REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• The next meeting of the Commission's Advisory Committee is scheduled to be held May 8, 2019, beginning at 9:00 AM in the Industrial Commission's first-floor conference room, 700 Clearwater Lane, Boise, Idaho.

LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS:

• Senate Bill 1028

This bill identifies Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) otherwise known as Post Traumatic Stress Injury (PTSI) as an occupational injury that affects Idaho's First Responders. Under current law, a mental injury must be accompanied by a physical injury. This changes the current statue that if a First Responder has "clear and convincing" evidence of a physiological injury, the treatment would be handled through workers’ compensation. The provision of this act shall be null, void, and of no force and effect on and after July 1, 2023. Effective Date July 1, 2019.

LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS:

• Senate Bill 1028

This bill identifies Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) otherwise known as Post Traumatic Stress Injury (PTSI) as an occupational injury that affects Idaho's First Responders. Under current law, a mental injury must be accompanied by a physical injury. This changes the current statue that if a First Responder has "clear and convincing" evidence of a physiological injury, the treatment would be handled through workers’ compensation. The provision of this act shall be null, void, and of no force and effect on and after July 1, 2023. Effective Date July 1, 2019.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Has published the NCCI Medical Data Report 2018 and the Data Report Opioid Utilization Supplement.  To view the reports, go to https://iic.idaho.gov/benefits-administration/medical-information/.
• Published Legislative Draft 3 PTSD/PTSI Benefits for First Responders along with NCCI Idaho PTSD Draft 3 write up.  To view the drafts, go to https://iic.idaho.gov/.

FEE SCHEDULE NEWS:

• The medical fee schedule has been updated with the 2019 Medicare Physician Relative Value File effective January 1, 2019.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• The Industrial Commission receives guidance from the Workers' Compensation Advisory Committee. The Committee will seek public input and participation in its deliberations. Recommendations for adding legislation or other concerns should be submitted to Kamerron Monroe, Commission Secretary. Please include supporting documentation such as a statement of the problem, draft legislation, or other information that would help. To view the notice, go to https://iic.idaho.gov/.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Posted notice of rulemaking regarding Rule 17.02.06 Employers Reports and Rule 17.02.07 Procedures to Obtain Compensation.   Rule 17.02.06 is being proposed to clarify the requirements for submission of Summaries of Payment and filing of closing documents to reflect Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) filing. Rule 17.02.07 is being proposed to clarify that the IAIABC EDI Claims 3.0 Implementation Guide and Trading Partner Tables referenced In the rule are the roadmaps on how to properly report claims electronically and are not part of the rule. This is being done by moving the references to these guides from the Incorporation by Reference section to the Written Interpretations section of the rule. The changes also clarify the requirements for Trading Partner Agreements and eliminate obsolete procedures for submission of paper claims.  To view the proposed rules, go to https://iic.idaho.gov/.
• Posted notice of rulemaking regarding 17.02.10 - administrative rules of the industrial commission under the workers' compensation law " security for compensation - insurance carriers and Rule 17.02.11 - administrative rules of the industrial commission under the workers' compensation law - security for compensation ~ self-insured employers. Rule 17.02.10 is being proposed to clarify the new electronic requirements for insurance carriers on the submission of First Reports of Injury and Claims for Benefits, notices of occupational illness, and fatalities. The changes also eliminate the need to submit paper documentation in support of electronically filed initial payments.  Rule 17.02.11 is being proposed to clarify the new electronic requirements for self-insured employers on the submission of First Reports of Injury and Claims for Benefits, notices of occupational illness, and fatalities. The changes also eliminate the need to submit paper documentation in support of electronically-filed initial payments.  To view the proposed rules, go to https://iic.idaho.gov/.

FEE SCHEDULE NEWS:

• The division has posted Table 5, List of FY19 MS-DRGs, Relative Weights effective October 1, 2018. The next update is expected October 2, 2019.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Posted an announcement of brown bag discussion regarding Medication Assisted Treatment for Opioid Addiction in Injured Workers.  The discussion is scheduled for Thursday, September 6, 2018 between 12:30 and 2:00 pm. The discussion is being presented by The Idaho Industrial Commission and The Idaho Office of Drug Policy. 
• There is a scam phone call circulating in regard to a workers’ compensation payout. The callers claim to be with the Employees’ Compensation Appeals Board (ECAB) and are requesting payment to receive a claim payout. ECAB is an appellate board and does not pay any monetary benefits directly. For more information on how to report this scam please visit https://www.dol.gov/ecab/welcome.html.
• Issued a policy memorandum of guidance regarding prompt claims servicing.  The later was dated August 15, 2018.  To view the letter, go to https://iic.idaho.gov/.
• Issued a policy memorandum addressing mechanisms available to practitioners seeking suspension or reduction of workers' compensation benefits due to injurious practices. The later was dated August 15, 2018.  To view the letter, go to https://iic.idaho.gov/.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Posted updates the EDI Claims Release 3.0 regarding updates to EDI Requirement Tables (Version2.1).  To view the updates, go to https://iicedi.info/requirements.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• The Industrial Commission Claims and Benefits department conducts compliance audits of insurers and their designated in-state adjusters. Periodic audits are performed to ensure insurer and self-insured employers are in compliance with claims adjusting requirements as required by Statute and Rule. To view the guidelines, go to https://iic.idaho.gov/insurance/Audit_Guidelines_v1_040118.pdf.

LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS:

House Bill 366

The enacted legislation would amend Section 72-205, Idaho Code, adding language that would require a postsecondary institution to cover a student through the institution's workers' compensation policy, if the employer the student is placed with does not cover the student through its policy. The definition of "work experience student" includes work-study students of Idaho's public higher education institutions. Adult students, when employed by an institution or placed in an off-campus work experience, are covered as employees by the employer's workers' compensation coverage. The existing language requires the postsecondary institution to include the student in its policy, even if the employer has already covered the student through its workers' compensation policy.  Effective Date July 1, 2018