2019 Maximum Comp Rate Florida

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity has determined the statewide average weekly wage paid by employers subject to the Florida Reemployment Assistance Program Law to be $939.41 for the four calendar quarters ending June 30, 2018.

Section 440.12(2), Florida Statutes (2018), expressly provides that, for injuries occurring on or after August 1, 1979, the weekly compensation rate shall be equal to 100 percent of the statewide average weekly wage, adjusted to the nearest dollar, and that the average weekly wage determined by the Department of Economic Opportunity for the four calendar quarters ending each June 30 shall be used in determining the maximum weekly compensation rate with respect to injuries occurring in the calendar year immediately following.

Accordingly, the maximum weekly compensation rate for work-related injuries and illnesses occurring on or after January 1, 2019, shall be $939.00.

Rules 69L-7.020 and 69L-7.100 - Health Care Provider Reimbursement Manual

The Florida Division of Workers' Compensation submitted a Notice of Proposed Rule for Rules 69L-7.020 and 69L-7.100, F.A.C. Rule Hearings will be held on Tuesday, November 27, 2018, at the times listed below, at 2012 Capital Circle, SE, Room 102, Hartman Building. All times are Eastern.

SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED:
Florida Workers' Compensation Health Care Provider Reimbursement Manual, 2018 Edition; Florida Workers' Compensation Reimbursement Manual for Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASCs), 2018 Edition.

02:00 p.m., Eastern,  69L-7.100, Florida Workers' Compensation Reimbursement Manual for Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASCs), 2018 Edition.

03:00 p.m., Eastern,  69L-7.020, Florida Workers' Compensation Health Care Provider Reimbursement Manual, 2018 Edition.

The official Notice of Proposed Rule appeared Volume 44, Number 217, of the Florida Administrative Weekly, published on November 6, 2018. 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 Theresa.Pugh@myfloridacfo.com.

• A copy of the notice and preliminary text of the Rules may be found here.
• Draft versions of the reimbursement manuals may be found at the following links.
• Draft of the Florida Workers’ Compensation Health Care Provider Reimbursement Manual, 2018
• Draft of the Florida Workers’ Compensation Reimbursement Manual for Ambulatory Surgical Centers, 2018

Rule 69L-7.501 - Reimbursement Manual for Hospitals

The Florida Division of Workers' Compensation submitted a Notice of Development of Rulemaking for Rule 69L-7.501, F.A.C.  A rule development workshop will be held on Tuesday, November 27, 2018, at 1:00 p.m., Eastern, at 2012 Capital Circle SE, Room 102, Hartman Building.

SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED:

Florida Workers’ Compensation Reimbursement Manual for Hospitals, 2018 Edition

The official Notice of Development of Rulemaking appeared in Volume 44, Number 217, of the Florida Administrative Weekly, published on November 6, 2018. 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 Theresa.Pugh@myfloridacfo.com.

• A copy of the notice and the preliminary text may be found here.
• Draft version of the reimbursement manual may be found here.

Rule 69L-31 Hearing Notice

The Florida Division of Workers' Compensation submitted Notice of Proposed Rule for 69L-31, F.A.C.  A hearing will be held Tuesday, November 27, 2018, 11:00 a.m., Eastern, at 2012 Capital Circle, SE, Room 102, Hartman Building, in Tallahassee, Florida.

SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED: Procedures for the resolution of reimbursement disputes between workers’ compensation carriers and health care providers.

Please note that the Division encourages all parties to provide details regarding any potential economic or cost impact related to the proposed rule.

The official Notice of Proposed Rule appeared in appeared Volume 44, Number 217, of the Florida Administrative Weekly, published on November 6, 2018. 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 Theresa.Pugh@myfloridacfo.com.

• A copy of the notice and text of the proposed Rule may be found here.
• A copy of the Draft Petition Form may be found here.
• A copy of the Petition Response Form may be found here.

