REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• A public hearing was held on September 14, 2018 pursuant to HB 2280. The purpose of the hearing was to consult and solicit information from individuals and entities that may be affected by the proposed changes to the Workers’ Compensation 2019 Schedule of Medical Fees.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Secretary Gordon approved Troy Larson for the position of KDOL Administrative Law Judge, Workers’ Compensation Division in Lenexa. Larson's nomination was submitted by the Workers’ Compensation and Employment Security Boards Nominating Committee to fill the position previously held by Judge Steven Howard who retired in March after serving 27 years.  Larson worked as a Research Attorney for the Kansas Court of Appeals for two years before practicing law in Kansas City. In private practice, he primarily represented employers and insurers on workers’ compensation claims throughout Kansas and Missouri. Larson is a 2009 graduate of Washburn University School of Law. He and his family reside in Shawnee, Kansas.
• The Department of Insurance published in the state register a notice of changes in pharmacy networks.
• Pursuant to HB 2280, a public hearing was scheduled to be conducted at 3:00 p.m. Friday, August 10, 2018, in Hearing Room 3 of the Department of Labor Building, 401 SW Topeka Blvd., Topeka, Kansas. The purpose of the hearing was to consult and solicit information from individuals and entities that may be affected by the proposed changes to the Workers’ Compensation 2019 Schedule of Medical Fees (hereafter Medical Fee Schedule). The meeting was canceled and will be rescheduled at a later date.
• The Work Comp Medical Fee Schedule Advisory Panel Meeting was scheduled for Friday, Aug. 24 at 401 SW Topeka Blvd. (Kansas Department of Labor building).

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• The Kansas Division of Workers' Compensation will adopt the IAIABC Claims Release 3.1 Standard on November 29, 2018. The Kansas IAIABC R3.1 release date coincides with go-live of Kansas’ Online System for Claims Administration Research/Regulation (OSCAR).  Kansas EDI data will be integrated into OSCAR and some of the new requirements in claims 3.1 are needed to support OSCAR functionality and processes.  To view additional information, go to https://www.dol.ks.gov/WorkComp/edinews.aspx.
• Travel to obtain medical services on or after July 1, 2018, shall be reimbursed at the rate of 54.5 cents per mile. The mileage reimbursement rate for state officers and employees is 54.5 cents per mile effective July 1, 2018. K.S.A. 44-515(a) provides that mileage to obtain medical services is reimbursed at the rate prescribed for state officers and employees pursuant to K.S.A. 75-3203a. K.A.R. 51-9-11 provides that all round trips of over five miles to obtain medical services are reimbursable as medical mileage as provided by K.S.A. 44-515(a).
• Weekly Benefits have changed effective July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019. Maximum Weekly Benefits are $645 and Minimum Weekly Survivors Benefit are $430.
• Pursuant to HB 2280, a public hearing will be conducted at 3:00 p.m. Friday, August 10, 2018, in Hearing Room 3 of the Department of Labor Building, 401 SW Topeka Blvd., Topeka, Kansas. The purpose of the hearing will be to consult and solicit information from individuals and entities that may be affected by the proposed changes to the Workers' Compensation 2019 Schedule of Medical Fees (hereafter Medical Fee Schedule). All interested parties may submit written comments prior to the hearing to the Division of Workers' Compensation, 401 SW Topeka Blvd., Suite 2, Topeka, KS 66603 or by email to Jose.Castillo@ks.gov. All interested parties will be given a reasonable opportunity to present their views orally regarding the proposed changes to the Medical Fee Schedule. In order to provide all parties an opportunity to present their views, it may be necessary to request that each participant limit any oral presentation to five minutes.  An individual with a disability may request an accommodation in order to participate in the public hearing and may request a copy of the proposed changes to the Medical Fee Schedule and economic impact statements in an accessible format.  Request for accommodation to participate in the hearing should be made at least five working days in advance of the hearing by contacting Jose Castillo at 785-296-4000, ext. 2159 or TYY 1-800-766- 3777. The northwest entrance to the Department of Labor Building is accessible. Handicapped parking is located at the northwest side of the Department of Labor Building.  Copies of the proposed changes to the Medical Fee Schedule and the Economic Impact Statement can be obtained by contacting Jose Castillo at 785-296-4000 2159 or Jose.Castillo@ks.gov.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Kansas is in the process of implementing IAIABC Claims Release 3.1, which will be adopted on November 29, 2018. The Kansas IAIABC R3.1 release date coincides with go-live of Kansas’ Online System for Claims Administration Research/Regulation (OSCAR). Kansas EDI data will be integrated into OSCAR and some of the new requirements in claims 3.1 are needed to support OSCAR functionality and processes.
