Regulatory News

The Florida Division of Workers' Compensation recently participated in the 70th Annual Workers' Compensation Educational Conference with the Workers' Compensation Institute, in Orlando, Florida.  The Division's breakout session included the following topics: Legislative Updates, What Injured Workers Are Telling Us, Audits and Carrier Compliance, Medical Services and EDI Updates.  If you were unable to attend or would like to view the presentations, the Division power point has been published as a .PDF at http://www.myfloridacfo.com/Division/WC/news.htm .  Please contact Brittany O'Neil at 850-413-1927 with any questions. To learn more about these issues and other Workers' Compensation information click here: http://www.myfloridacfo.com/Division/WC/ To remove yourself from the DWC Notification list and STOP e-mail Alerts sent to your e-mail address at david.langham@doah.state.fl.us , click the following link and unsubscribe your e-mail address: http://www.myflori

The Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Workers' Compensation has adopted the following rules with an effective date of September 6, 2015: 69L-6.015 - Record Maintenance and Production Requirements for Employers 69L-6.025 - Conditional Release of Stop-Work Order and Periodic Payment Agreement These rules are amended to conform to applicable provisions of Section 440.107, F.S., as revised under Chapter No. 2014-109, Laws of Florida.  Rule 69L-6.015, F.A.C., reduces the business record retention period requirements for employers under Florida's Workers' Compensation law to a period consisting of an employer's two, rather than three, years of employment activity.  Rule 69L-6.025, F.A.C., modifies the terms and conditions under which the Department's Division of Workers' Compensation is authorized to issue an Agreed Order of Conditional Release from Stop-Work Order to employers who violate Chapter 440, F.S., as well as the circumstances under which

Director of Workers’ Compensation Unit  The Director of the Workers’ Compensation Unit provides supervisory administrative and legal work coordinating and overseeing the assignments and work product of staff attorneys assigned to the unit. Consistent with court policy, the Director develops procedures for efficient processing of all workers’ compensation cases filed with the court, assists in adopting means to implement those policies.  The Court’s goal is to have workers’ compensation cases resolved expeditiously, and to achieve decision uniformity.  To achieve these goals, the Directors reviews and has responsibility for all documents produced by the workers’ compensation unit.  The Director reports to the Chief Judge and participates in senior staff meetings and court conferences as required.  The Director, as a member of the unit, will analyze cases, prepare summaries with recommendations, and draft opinions based on the analyses.  The number of cases prepared by the Director will

Ninety-six members of The Florida Bar are presenting at the WCI in Orlando next week. NINETY-SIX! There could be a few more. I reviewed the program, page by page, and did my best to identify them all. If I missed someone, let me know. The annual WCI gathering is the largest workers’ compensation conference in the country. I am told that this year could see the largest turnout yet, as the conference celebrates its 70th anniversary. There are a multitude of programs, National Trends, National Review, Safety, Multistate Workers’ Compensation Laws, and breakouts for medical providers, therapists, attorneys, adjusters, and risk managers. It is the only workers’ compensation conference of which I know that hosts a national judicial college focused on the workers’ compensation adjudicator. This year the NAWCJ College will have over 100 adjudicators from across the country. This conference also hosts the SAWCA Regulator College, an unparalleled gathering of regulators to discuss challenges of

The Florida Division of Workers' Compensation submitted a Notice of Proposed Rule Making for Rules 69L-3.018, 69L-3.019, 69L-3.0191, 69L-3.0192, and 69L-3.0193, Florida Administrative Code.  The notice provides that, if requested, a hearing will be held on Tuesday, August 18, 2015 at 8:00 A.M., Eastern Time, at 2012 Capital Circle, SE, Room 102, Hartman Building, in Tallahassee, Florida. The official Notice of Proposed Rule Making appeared in the Volume 41, Number 144 of the Florida Administrative Weekly, published on July 27, 2015.  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 may be viewed via the following link. http://www.FLRules.org/gateway/View_Notice.asp?id=16268954     To learn more about these issues and other Workers' Compensation information click here: http://www.myfloridacfo.com/D