Florida Division Notices Proposed Rule - Grievous Harm

The Florida Division of Workers' Compensation submitted a Notice of Proposed Rule for Rule 69L-3.009, F.A.C.  If requested within 21 days of the notice, a hearing will be held on Tuesday, November 27, 2018, 9:00 a.m. ET, at the Hartman Building Room 102, 2012 Capital Circle SE, Tallahassee, FL 32301.

A new rule is being introduced due to the passage of CS/CS/SB 376, which added subsections (5) and (6) to section 112.1815, Florida Statutes (F.S.). Section 112.1815(5)(f), F.S., requires the Department of Financial Services to adopt rules specifying injuries qualifying as grievous bodily harm of a nature that shocks the conscience.

If you have questions about the contents of this notice, please contact Brittany O’Neil, Policy Coordinator, Division of Workers' Compensation at (850) 413-1927 or brittany.oneil@myfloridacfo.com.

Rule draft:
69L-3.009 Injuries that Qualify as Grievous Bodily Harm of a Nature that Shocks the Conscience. Pursuant to section 112.1815(5), F.S., for purposes of determining the compensability of employment-related posttraumtic stress disorder for first responders, the following injuries qualify as grievous bodily harm of a nature that shocks the conscience: 
(1) Decapitation (full or partial), 
(2) Degloving, 
(3) Enucleation, 
(4) Evisceration. 
(5) Exposure of one or more internal organs, 
(a) Brain, 
(b) Heart, 
(c) Intestines 
(d) Kidneys, 
(e) Liver, or 
(f) Lungs 
(6) Impalement, 
(7) Severance (full or partial), and 
(8) Third degree burn on 9% or more of the body 

Rulemaking Authority 112.1815(5)(f), 440.591, FS. Law Implemented 112.1815, FS. History-New.

*Emergency Order 234790-18-EO : MICHAEL10152018*

On October 14, 2018, Governor Rick Scott directed Florida Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier to take every action authorized pursuant to Executive Order 18-276 to provide additional protections to support recovery efforts as it relates to Hurricane Michael’s impact on Florida families as well as Florida policyholders.

On October 15, 2018, Commissioner Atlmaier issued the following Emergency Order enacting those protections for Florida policyholders:

https://floir.com/sitedocuments/234790-18-EO_Hurricane%20Michael_Suspension_of_Certain_Rules.pdf

In response to the Emergency Order, the Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation will review policies reported since September 27, 2018 and automatically extend coverage for the policies in the affected counties in accordance with the time frames set forth in the Order.

SDTF Annual Status Report Filed

The Special Disability Trust Fund, within the Department of Financial Services – Division of Workers’ Compensation, is required by Section 440.49(8)(d), Florida Statutes, to report, annually, on the status of the Fund to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and to the President of the Senate. This report is required to be produced by an independent actuary and is now available on the reports page of the DWC website along with all prior annual reports. The link below will take you to the current report.

https://myfloridacfo.com/Division/WC/PublicationsFormsManualsReports/Reports/Florida-Special-Disability-Trust-Fund-Actuarial-Review-063018.pdf

If you have any questions about this report or about the Fund in general, please contact Tom Krick, Fund Manager, at (850) 413-1651 or by email at Tom.Krick@Myfloridacfo.com

Florida Notices Rulemaking for 69L-3.3009

The Florida Division of Workers' Compensation submitted a Notice of Development of Rulemaking for Rule 69L-3.009, F.A.C. A Rule development workshop will be held on Thursday, October 4, 2018, at 9:00 a.m., EDT, at 2012 Capital Circle, SE, Room 102, Hartman Building.

A new rule is being introduced due to the passage of CS/CS/SB 376, which added subsections (5) and (6) to section 112.1815, Florida Statutes (F.S.). Section 112.1815(5)(f), F.S., requires the Department of Financial Services to adopt rules specifying injuries qualifying as grievous bodily harm of a nature that shocks the conscience.

