing Uniform Pharmaceutical Reimbursement Rates In Maryland
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 1, 2011 – The American Insurance Association (AIA), in its comments submitted yesterday to the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission, endorsed the establishment of uniform reimbursement rates for pharmaceuticals. AIA lauded the Commission’s proposal because it addresses a significant problem, in Maryland and in many states, where physician-dispensing of re-packaged drugs has been… [Read more]
PCI Calls For Improvements To Maryland Work Comp Proposal
ANNAPOLIS, Md.—While proposed amendments to Maryland workers’ compensation regulations represent an improvement from the emergency rule adopted January 4, 2010, the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) still has concerns about their impact. The regulation, COMAR 14.09.01.19, would establish guidelines for reviewing and approving proposed workers’ compensation settlement agreements in compliance with the review… [Read more]
RAND Posts New Research Brief on Workers’ Comp Reform’s Effects on RTW
From the Brief: “In 2004, California passed Senate Bill 899 (SB 899), which introduced sweeping reforms to the workers’ compensation system designed to reduce employer costs and simultaneously improve outcomes for injured workers. It overhauled the permanent-disability rating system, reduced parties’ ability to “shop” for physicians, reformed medical treatment, and stimulated return to work by… [Read more]
Maine Workers’ Compensation Board Releases Annual Report
The Maine Workers’ Compensation Board has released its annual report on the state of the Workers’ Compensation system. Highlights from the report include mention of the transition of the agency during the past seven years, “from an agency whose purpose was mainly dispute resolution to one which provides effective regulation, improved compliance, strong advocacy for… [Read more]
CA DWC Issues Third 15-day Notice of Revisions to Medical eBilling and Standardized Paper Medical Billing Regulations
The Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) has further modified its proposed regulations to adopt standardized paper medical treatment billing forms and electronic medical billing standards. The third 15-day notice of modification has been posted on the DWC Web site. Medical e-billing regulations will encourage electronic billing and faster payments to physicians and are part of… [Read more]
Assistant Secretary of Labor Releases Statement for OSHA Supporting Promotion of Job Creation
WASHINGTON — Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, today issued the following statement as the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce holds a hearing on “Investigating OSHA’s Regulatory Agenda and Its Impact on Job Creation.” Michaels… [Read more]