LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS:

• House Bill 137 The enacted legislation relates to workers’ compensation.  It provides workers’ compensation coverage for legislators. It provides a definition of member of the legislature. Member of the legislature" means a duly elected or appointed member of the Wyoming legislature commencing when the member's term begins if elected or upon being sworn into office if appointed and until such time as the member's seat is vacated as provided in W.S. 22‑18‑101 or the member's term ends. Effective Date January 2, 2023.

• Senate File 89 The enacted legislation directs the department of workforce services shall establish a premium credit for any employer who has made all required workers’ compensation payments for the period beginning January 1, 2019 and ending December 31, 2019.  To qualify for the credit, an employer shall be in good standing with the workers’ compensation division within the department of workforce services for all required workers’ compensation payments by June 15, 2020.  Premium credits granted under this act shall become effective on August 1, 2020 and may be used for premium reporting periods from July 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.  Any unused credit will expire January 31, 2021.  Effective Date March 24, 2020.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Issued a telehealth memo dated April 3, 2020.  To view the memo, go to http://wyomingworkforce.org/providers/.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Director Robin Sessions Cooley, J.D., has named Elizabeth Gagen, J.D., to the position of Deputy Director of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services (DWS). Deputy Director Gagen has worked for the State of Wyoming for more than 24 years, including two years at the State District Court and more than 20 years at the Attorney General's Office. She served seven of those years as the Chief Deputy Attorney General. "Liz brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to DWS, and she will be a great asset to the department," Director Cooley said. "We look forward to adding her expertise to our talented DWS team." Deputy Director Gagen fills a position that has been open since the former deputy director, John Ysebaert, retired.

FEE SCHEDULE NEWS:

• The state has published a new medical fee schedule effective January 1, 2020. A new fee schedule update is expected in January 2021.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Adopted new medical fee schedule guidelines effective September 6, 2019.  To view the fee schedule, go to https://rules.wyo.gov/Search.aspx?mode=1.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Director Robin Sessions Cooley recently named Holly McKamey Simoni the new Administrator of Workforce Programs for the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services (DWS). Simoni has served the agency for the past 12 years, where she demonstrated exemplary leadership in the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) section of the agency. In her role as VR Regional Manager, she lead the state in piloting new VR programming and projects. Her most recent project consisted of implementing two new VR Coordinator positions, which is a first for Wyoming and have already decreased client wait times.  "Holly Simoni has proven herself as an innovative, capable leader during her time as a Regional Manager for VR," Director Cooley said. "Placing Holly as the new Administrator for Workforce Programs will allow us to serve the entire spectrum of our clientele, including the most vulnerable. Her expertise in VR and track record in implementing innovative solutions is perfectly suited to this position. Workforce Programs help people get family-sustaining jobs, and positively impact the lives of so many citizens in Wyoming."  Simoni has been with DWS since 2006 when she began as a VR Counselor in Rawlins before moving up to the position of Regional Manager in 2013. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Health and Human Development from Montana State University and a master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Assumption College.

LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS:

• House Bill 6

The enacted legislation relates to physical therapy modifying the scope of practice of physical therapists.  The legislation permits a physical therapist to initiate physical therapy with or without a prescription from a licensed physician or other health care provider. Effective date July 1, 2019.

• House Bill 63

The legislation defines pharmacy benefit manager in Wyoming Statutes as "an entity that contracts with a pharmacy on behalf of an insurer or third-party administrator to administer or manage prescription drug benefits" (W.S. 26-52-102(a) (vii)). The enacted legislation prohibits a pharmacy benefit manager from prohibiting or penalizing a pharmacy or pharmacist from telling an insured person about any alternatives that may be less costly than paying for a prescription drug through the person's prescription drug benefit.  Effective Date February 26, 2019.

• House Bill 194

The enacted legislation authorizes the Department of Health, with the consent of the Governor, to expand Medicaid coverage of air ambulance transport services to all Wyoming residents. It authorizes the Department of Health to limit coverage under this act to specified additional groups of Wyomingites, which may be necessary to obtain federal approval. The legislation establishes a framework for the payment and administration of claims for expanded Medicaid air ambulance coverage under this act, including copays, agreements and the creation of an account.  It requires state agencies who provide coverage for air ambulance transport services to use the expanded coverage established by this act, including the Department of Workforce Services (Workers’ Compensation) and the Department of Administration and Information (Employees' Group Insurance), while also requiring these agencies to provide reimbursement to the Department of Health for air ambulance transports of covered individuals. The legislation establishes a three-quarter percent (.75%) premium assessment on health insurers to fund this program.  It provides that an air ambulance provider is required to accept payment from Medicaid as full satisfaction of all charges for services for covered air ambulance transports if the provider otherwise provides services under Medicaid independent of this act.  The legislation requires the Department of Health to adopt rules to administer the program, including co-pay requirements and payment rates based on Medicare rates applicable to rural Wyoming. Effective Date April 1, 2019.

• Senate File 46

The enacted statute prohibits the prescription or dispensing of any opioid or combination of opioids to an opioid naive patient for more than a seven (7) day supply in a seven (7) day period.  It authorizes the State Board of Pharmacy to establish reasonable exceptions in consultation with other professional licensing boards that license practitioners, including exceptions for chronic pain, cancer treatment, palliative care and other clinically appropriate exceptions. The legislation defines "opioid naive patient" as a patient who has not had an active opioid prescription in the preceding forty-five (45) day period. Effective Date July 1, 2019.

FEE SCHEDULE NEWS:

• The state has released the new medical fee schedule with an effective date of January 1, 2019. The next expected update is in January 2020.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Posted notice of proposed rules and regulations regarding Chapter 10:  Miscellaneous Medical Protocols.  To view the posting, go to https://rules.wyo.gov/Search.aspx?mode=2.  Comments on the proposed rules will be accepted until March 29, 2019. At this time no public hearing is scheduled.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Posted notice of proposed rules regarding Chapter 2 Coverage, Compliance and Discount Programs. To view the posting and provide public comment, go to https://rules.wyo.gov/Search.aspx?mode=2.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Workers' Compensation Medical Providers Wyoming Workers' Compensation will be using a new medical billing review vendor, Medata, beginning September 12. The change will primarily affect the billing process for health care providers. To learn more about Medata, go to  https://www.medata.com/. Health care providers with questions regarding medical billing may contact Medata via email at providerinquiry@medata.com, or via phone at (877) 479-3817.