The official Notice of Rule Development appeared in Volume 44, Number 182, of the Florida Administrative Weekly, published on September 18, 2018. If you have questions about the contents of this notice, please contact Brittany O’Neil, Policy Coordinator, Division of Workers' Compensation at (850) 413-1927 or brittany.oneil@myfloridacfo.com.

A copy of the Notice and draft Rule language may be found here.

The draft rule is as follows (explanations are in red parentheticals)

69L-3.009 Injuries that Qualify as Grievous Bodily Harm of a Nature that Shocks the Conscience.

Pursuant to section 112.1815(5), F.S., for purposes of determining the compensability of employment-related posttraumtic stress disorder for first responders, the following injuries qualify as grievous bodily harm of a nature that shocks the conscience:

(1) Decapitation (full or partial),

(2) Degloving,

(3) Enucleation,

(4) Evisceration,

(5) Exposure of one or more of the following internal organs:

(a) Brain,

(b) Heart,

(c) Intestines,

(d) Kidneys,

(e) Liver, or

(f) Lungs

(6) Impalement,

(7) Severance (full or partial), and

(8) Third degree burn on 9% or more of the body.

Rulemaking Authority 112.1815(5)(f), 440.591, FS. Law Implemented 112.1815, FS. History-New.

2018 Construction Industry Summary

The Florida Division of Workers' Compensation has published a new data summary report, the first in a series of reports. The purpose of this and future publications is to provide insight into the unique aspects of the Florida’s workers’ compensation system.

The report may be found at the following link. 2018 Construction Industry Summary

Florida Division Announces Rulemaking for 69L-5.217

The Florida Division of Workers' Compensation submitted Notice of Development of Rulemaking for 69L-5.217, F.A.C. The notice provides that if requested in writing, a Rule Hearing will be held September 17, 2018, 9:30 a.m. eastern time, at 2012 Capital Circle, SE, Room 102, Hartman Building, in Tallahassee, Florida.

SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED:  Rule amendment to reduce the penalty structure for self-insured employers for failing to timely file forms, reports, or documents as required by 440.38(2)(b), F.S.

Please note that the Division encourages all parties to provide details regarding any potential economic or cost impact related to the proposed rule. The Division will send a second e-alert to provide a link to the proposed rule language.

The official Notice of Proposed Rule appeared in the Volume 44, Number 166 of the Florida Administrative Weekly, published on August 23, 2018. If you have questions about the contents of this notice, please contact Dwayne Manning, Insurance Administrator, Self-Insurance Unit, Division of Workers' Compensation at (850) 413-1784 or Dwayne.Manning@myfloridacfo.com.

A copy of the notice may be found at the following link. https://www.flrules.org/gateway/View_Notice.asp?id=20823007.

Florida Division Seeking Vocational Services

The Florida Division of Workers' Compensation published a Request for Contract Proposal to solicit competitive responses from firms that are qualified, interested and capable of providing effective and efficient Reemployment Services and/or Vocational Evaluation Services to eligible injured workers. This solicitation is exempt from competitive solicitation pursuant to Section 287.057(3)(e)10., Florida Statutes.

The Request for Contract Proposal, timelines, and instructions for submitting a proposal are located on the Division’s web site at:  www.myfloridacfo.com/division/wc/RCP

POINT OF CONTACT: This is the sole point of contact from the date of release of this solicitation until selection of a successful respondent. All procedural questions and requests for clarification of this solicitation shall be submitted to:

Department of Financial Services

Division of Workers' Compensation

Daniela Jones

200 E. Gaines Street

Tallahassee, FL 32399-4220

EMAIL: Daniela.Jones@myfloridacfo.com

Florida Division Announces Opportunities During WCI2018

The Florida Division of Workers' Compensation, in conjunction with the Workers' Compensation Institute, is pleased to provide the opportunity for attendees to individually meet and speak with Division staff at the 73rd Annual Workers' Compensation Educational Conference about regulatory issues that are important to your company. This year we will offer two options for stakeholder assistance: "Ask The Regulator" and "EDI On Demand."

