National – According to a recent study by the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI), low-wage earners typically have less temporary disability duration than high-wage earners, and the influence of pay of temporary disability duration depends more on the worker’s age. NCCI’s study can be found here.
Connecticut – HB 5198 is currently in the House. HB 5198 if passed, would extend telehealth provisions that were adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic until June 30, 2027.
Hawaii – A Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection hearing has been scheduled for March 27th on HB 1836. As a reminder, HB 1836 would allow pharmacists to prescribe and fill prescriptions up to a thirty-day supply of controlled substances during a declared state of emergency.
Louisiana – Representative Sylvia Taylor (D) introduced HB 764. If passed, the bill aims to prohibit compensability and causation in medical treatment disputes. Specifically, the bill would not allow employers or carriers to raise issues with lack of compensability or causation as a means of defense when appealing a medical director's decision or for the first time a dispute is before the medical director.
Oklahoma – SB 1457 was scheduled to be discussed at a Judiciary Committee hearing this week. As a reminder, SB 1457, if passed, would aim to ensure first responders receive workers' compensation. Specifically, the bill states that if a doctor believes a first responder is unable to perform his/her job or an alternative work offered by the employee, the injured first responder will be entitled to receive compensation that is 70% of the first responder's average weekly wage or receive compensation that is greater than the weekly benefit provided.
Wisconsin – AB 1040 is currently in Assembly. If passed, the bill would create a program that allows a registered patient to possess and use medical cannabis products and would allow caregivers to possess medical cannabis products on behalf of the registered patient.
AB 1073 was signed by Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers late last week. Now enacted, the bill will increase the maximum permanent partial disability benefit from $430 to $438 immediately, and for injuries that occurred on or after January 1, 2025, the maximum PPD benefits will be $446 per month.
Ohio – The Ohio Board of Pharmacy has released a request for stakeholder comment on OARRS and the American Society for Automation in Pharmacy (ASAP) 5.0. Earlier in March, ASAP released a new ASAP Version 5.0 which aims to update reporting standards for the electronic format required for the transmission of drug sales. Stakeholder comments through end of business on May 1, 2024. To learn more, click here.
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