Regulatory News

The Florida Division of Workers' Compensation is holding a webinar regarding Electronic Notices of Action or Change. February 18, 2015, from 1:30 PM EST to 4:30 PM EST Details are here

Fla. Stat. §440.13(12) creates a "three-member panel." The full section cited at the end of this post. Essentially, the law empowers the Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) or designee and appointed representatives from the perspective of employer and employee form a committee. The committee or panel is charged with setting the reimbursement allowance schedules for doctors, chiropractors, hospitals, surgical centers and more.  The 2015  Biennial Report of the Three Member Panel is available on the Division's website.  The Biennial Reports since 2005 are also available. The following is quoted directly from  Fla.   Stat.  §440.13(12) (12)  CREATION OF THREE-MEMBER PANEL; GUIDES OF MAXIMUM REIMBURSEMENT ALLOWANCES. — (a)  A three-member panel is created, consisting of the Chief Financial Officer, or the Chief Financial Officer’s designee, and two members to be appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate, one member who, on account of present or pr

The Three Member Panel meets today in Tallahassee. The meeting is at 9:00 a.m. in the LArson Building, room 116.  The agenda and other information for the meeting is here .  The Florida First District Court of Appeal is in session this morning in sunny Miami. The proceedings are in the University of Miami Student Activities Center accross from the Law School at 9:00. Parking is available in the Pavia Garage at 5615 Pavia Street, Coral Gables.

The Florida Division of Workers' Compensation will host seminars throughout the state. The following is quoted from their flyer .  The Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Workers’ Compensation offers Free  Seminars and Webinars for Employers Regarding Florida’s Workers’ Compensation Laws and Workplace Safety Workers’ Compensation Topics - Review of Key Statutory Definitions - Insurance Coverage Requirements - Exemptions - Contractor Responsibilities - Enforcement Provisions Workplace Safety Topics - presented by OSHA (U.S. Dept. of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration) - Direct and Indirect Costs - Inspections - Florida Fatalities Classroom programs Time: 9AM to Noon Locations & Dates: Jacksonville - January 27, 2015 Tampa - February 17, 2015 Miami - February 25, 2015 Orlando - March 18, 2015 Ft. Lauderdale - March 19, 2015 Pensacola - April 14, 2015 Jacksonville - April 21, 2015 Tampa - May 19, 2015 Miami - May 19, 2015 Lantana - June 2, 2015

The following is all quoted from the Division website,  http://www.myfloridacfo.com/Division/WC/noticesRules.htm#.VK5_bCvF8SM None of the following content is original The Florida Division of Workers' Compensation submitted a Notice of Proposed Rule Development for Rules 69L-7.020 and 69L-7.100 F.A.C. The notice provides that, if requested in writing and not deemed unnecessary by the agency head, a rule development workshop will be held on Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at 2:00 p.m., eastern daylight time (EDT) at 2012 Capital Circle, SE, Room 102, Hartman Building. The official Notice of Rule Development appeared in the Volume 40, Number 248 of the Florida Administrative Weekly, published on December 24, 2014. If you have questions about the contents of this notice, please contact Pam Macon, Chief, Bureau of Monitoring and Audit, Division of Workers' Compensation at (850) 413-1708 or Pamela.Macon@myfloridacfo.com . A copy of the notice and links to the proposed Rules may be found t

The Florida Division of Workers' Compensation has issued its 2014 Results and Accomplishments Report . The report "was developed in an effort to provide meaningful workers’ compensation data " regarding Florida.  Among the highlights: The Bureau of Compliance completed more investigations in 2013-14 than in any of the four prior years. Stop-work orders were also higher in 2013-14. Almost $9 million in "new" premiums were generated due to these stop-work orders. Significant penalties, almost $39 million, were assessed.  Applications for exemption from workers' compensation were also at a five-year high in 2013-14. The Division concluded that providers had been underpaid in 86% of fee disputes in 2013-14. The Division collected $78 million in assessments for the Administrative Trust Fund (ATF) and $46 million for the Special Disability Trust Fund (SDTF - which was sunset over a decade ago). Total ATF income was almost $100 million, and expenditures almost $77

The Florida Division of Workers' Compensation is holding a webinar regarding Electronic Notices of Action or Change. January 15, 2015, from 1:30 PM EST to 4:30 PM EST, Details are here