Ask The Regulator: These one-on-one meetings will help maximize your time at the conference and provide the Division with an informal setting to interact with workers' compensation stakeholders. The meetings will be held on Tuesday, August 21, between 8:30 am - 11:30 am in the Tampa room at the Orlando World Center Marriott. On the WCI conference website (https://www.wci360.com/conference/) under Conference/General Information, scroll down to find a green bar on the left side of the page for Ask The Regulators where you can request an appointment and identify the issues you would like to discuss with the Division. This will ensure that the Division has the appropriate staff available to answer your questions. An email will be sent to you confirming the time.

EDI On Demand: These EDI Triage & Training sessions are available upon email request and will provide access to Division staff on any EDI related issues and processes. Please email Lisel.Laslie@myfloridacfo.com to request a session. The meetings will be held on Tuesday, August 21, in the St. Louis room at the Orlando World Center Marriott. An email will be sent to you confirming your meeting time.

Florida DWC announces Rule Development Rules 69L-7.020 and 69L-7.100

The Florida Division of Workers' Compensation submitted a Notice of Development of Rulemaking for Rules 69L-7.020 and 69L-7.100, F.A.C. Rule development workshops will be held on Friday, August 24, 2018, at the times listed below, at 2012 Capital Circle SE, Room 102, Hartman Building. All times are Eastern Daylight Time. 

SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED:

Florida Workers' Compensation Health Care Provider Reimbursement Manual, 2018 Edition; Florida Workers' Compensation Reimbursement Manual for Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASCs), 2018 Edition. 

9:30 AM - 10:30 AM, 69L-7.020, Florida Workers' Compensation Health Care Provider Reimbursement Manual, 2018 Edition 

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM, 69L-7.100, Florida Workers' Compensation Reimbursement Manual for Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASCs), 2018 Edition 

The official Notice of Development of Rulemaking appeared in the Volume 44, Number 146 of the Florida Administrative Weekly, published on July 27, 2018. 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 Theresa.Pugh@myfloridacfo.com. 

A copy of the notice may be found here. 

Preliminary text of the proposed Rules may be found here. 

Draft versions of the reimbursement manuals may be found at the following links. 

Draft of the Florida Workers’ Compensation Health Care Provider Reimbursement Manual, 2018

Draft of the Florida Workers’ Compensation Reimbursement Manual for Ambulatory Surgical Centers, 2018

Florida Division of WC Amending 69L-31

Florida Division of Workers' Compensation submitted Notice of Proposed Rule for 69L-31, F.A.C.  A hearing will be held Wednesday, August 15, 2018 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (eastern), at 2012 Capital Circle, SE, Room 102, Hartman Building, in Tallahassee, Florida.

SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED: Procedures for the resolution of reimbursement disputes between workers' compensation carriers and health care providers.

Please note that the Division encourages all parties to provide details regarding any potential economic or cost impact related to the proposed rule.

The official Notice of Proposed Rule appeared in the Volume 44, Number 144 of the Florida Administrative Weekly, published on July 25, 2018. 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 Theresa.Pugh@myfloridacfo.com.

A copy of the notice with full text of the proposed Rule may be found here.

A copy of the Draft Petition Form and Petition Response Form may be found here.

Rulemaking Announced for 69L-5.217

The Florida Division of Workers' Compensation submitted Notice of Development of Rulemaking for 69L-5.217, F.A.C. The notice provides that if requested in writing, a Rule Development Workshop will be held July 24, 2018, 10:00 a.m. eastern time, at 2012 Capital Circle, SE, Room 102, Hartman Building, in Tallahassee, Florida.

SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED:  Rule amendment to reduce the penalty structure for self-insured employers for failing to timely file forms, reports, or documents as required by 440.38(2)(b), F.S.

Please note that the Division encourages all parties to provide details regarding any potential economic or cost impact related to the proposed rule. The Division will send a second e-alert to provide a link to the proposed rule language.

