National –The Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) is holding a webinar to discuss its findings from a recent study The Impact of Attorney Representation on Workers’ Compensation Payments released in September. As a reminder, the study found that the average indemnity benefits per claim were $41,148 for represented injured employees, compared to $7,957 paid to injured workers without a lawyer. The webinar will be held on November 21st at 2pm ET. WCRI members the webinar is free, non-members the webinar will be $50. If interested, click here to register.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released updated and expanded guidelines for clinicians treating pain. The CDC Clinical Practice for Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain, will replace the CDC Guidelines for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain which was released in 2016. According to the press release, the goal of this update is to help clinicians work with their patients to ensure the safest and most effective pain care provided.
Ohio – The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) is launching the Workforce Safety Innovation Center (WSIC). This initiative will provide safety grants ranging from $150,000 to $2 million, depending on the project track, to develop personal protective equipment (PPE) and personal protective technology (PPT) that enhance workplace safety.
Texas – The Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) announced a new rule and a free webinar:
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- DWC adopted new rules to implement last year’s HB 2468. This bill makes individuals with major, permanent neurocognitive disorders and first responders with serious injuries eligible for lifetime income benefits. The rules, effective November 21st, include provisions for suspending and reinstating benefits after designated doctor examinations and establish annual certification procedures for first responders. The DWC will not order illegal examinations. These rules are published in the Texas State Register.
- DWC is hosting a free 45-minute webinar on December 11. The “Texas Workers’ Compensation Compliance 101” presentation will cover regulatory efforts and relevant administrative and criminal laws. This presentation aims to discuss the difference between complaints and disputes, the administrative violation process and the lifecycle of a fraud case. For more information, click here.
- SB 90 was introduced in the Senate. The bill aims to ensures patients can access prescription drugs for off-label use and protects physicians from penalties for prescribing these drugs, as long as they meet the medical standard of care.
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