Floor Activity:

Passed House: 3/5/11, 96-1.

Senate Amended.

Passed Senate: 4/5/11, 48-0.

House Refused to Concur.

Senate Amended.

Passed Senate: 4/21/11, 47-0.

House Concurred.

Passed House: 4/21/11, 96-1.

Passed Legislature.

Brief Summary of Engrossed Substitute Bill

Allows the Department of Labor and Industries (Department) to send notices electronically when requested by the worker, employer, or other person affected.
Requires the Department to report to the Legislature on statutory changes needed to ensure an injured worker may receive care from a direct primary care provider.
Makes other changes regarding the administration of workers' compensation.

Background:

The Department of Labor and Industries (Department) administers the workers' compensation program. Employers must either insure through the State Fund, or may self-insure if qualified. For State Fund employers, participation in a retrospective rating (retro) plan is available for employers or group of employers that meet specified requirements. Participation in retro allows an employer or a group of employers to assume a portion of industrial insurance risk and receive premium refunds or be assessed additional premiums based on claim losses.

The Department issues various notices under the program. Some of these notices must be sent by registered or certified mail.

The Director of the Department establishes a fee schedule of the maximum charges to be made by a medical provider. The fee schedule is not a "rule" under the Administrative Procedure Act.

Direct practice is a type of primary health care in which providers enter agreements with patients to provide primary care services for a monthly fee. State law regulates direct practice.

Summary of Engrossed Substitute Bill:

Industrial insurance notices and orders, other than claim closure orders, may be sent electronically if requested by the employer, worker, beneficiary, or other person affected. Persons choosing to receive electronic correspondence and legal notices must receive information to assist them in ensuring that all electronic documents and communications are received. Correspondence and notices sent electronically are considered received on the date sent.

Orders and notices required to be served by registered or certified mail may be served by any method for which receipt can be confirmed or tracked.

The billing or payment instructions and policies associated with a fee schedule do not constitute a "rule" under the Administrative Procedure Act.

The Department must report to the appropriate committees of the Legislature by December 1, 2011, on changes needed to ensure an injured worker may receive care from a direct primary care provider and that the injured worker is not paying directly for medical services for the workplace injury or disease. The report must provide a timeline for rule development with a goal to have changes in place by July 1, 2013. The report must also include data required from direct care providers necessary to establish premium rates, experience modification factors, and retro adjustments; medical cost or payment information that may be required from retro participants; any requirements for direct care providers to participate in the medical provider network and ensure the Department has information to efficiently manage worker claims; and any other issues or barriers to direct care provider participation in the workers' compensation system.

Payment by an employer for direct primary care services does not disqualify the employer from participating in retro, any related group sponsor from promoting a retro plan, or any related plan administrator from administering a retro plan. The retro employer, group sponsor, or plan administrator must provide any medical cost or payment information required by the Department. Before the retro adjustment for the plan year beginning January 1, 2012, the Department must determine the information needed and any changes to the retro premium and claim cost calculation to maintain appropriate and equitable retro refunds when employers pay for direct care services. The retro changes apply beginning with the January 1, 2012, plan year. Rule-making by the Department with respect to retro and direct primary care services is permitted.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) This is a request bill to clarify, modernize, and provide some cost-effective alternatives. Medical providers in particular have asked to receive electronic notices. Electronic notice is an option, not a requirement. Using a method other than certified mail is cost effective. Regarding self-insurers, the allowance decisions are just a rubber stamp. For wage determinations, the Department will create a form so workers would understand. Requiring the self-insurer's to do these will allow the Department to focus on making sure the workers' compensation laws are being followed. The billing instructions are part of the fee schedule. Regarding the proposed substitute bill, making the deduction of premiums from workers' pay optional would have caused problems in some industries.

(In support with concerns) The bill does a good job of simplifying administration but it's unclear how the changes mesh with current self-insured employer authority. Self-insurers should have a duty of good faith, with penalties. They are not disinterested parties. Allowance claims should only allow or reopen the claim and not be a backdoor method for doing other things. Subsection (5) is not clear. Sixty days is too long for an extension. Wage orders are complicated and allowing self-insured employers to do them will cause all sorts of problems.

(Opposed) None.