The official Notice of Proposed Rule appeared in the Volume 44, Number 133 of the Florida Administrative Weekly, published on July 10, 2018. If you have questions about the contents of this notice, please contact Dwayne Manning, Insurance Administrator, Self-Insurance Unit, Division of Workers' Compensation at (850) 413-1784 or Dwayne.Manning@myfloridacfo.com.

A copy of the notice may be found at the following link. https://www.flrules.org/gateway/View_Notice.asp?id=20645497.

Notice of Three-Member Panel Meeting

Amended July 2, 2018:

To: All Self-Insurers, Insurers, Claim Administrators, and Medical Service Providers

From: Florida Division of Workers' Compensation

Subject: Notice of Three-Member Panel Meeting

The Three-Member Panel meeting that was scheduled for Friday, July 6, 2018 has been cancelled.

The Three-Member Panel will reconvene at a later date at which time a meeting notice will be published in a future E-Alert and in the Florida Administrative Register.

Original post below:

On June 26, 2018, The Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Workers' Compensation announced a public meeting of the Three-Member Panel that will be held on Friday, July 6, 2018, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., eastern time, in room 116 of the J. Edwin Larson Building, located at 200 East Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida.

The purpose of the meeting is to approve maximum reimbursement allowances for inpatient hospital care based upon a new schedule of per diem rates, pursuant to s. 440.13(12), F.S., which will be included in the Hospital Reimbursement Manual, 2018 edition. The Three-Member Panel will receive public comment and testimony. Special Note: the maximum reimbursement allowances for outpatient hospital care will not change and are those that were approved by the Three-Member Panel at its April 10, 2018, public meeting.

Three-Member Panel Meeting Agenda and Meeting Packet is available here, under the Notices tab.

The official Notice of this meeting appeared in Volume 44, Number 124 of the Florida Administrative Weekly, published on June 26, 2018.

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 Theresa.Pugh@myfloridacfo.com.

Florida DFS Clarifies Reimbursement Manual Status

The Division of Workers' Compensation has received inquiries about the status of the 2017 editions of the three reimbursement manuals. A status of each reimbursement manual is provided below. 

The Florida Workers' Compensation Health Care Provider Reimbursement Manual, 2017 Edition was not ratified during the 2018 Florida Legislative Session and will not go in effect. Consequently, the 2016 edition remains in effect.

The Florida Workers' Compensation Reimbursement Manual for Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASCs), 2017 Edition was not ratified during the 2018 Florida Legislative Session and will not go in effect. Consequently, the 2015 edition remains in effect.

The Florida Workers' Compensation Reimbursement Manual for Hospitals, 2017 Edition was not ratified during the 2018 Florida Legislative Session and will not go in effect. Consequently, the 2014 edition remains in effect.

The reimbursement manuals can found on the Division's website at https://myfloridacfo.com/Division/WC/PublicationsFormsManualsReports/Manuals/.

DFS Announces Assessment Rates

The Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) issued an Informational Bulletin (DFS-02-2018). The Bulletin advises insurers, self-insurers, and other related stakeholders that Florida's Chief Financial Officer has issued an Order (Case No. 226968-WC) setting the WCATF assessment rate for Calendar Year 2019. This rate has been reduced from the 2018 rate of 0.97% to the 2019 assessment rate of 0.90%. This is the seventh consecutive annual assessment rate decrease for the WCATF. 

The Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Workers' Compensation issued another Informational Bulletin (DFS-01-2018). The Bulletin advises insurers, self-insurers, and other related stakeholders that Florida's Chief Financial Officer has issued an Order (Case No. 226970-WC) setting the assessment rate for the SDTF for Calendar Year 2019. The SDTF rate has been reduced from the 2018 rate of 0.91% to the 2019 assessment rate of 0.42%. This is the ninth consecutive annual assessment rate decrease for the SDTF.

Division Notice re 69L-31, F.A.C.

The Florida Division of Workers' Compensation submitted Notice of Development of Rulemaking for 69L-31, F.A.C. A Rule Development Workshop will be held Wednesday, May 30, 2018 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (eastern), at 2012 Capital Circle, SE, Room 102, Hartman Building, in Tallahassee, Florida.

SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED: Procedures for the resolution of reimbursement disputes between workers’ compensation carriers and health care providers.

Please note that the Division encourages all parties to provide details regarding any potential economic or cost impact related to the proposed rule.

The official Notice of Development of Rulemaking appeared in the Volume 44, Number 94 of the Florida Administrative Weekly, published on May 14, 2018. 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 Theresa.Pugh@myfloridacfo.com.

Proposed Amendment to Subsection 69L-6.025(10), F.A.C.

A Notice of Proposed Rule was published for Rule 69L-6.025, Florida Administrative Code.  The notice provides that if requested in writing, a Rule Hearing will be held on Thursday, May 17th, at 9:30 A.M., eastern time, at 2012 Capital Circle, SE, Room 102, Hartman Building, in Tallahassee, Florida.

The proposed amendment to paragraph 69L-6.025(4)(b), F.A.C., will allow employers an additional opportunity to remain compliant with their payment agreement schedules by increasing the number of times the Department will rescind an Order Reinstating Stop-Work Order from two to three in any one case.  The proposed amendment to subsection 69L-6.025(7), F.A.C., will allow employers who have made at least three monthly payments of the agreed amount to enter into a new payment agreement in lieu of making six monthly payments.  Reducing the number of payments required from six to three will shorten the timeframe for entering into a new payment agreement.  The proposed amendment also clarifies that these payments must be based on the employer’s current payment agreement schedule.  The proposed amendment to subsection 69L-6.025(8), F.A.C., further clarifies that the Department will only enter into one payment agreement for the recently served penalty. This verifies that the employer can only have one payment agreement and it must be based on the last served penalty.  The proposed amendment to subsection 69L-6.025(10), F.A.C., will require employers who have been issued a Stop-Work Order or Order of Penalty Assessment to provide address changes to the Department.

The official Notice of Proposed Rule appeared in Volume 44, Number 78 of the Florida Administrative Register, published on April 20, 2018. If you have questions about the contents of this notice, please contact Pam Macon, Chief, Bureau of Compliance, Division of Workers' Compensation at (850) 413-1708 or Pamela.Macon@myfloridacfo.com.

A copy of the Notice of Proposed Rule may be found at https://www.flrules.org/gateway/ruleNo.asp?id=69L-6.025

Three-Member Panel Meeting Announced April 10, 2018

The Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Workers' Compensation announces a public meeting of the Three-Member Panel that will be held on Tuesday, April 10, 2018, beginning at 01:00 p.m., in room 116 of the J. Edwin Larson Building located at 200 East Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida.  Pursuant to s. 440.13(12), Florida Statutes, the Three-Member Panel will hold a meeting to adopt the 2018 schedules for maximum reimbursement allowances for physicians, hospitals, and ambulatory surgical centers. Public comment will also be received.

Three-Member Panel Meeting Agenda will be published at the following link, under the Notices tab, when it becomes available. https://www.myfloridacfo.com/Division/WC/noticesRules.htm

Florida Division Announces Rulemaking 69L-31, F.A.C.

The Florida Division of Workers' Compensation submitted Notice of Development of Rulemaking for 69L-31, F.A.C.  A Rule Development Workshop will be held February 23, 2018, at 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., eastern time, at 2012 Capital Circle, SE, Room 102, Hartman Building, in Tallahassee, Florida.

SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED: Procedures for the resolution of reimbursement disputes between workers' compensation carriers and health care providers.

Please note that the Division encourages all parties to provide details regarding any potential economic or cost impact related to the proposed rule. 

The official Notice of Proposed Rule appeared in the Volume 44, Number 24 of the Florida Administrative Weekly, published on February 5, 2018. 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 Theresa.Pugh@myfloridacfo.com.

