Regulatory News

The Florida Division of Workers' Compensation submitted a Notice of Change for Chapter 69L-31, Florida Administrative Code.  The changes to the proposed rules are in response to oral testimony and written comments submitted to the Department by interested parties and to written comments submitted to the Department by the staff of the Joint Administrative Procedures Committee.  The proposed rules include certain technical changes and clarifications.  Changes are also made to Forms DFS-F6-DWC-3160-0023 (Petition for Resolution of Reimbursement Dispute) and DFS-F6-DWC-3160-0024 (Carrier Response to Petition for Resolution of Reimbursement Dispute). The official Notice of Change appeared in the Volume 43, Number 85 of the Florida Administrative Weekly, published on May 2, 2017.  If you have questions about the contents of this notice, please contact Theresa Pugh, Program Administrator, Medical Services Section, Division of Workers' Compensation at (850) 413-1721 or There...

The Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Workers' Compensation announces a public meeting of the Three-Member Panel that will be held on Wednesday, April 19, 2017, beginning at 10:00 a.m., in room 116 of the J. Edwin Larson Building located at 200 East Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida.  The purpose of the meeting is to review and adopt the 2017 editions of the Health Care Provider Reimbursement Manual, Hospital Reimbursement Manual, and the Ambulatory Surgical Center Reimbursement Manual. Public comment will also be received. The meeting agenda and the drafts of the respective reimbursement manuals will be available on the Florida Division of Workers' Compensation website. Materials related to this public meeting will be posted at the following link, under the Notices Tab, when available.  http://www.myfloridacfo.com/Division/WC/noticesRules.htm The official Notice of this meeting appeared in Volume 43, Number 58 of the Florida Administrative Week...

The Florida Division of Workers' Compensation has adopted Rules 69L-6.015 and 69L-6.027, Florida Administrative Code.  The rules became effective on March 21, 2017. Rule 69L-6.015, F.A.C., deletes the requirement for corporations with exempt officers who are engaged in the construction industry to maintain written statements of those exempted persons acknowledging each such individual's exempt status.  Rule 69L-6.027, F.A.C. incorporates to the Penalty Worksheet the 25% penalty reduction for eligible employers and the reduced imputed payroll multiplier changes. Both rules can be viewed at https://www.flrules.org/gateway/ChapterHome.asp?Chapter=69L-6

A Notice of Development of Rulemaking was published for proposed Rules 69L-6.015 and 69L-6.027, both for the Florida Administrative Code.  The notice provides that if requested in writing, a Rule Hearing will be held on Thursday, February 16, 2017, at 9:30 A.M., eastern time, at 2012 Capital Circle, SE, Room 102, Hartman Building, in Tallahassee, Florida. Chapter 2016-56, Laws of Florida, amended subsection 440.05(10), F.S., to delete the requirement that any corporation with exempt officers engaged in the construction industry must maintain written statements of those exempted persons acknowledging each such individual's exempt status.  The proposed amendment to Rule 69L-6.015, F.A.C., will also delete this requirement from the rule. Chapter 2016-56, Laws of Florida, also included legislative changes to the penalty requirements in subsection 440.107(7), F.S.  The changes include: (i) a 25% penalty reduction for non-compliant employers who have not previously been issued ...

The Division of Workers' Compensation has published an on-line tool that can help employers seeking coverage through a workers' compensation policy.  The Coverage Assistance Program (C.A.P.) allows employers to enter their primary class code or business description and search for Carriers actively insuring those job classes in Florida.  The search will also provide a count of the number of active policies.  While this information does not guarantee coverage will be provided, it is helpful for employers and their agents who are trying to locate workers' compensation insurance. To access the CAP or find additional information related to securing coverage visit the Division's website at  http://www.myfloridacfo.com/division/wc/Employer/obtaining.htm  

The Division of Investigative and Forensic Services, Bureau of Worker's Compensation Fraud and the Division of Workers' Compensation, Bureau of Compliance issued a joint report summarizing their respective efforts and activities in combating workers' compensation fraud and employer non-compliance.  The July 1, 2015 - June 30, 2016 report can be viewed at:  http://www.myfloridacfo.com/Division/WC/PublicationsFormsManualsReports/Reports/DIFDWC-Annual-Report-2016.pdf

A Notice of Proposed Rule was published for 69L-30, Florida Administrative Code.  The notice provides that if requested in writing, a Hearing will be held on Tuesday, February 7, 2017, at 10:00 A.M., eastern time, at 2012 Capital Circle, SE, Room 102, Hartman Building, in Tallahassee, Florida. The purpose of the changes being made to Rules 69L-30.002, 69L-30.003, 69L-30.004, 69L-30.006, 69L-30.007, and 69L-30.010, F.A.C., are to reflect statutory changes allowing Judges of Compensation Claims to appoint Expert Medical Advisors, to update the address for the website on which application for Expert Medical Advisor certification is made, and to add final orders finding that a physician engaged in overutilization, as defined in section 440.13(8), Florida Statutes, to the list of final orders which disqualify a physician from eligibility for Expert Medical Advisor certification. The official Notice of Proposed Rule appeared in Volume 43, Number 07 ( https://www.flrules.org/bigdoc/defaul...