• The tables are now available: Kansas R3.1 Event Tables Kansas R3.1 Element Requirements Kansas R3.1 Edit Matrix
• All trading partners submitting in Kansas are required to submit an updated Trading partner document to our vendor Ebix for Release 3.1 by November 12, 2018, or before starting testing.
• Trading Partner and EDI Vendor testing for Kansas DWC FROI/SROI IAIABC Claims EDI Release 3.1 will begin July 16, 2018 and continue through November 15, 2018. Please contact Ebix to set up testing by calling (866) 448-1776 or email KS-EDICoordinator@Ebix.com. EDI vendors that are already submitting in at least one R3.1 EDI state at the time of testing are only required to complete connectivity testing requirements.
• Testing – July 16, 2018 until November 15, 2018
• Updated Trading Partner Document is due by - November 12, 2018
• Go live date – November 2018

For additional information and access to the requirement tables, go to https://www.dol.ks.gov/WorkComp/edinews.aspx.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Posted notice in the state register from the Kansas Insurance Department regarding changes in pharmacy networks. To view the notice of changes, go to http://www.kssos.org/pubs/pubs_kansas_register.asp.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Published notice of revised Maximum Weekly Benefits and revised Minimum Weekly Survivors Benefit for July 1, 2017- June30, 2018.  The revised Maximum Weekly Benefits is $631.00.  The revised Minimum Weekly Survivors Benefit is $421.00.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Published the notice of adopted rule Article 3 - Fire and Casualty Insurance 40-3-60 Workers' compensation; affidavit of exempt statue. Each company that underwrites workers’ compensation insurance in Kansas shall accept each executed affidavit of exempt status provided by each insured, pursuant to K.S.A. 2016 Supp. 44-5,127 and amendments thereto, unless there is sufficient evidence that the individual who signed the affidavit is required to be covered under the workers compensation act. (Authorized by and implementing K.S.A. 2016 Supp. 44-5,127; effective March 2, 2018.) Ken Selzer, CPA Insurance Commissioner.  To view the posted notice, go to  http://www.kssos.org/pubs/register/2018/Vol_37_No_07_February_15_2018_pages-113-144.pdf.
• Published the 43rd Annual Statistical Report Fiscal Year 2017.  To view the report, go to https://www.dol.ks.gov/Files/PDF/AnnualReportFY17.pdf.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Travel to obtain medical services on or after July 1, 2017, shall be reimbursed at the rate of 53.5 cents per mile. The mileage reimbursement rate for state officers and employees is 53.5 cents per mile effective July 1, 2017.  K.S.A. 44-515(a) provides that mileage to obtain medical services is reimbursed at the rate prescribed for state officers and employees pursuant to K.S.A. 75-3203a.‚ K.A.R. 51-9-11 provides that all round trips of over five miles to obtain medical services are reimbursable as medical mileage as provided by K.S.A. 44-515(a).
• The Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) Workers’ Compensation Division is pleased to announce that the online registrations for the 43rd Annual Kansas Workers’ Compensation Seminar at the Overland Park Convention Center on Sept. 26 and 27 is now open. Registration can be completed online at dol.ks.gov/WorkComp/seminar.aspx and at the door until 1 p.m. Sept. 27. Presentations will feature Neutral Evaluations, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) From the Circumstances Surrounding an Accident, and Work Disability Thresholds. Attendees will also learn about Burns and How to Rate Them Under the Sixth Edition, Update on Building and Implementation of the Online System for Claims Administration and Research/Regulation (OSCAR) and Orthopedic Surgery and Permanent Restrictions.  Continuing education is pre-approved for Kansas and Missouri attorneys, Certified Case Managers, Kansas APRN, RN or LPN professionals, Kansas Occupational Therapists/Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants and Kansas Licensed Physical Therapists/Kansas Certified Physical Therapist Assistants. Assistance is available to attendees who are licensed or certified in occupations requiring continuing education credits that are not pre-approved. There are 660 minutes of education available during the seminar.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Effective immediately, the KDOL Workers Compensation Division office in Garden City will no longer be using P.O. Box 1138. The new mailing address is 407 Campus Drive, Garden City, KS 67846-6124.