A copy of the notice may be found at the following link.  https://www.flrules.org/gateway/View_Notice.asp?id=20029062

A copy of the Draft Petition For Resolution of Reimbursement Dispute Form may be found at the following link.  www.myfloridacfo.com/Division/WC/pdf/DFS-F6-DWC-3160-0023%20Petition%20Form%20(Updated%202-16-18_VON).pdf

A copy of the Draft Carrier Response to Petition For Resolution of Reimbursement Dispute Form may be found at the following link.  www.myfloridacfo.com/Division/WC/pdf/DFS-F6-DWC-3160-0024%20Carrier%20Response%20Form%20(Updated%202-16-18_VON).pdf

A copy of the Draft Rule 69L-31, F.A.C. may be found at the following link.  www.myfloridacfo.com/Division/WC/pdf/69L-31%20(2-16-18).pdf

Rulemaking for 69L-31, F.A.C.

The Florida Division of Workers' Compensation submitted Notice of Development of Rulemaking for 69L-31, F.A.C.  The notice provides that if requested in writing, a Rule Development Workshop will be held February 23, 2018, at 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., eastern time, at 2012 Capital Circle, SE, Room 102, Hartman Building, in Tallahassee, Florida.

SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED: Procedures for the resolution of reimbursement disputes between workers' compensation carriers and health care providers.

Please note that the Division encourages all parties to provide details regarding any potential economic or cost impact related to the proposed rule.  The Division will send a second e-alert to provide a link to the proposed rule language and forms.

The official Notice of Proposed Rule appeared in the Volume 44, Number 24 of the Florida Administrative Weekly, published on February 5, 2018.  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 Theresa.Pugh@myfloridacfo.com.

A copy of the notice may be found at the following link.  https://www.flrules.org/gateway/View_Notice.asp?id=20029062

Proposed Rule 69L-6.025,

A Notice of Development of Rulemaking was published for proposed Rule 69L-6.025, Florida Administrative Code.  The notice provides that if requested in writing, a Rule Workshop will be held on Tuesday, February 20, at 9:30 A.M., eastern time, at 2012 Capital Circle, SE, Room 102, Hartman Building, in Tallahassee, Florida.

The proposed amendment to paragraph 69L-6.025(4)(b), F.A.C., will allow employers an additional opportunity to remain compliant with their payment agreement schedules by increasing the number of times the Department will rescind an Order Reinstating Stop-Work Order from two to three in any one case. The proposed amendment to paragraph 69L-6.025(7)(c), F.A.C., will allow employers whose Reinstatement of Stop-Work Orders have been rescinded, the opportunity to enter into new payment agreements after making three monthly payments of the original agreed amount. Currently, the employer is required to make six monthly payments of the original agreed amount after the rescission of the Reinstatement of the Stop-Work Order prior to entering into a new payment agreement. Reducing the number of payments required from six to three will shorten the timeframe for entering into a new payment agreement.

The official Notice of Development of Rulemaking appeared in Volume 44, Number 24 of the Florida Administrative Register, published on February 5, 2018. If you have questions about the contents of this notice, please contact Pam Macon, Chief, Bureau of Compliance, Division of Workers' Compensation at (850) 413-1708 or Pamela.Macon@myfloridacfo.com.

A copy of the Notice of Rule Development may be found at https://www.flrules.org/gateway/ruleNo.asp?id=69L-6.025

Florida Division of WC Publishes Results Report

The Division of Workers' Compensation has issued its 2017 Results and Accomplishments Report.  The Report contains important system information related to lost-time claims and medical costs as well as outcome and performance measures for each of the Division's major program areas.  To view the Report, please click here:

https://www.myfloridacfo.com/Division/WC/PublicationsFormsManualsReports/Reports/2017-DWC-Accomp-Rpt.pdf

Florida DWC Fraud Report Published

The Division of Investigative and Forensic Services, Bureau of Workers' 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, 2016 - June 30, 2017 report can be viewed at: 

https://www.myfloridacfo.com/Division/WC/PublicationsFormsManualsReports/Reports/Default.htm