REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Has announced the 18th Annual Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Conference to be held June 3-4, 2019 at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center, Hersey Pennsylvania.  To get additional information, go to https://www.dli.pa.gov/Businesses/Compensation/WC/conferences/Pages/default.aspx.

FEE SCHEDULE NEWS:

• The state has adopted changes to the PAWC Part A and Part B Fee Schedule services with an effective date of January 1, 2019.  The next expected update is for April 2019.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Announced the 18th Annual Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Conference, June 3-4, 2019, at the Hershey Lodge & Convention Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania. Nearly 1,400 people registered to attend the 2018 conference, representing employers, case managers, third-party administrators, defense/claimant counsel, labor and others. Attendance at this event promises a sharing of practical, useful and timely information and provides attendees with the unique opportunity to network with other workers’ compensation professionals while renewing valuable contacts. Attendees will also have the opportunity to visit with 125 vendors and learn about their workers’ compensation-related goods and services. Conference registration will not be open until at least the end of January, but you may wish to book your hotel reservations in the meantime. Reservations for overnight accommodations at the Hershey Lodge must be made by contacting the Hershey Lodge on or before Thursday, May 2, 2019, at 855-729-3108 or visit: https://book.passkey.com/go/BWCC2019. When making your reservations, advise the lodge that you are attending the “Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Conference, June 3-4, 2019” to get the conference room rate of $205 per room/per night, plus 11 percent taxes.  To view the notice, go to  https://www.dli.pa.gov/Businesses/Compensation/WC/conferences/Pages/default.aspx.

FEE SCHEDULE NEWS:

• The state has adopted changes to the PAWC Part A and Part B Fee Schedule Services with an effective date of October 1, 2018. The next update is expected in January 1, 2019.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• On Monday, July 16, 2018, the Wolf Administration introduced opioid prescribing guidelines for workers’ compensation to help healthcare providers determine when opioids are appropriate for treatment of someone injured on the job.  For additional information, go to https://www.dli.pa.gov/Businesses/Compensation/WC/Pages/default.aspx.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Published the July 2018 Fee Schedule Memo.  To view the memo, go to http://www.dli.pa.gov/Businesses/Compensation/WC/HCSR/MedFeeReview/Fee%20Schedule/Pages/default.aspx.

FEE SCHEDULE NEWS:

• The state has adopted changes to the PAWC Part A and Part B Fee Schedule Services with an effective date of July 1, 2018. The next update is expected in October 2018.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Published an updated fee schedule memo. To view the memo, go to http://www.dli.pa.gov/Businesses/Compensation/WC/HCSR/MedFeeReview/Fee%20Schedule/Pages/default.aspx.

FEE SCHEDULE NEWS:

• The state has adopted changes to the PAWC Part A and Part B Fee Schedule services with an effective date of April 1, 2018.  The next expected update is for July 1, 2018.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Based upon the Statewide Average Weekly Wage, as determined by the Department of Labor and Industry for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2017, the maximum compensation payable under sections 105.1 and 105.2 of the Workers' Compensation Act (77 P.S. §§ 1 and 25.2) shall be $1,025 per week for injuries occurring on and after January 1, 2018. For purposes of calculating the update to payments for medical treatment rendered on and after January 1, 2018, the percentage increase in the Statewide Average Weekly Wage is 3.0%.