January 10, 2008 - Commissioner Betts Signs Medical Fee Guideline and Hospital Fee Guidelines Rules. Commissioner of Workers' Compensation Albert Betts has signed rules to update a medical fee guideline for health care providers, to establish a hospital outpatient fee schedule guideline and to update a hospital inpatient fee schedule guideline for the Texas workers' compensation system. For more information, please go to www.tdi.state.tx.us/news/2008/news20088.html.
December 19, 2007 - Kansas Adopts Official Disability Guidelines The Kansas workers’ comp regulatory agency, the Department of Labor, Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC), has adopted Work Loss Data Institute’s Official Disability Guidelines Treatment in Workers" Comp (ODG) as the standard of reference for evidence-based medicine used in caring for injured workers. worklossdata.com/PR_Kansas.htm
June 11, 2007 - Texas Department of Insurance. As the result of the adoption of treatment guidelines for the workers' compensation system, the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) has announced that the prospective review of medical care not requiring preauthorization (PRM) rule (28 Texas Administrative Code 134.650) is no longer needed and will be repealed. tdi.state.tx.us
June 4, 2007 - Connecticut Senate. The Connecticut Senate voted last week to expand workers' compensation benefits to injured employees, despite cries from business advocates who claim the bill will help drive more companies out of Connecticut. insurancejournal.com
May 23, 2007 - Texas Senate Ruling. The Texas Senate has passed a bill HB 472 that is proposed to take effect Sept. 1. - An act relating to the regulation of third-party administrators, including administrators with delegated duties in the workers' compensation system of this state; providing administrative penalties. capitol.state.tx.us
May 16, 2007 - Kentucky Court of Appeals. The state made notification of these Court of Appeals opinions rendered 5/4/7 and 5/11/7. claimsharbor.com/2006_CA_002343.pdf, 2006_CA_001417.pdf, 2005_CA_001614.pdf, 2006-CA-002390.pdf.
May 16, 2007- Tennessee Legislature. SB1775/HB2128 has now been amended to do two things. First of all, it prohibits a person from collecting unemployment and temporary total disability benefits at the same time. Secondly, the bill requires an employee to negotiate in good faith at a Benefit Review Conference, and provides for a fine for a failure to do so. tnselfinsurers.org
May 11, 2007 - Tennessee Senate. The Tennessee Senate has made amendments to Senate Bill Number 1775, also known as House Bill Number 2128. This amendment includes changes to unemployment benefits as well as mediation issues. legislature.state.tn.us
May 11, 2007 - Colorado Legislature. The Colorado Legislature wrapped up its regular session on May 4, with fairly positive results for the insurance industry and consumers. The legislature did address several workers' compensation issues, which PCI believes will result in more litigation. claimsguides.com
May 8, 2007 - State of Florida. A public workshop on the 2007 Florida Workers' Compensation Health Care Provider Reimbursement Manual has been scheduled for Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at 10:00am in room 104J Hartman Building, 2012 Capital Circle Southeast, Tallahassee, Florida. Copies of the complete proposed rule text, notice of rule development, and associated information may be obtained from the Division's website at fldfs.com.
May 7, 2007 - Hawaii Legislature, Chamber of Commerce. Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle handed state employers a victory last week, when she vetoed House Bill 854. The bill would have required wage loss or temporary total disability payments to continue to be paid even during a dispute, only to be terminated upon order of the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations, or if the employee's treating physician determines that the employee is able to resume work and the employer has made a bonafide offer of work within the employee's medical restrictions. insurancejournal.com
May 4, 2007 - Texas Department of Insurance. The Texas Department of Insurance, Workers' Compensation Division has enacted comprehensive Disability Management Rules that apply to all claims with a date of injury occurring on or after January 1, 1991. Treatment and Return to Work Guidelines are effective May 1, 2007 and are applicable to treatments and/or services provided as of this date. tdi.state.tx.us
May 1, 2007 - State of Texas. Disability management rules adopted by the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation require non-network system participants to follow the Division's treatment and return to work guidelines beginning May 1, 2007. In preparation for this new requirement, the Division is providing training and educational resources which are accessible through the agency website. tdi.state.tx.us
January 1, 2007 - State of Texas. Rule Book supplements to update effective January 1, 2007 are: CHAPTER 126 - General Provisions Applicable to All Benefits, and CHAPTER 130 - Impairment and Supplemental Income Benefits. To update the TDI Rule Book, go to tdi.state.tx.us.
Mid-December 2006 - State of Florida. Under proposed Rule 69L-7.020, the 2006 Reimbursement Manual for Health Care Providers will become effective mid-December 2006. For additional information, please go to fldfs.com.
December 1, 2006 - State of California. The Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) has posted an adjustment to the inpatient hospital 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. dir.ca.gov
November 28, 2006 - State of Oregon. Please view the amended rules for the Oregon Managed Care Organizations, at wcd.oregon.gov.
November 8, 2006 - Knoxville, Tenn. The time an employee spends on strike is voluntary and must be considered in calculating workers' compensation benefit awards. Tennessee's Supreme Court has ruled in a decision favorable for employers. legislature.state.tn.us
