REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• DOL Hearings Update: May 11, 2020: Effective immediately the Department is not conducting in person hearings. This applies to all administrative hearings at the Department. Scheduled hearings will either be conducted either by Cisco WebEx video conference or via telephone. Parties who are scheduled to appear for a first level workers' compensation hearing or a wage claim hearing are encouraged to email DOLhearings@dol.nh.gov with any questions. Questions regarding the scheduling of a Workers' Compensation Appeals Board hearing should be directed to Danielle.Albert@dol.nh.gov and Terry.Beyer@dol.nh.gov.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• The New Hampshire Insurance Department has issued a bulletin: Guidance on Implementation of Governor Sununu's Emergency Order #8 (telehealth). The bulletin may be found on the Insurance Department's. To view the bulletin, go to https://www.nh.gov/insurance/media/bulletins/2020/index.htm.
• Issued Bulletin INS 20-013-AB regarding Chapter 420-P Insurance Data Security Law, Additional Guidance Regarding Submission of Certifications.  To view the bulletin, go to https://www.nh.gov/insurance/media/bulletins/2020/index.htm.
• Issued Bulletin 20-025-AB regarding COVID-19 Auto Insurance Payback and Credit Programs, Expedited Review.  To view the bulletin, go to https://www.nh.gov/insurance/media/bulletins/2020/index.htm.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• DOL Hearings Update: March 19, 2020: Effective immediately the Department is not conducting in-person hearings. This applies to all administrative hearings at the Department. Scheduled hearings will either be conducted via telephone or continued. Parties who are scheduled to appear for a first level workers' compensation hearing or a wage claim hearing are encouraged to email DOLhearings@dol.nh.gov with any questions. Questions regarding the scheduling of a CAB hearing should be directed to Danielle.Albert@dol.nh.gov and Beyer@dol.nh.gov.
• The Department of Labor Lobby: March 26, 2020: The Department of Labor is operational at this time; however, the Lobby is closed to the public due to the COVID-19 crisis. We are very sorry for this inconvenience. You are welcome to call 603-271-3176or603-271-3177for questions. Our business hours are 8 am-4:30 pm Monday through Friday.  There is staff in the building if you need to pick up or drop off documents.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Registration is now open for the 2020 Labor Law Training Seminar sessions. Please note: This year’s seminars are starting at 8:30am and ending at 12:00pm in an attempt to give the presenters and the audience more time for Q & A. For the full list of seminars and to register, go to https://www.nh.gov/labor/news-events/events/index.htm.
• The Department of Insurance issued Bulletin Docket No: INS 20-008-AB. On December 19, 2019, the New Hampshire Insurance Department (Department) issued Bulletin INS 19-028-AB ("Registration of all Pharmacy Benefits Managers") detailing new requirements established by RSA 402-N.   The prior bulletin provided a link to the pharmacy benefits manager registration application.   The Department has since amended the registration application to remove the requirement that a copy of the contract between the pharmacy benefits manager and health carrier be attached to the application. The pharmacy benefits manager is still required to fill out page 2 of the application for each contract it holds with a health carrier.  The Department intends to amend the Ins 2704 Pharmacy Benefits Manager proposed rules to reflect this change.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Effective January 1, 2020 the standard mileage reimbursement rate for transportation expenses will be $0.575 per mile.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

•  The New Hampshire Insurance Department has issued a bulletin for Registration of all Pharmacy Benefits Managers. To view the bulletin, go to https://www.nh.gov/insurance/media/bulletins/2019/documents/ins-19-028-ab-registration-pharmacy-benefits-managers.pdf

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Published bulletin Docket No: 19-021-AB regarding workers' compensation advisory lost costs and rating values NCCI filing effective January 1, 2020. (Filing Reference Numbers: NH-2019-03).  To view the bulletin, go to https://www.nh.gov/insurance/media/bulletins/2019/index.htm.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Please be advised that the New Hampshire Department of Labor has submitted the proposed rule dealing with requirements to ensure compliance with RSA 277:15 -a and RSA 277:15-b as adopted by Chapter 29 of the Laws of 2019 (HB 406) effective 7/14/19. The public hearing for the proposed rules will be held at the New Hampshire Department of Labor on Thursday September 12, 2019 at 2 pm.  To view the notice and rule, go to https://www.nh.gov/labor/index.htm.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Posted a notice in the register of proposed rule regarding the current Form, 8WC “Employer’s First Report of Injury” adopted in December 2014 and is incorporated by reference in Lab 504.02 (c) & (d).  It reflects a general e-mail address for the Department of Labor Workers’ Compensation Division.  The Department of Labor has established an e-mail address specific to the receipt of First Reports of Injuries.  The Department of Labor therefore proposes to readopt with amendment Form 8WC to reflect the change in the e-mail address and to add the Department’s fax number to the form.  Having the ability to fax a first report of injury form to the Department will better serve the employers of New Hampshire by providing additional avenues for employers to comply with the filing requirements of this law.  To view this notice, go to http://gencourt.state.nh.us/rules/register/2019/2019.htm.

LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS:

• Senate Bill 59

An act adding post-traumatic stress disorder and acute stress disorder to the definition of "injury" for purposes of workers' compensation and reestablishing the commission to study the incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder in first responders. Effective Date January 1, 2020. 

• Senate Bill 99

The enacted legislation provides for a definition for gainful employment which means employment which reasonably conforms with the employee's age, education, training, temperament and mental and physical capacity to adapt to other forms of similarly remunerative labor than that to which the employee was accustomed. Effective Date January 1, 2020.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Please be advised that the Vocational Rehabilitation Provider Advisory Board held a meeting at the New Hampshire Department of Labor on Tuesday May 21, 2019 at 9:30 am. This meeting may include a non-public session.

LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS:

• House Bill 342

The enacted legislation clarifies the disclosure of reports and other information relating to workers’ compensation audits to the Department of Labor.  The legislation directs that the Department of Insurance may disclose certain information to the Department of Labor but also states that the information provided is not subject to disclosure under RSA 91-A.   Effective Date June 15, 2019.