National – The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) released two reports this week:
- "Industry Drill Down – The Next Level”, a new report in its series. The report highlights employment and frequency trends in construction and manufacturing. The report also offers economic insights, noting that construction experienced higher employment growth and was less impacted by COVID-19, whereas manufacturing saw an increased mix with more hires and separations. The series will continue with insights into the Transportation and Warehousing sector next month.
- Q1 2025 Quarterly Economics Briefing report. This report examines data trends across key economic segments, their impact on the economic outlook, and the implications for workers’ compensation.
Alabama – SB1 is scheduled for a Ways and Means Education Standing Committee hearing this week. As a reminder, SB1 would align public school teachers with other state employers, allowing them to receive workers' compensation if injured on the job.
Florida – HB 1281 is currently in the House. HB 1281 aims to streamline workers' compensation processes by revising the duties and responsibilities of the Department of Financial Services (DFS) and the Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
Maryland – The Maryland Joint Enforcement Task Force on Workplace Fraud released its 2024 Annual Report, highlighting ongoing issues with workplace fraud in Maryland. This includes employers misclassifying employees or paying them off the books, and violating labor, employment, and tax laws.
SB 306 was scheduled for a hearing next week in the House Economic Matters Committee. As a reminder, SB 306 aims to regulate the reimbursement of prescription drugs and pharmaceutical services under workers’ compensation laws. Specifically, the bill mandates the State Workers’ Compensation Commission to set fees based on acquisition cost plus a reasonable dispensing fee and review these fees biennially.
Massachusetts – Two Massachusetts bills of interest are currently in the State House; H2169 and H2122.
- H 2169 aims to provide workers’ compensation protections for certified medical cannabis patients and their caregivers. Specifically, it allows for the reimbursement of medical cannabis costs for injured employees who are qualifying patients or their caregivers.
- H 2122 aims to provide workers’ compensation protection to emergency response and medical personnel who contract COVID-19.
Texas – HB 5457 aims to regulate the relationship between pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and pharmacists or pharmacies. Specifically, the bill would prohibit unfair practices by PBMs, ensure transparency in PBM contracts, guarantee timely and fair reimbursement to pharmacies, and prevent PBMs from steering patients to specific pharmacies. The bill was introduced this week in the House.
West Virginia – HB 3341 was introduced in the House this week by State Representative Phil Mallow (R). HB 3341 if passed, would expand the range of professionals who can diagnose post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for workers' compensation purposes. Specifically, it allows licensed mental health providers, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners, and social workers, to diagnose PTSD as a compensable disease for first responders.
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