FEE SCHEDULE NEWS:

• The state has published the 2018 Medical Fee Schedule with an effective date of October 1, 2018. A new update is expected in October 2019.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Please be advised that a meeting of the Rhode Island Workers’ Compensation Court Medical Advisory Board has been scheduled for Tuesday, September 18, 2018, 6:00 p.m., Workers’ Compensation Court Room 4M, One Dorrance Plaza, Providence, Rhode Island.  Entrance to the building at this hour is through the rear personnel doors.  Attendees may be asked to sign in. To view the notice, go to https://www.courts.ri.gov/Courts/workerscompensationcourt/MedicalAdvisoryBoard/Pages/default.aspx.

FEE SCHEDULE NEWS:

• The state has adopted changed to the inpatient, ASC and emergency room hospital fee schedule rates effective July 1, 2018. The next expected update is scheduled for July 2019.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Published Information Letter 18-03 regarding Notice of Proposed Assessment Rate.  The Workers’ Compensation Division, under the authority granted by Section 37‐13(c) of Title 28 of the General Laws of Rhode Island, 1956, as amended, granting the Director of the Department of Labor and Training (“Director”) the power and discretion to determine Workers’ Compensation assessment rates, proposes that the assessment rate be reduced to 5.25%.  To view the entire the entire information letter, go to http://www.dlt.ri.gov/wc/infoletters.htm.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Issued information letter 2018-02 regarding spendable base wage information. The Spendable Base Wage Information effective May 10, 2018 is now available on our web site at http://www.dlt.ri.gov/wc/infowages.htm.  You can view, print and save an electronic copy.   For questions on how to use spendable earnings, please contact a Claims Analyst at (401) 462-8100, or WCClaimsAnalyst@DLT.ri.gov.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Published information letter 18-01 regarding 2018 cost of living increase notification.  Rhode Island General Law Sections 28-33-17(f)(1), Weekly Compensation for Total Incapacity, 28-33-18.3(b)(1), Continuation of Benefits – Partial Incapacity and 28-3730, Cost of Living Increase, provide for annual benefit increases to certain classes of employees.  By the statutes listed above, the increases to these employees shall be by an amount equal to the total percentage increase in the (CPI-W) Consumer Price Index, United States city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers as formulated and computed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor for the period of March 1 to February 28 each year.  The Cost of Living Increase for 2018 will be 2.3 %.  Effective May 10, 2018, weekly benefits paid to these employees should be increased 2.3%.  By statute, increases shall be paid by insurers and employers without further order of the court.  Late payment of the increase may result in the assessment of a 20% penalty on the unpaid amount. To view the information letter, go tohttp://www.dlt.ri.gov/wc/infoletters.htm.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Next meeting of the RI Workers' Compensation Court Medical Advisory Board will be held on 10/24/2017 in the Workers' Compensation Court Room 4M, One Dorrance Plaza, Providence, RI from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS:

• House Bill 6224 Substitute A
  The enacted legislation repeals the provisions of the workers' compensation law that provides that for injuries on and after July 1, 2023, “material hindrance” is defined to include only compensable injuries causing a greater than sixty-five percent (65%) degree of functional impairment and/or disability.  The act would also change the name of the Donley Center to the Chief Judge Robert F. Arrigan rehabilitation center.  Effective Date June 30, 2017.

FEE SCHEDULE NEWS:

• The state has adopted a new physician fee schedule with an effective date of September 1, 2017.

FEE SCHEDULE NEWS:

• The state has adopted changes to the inpatient, ASC and emergency room hospital fee schedule effective July 1, 2017. The next expected update is scheduled for July 1, 2018.
• The state is expected to update their physician fee schedule in mid July 2017.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Rhode Island has published the COLA for 2017.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• A new meeting of the Rhode Island Workers’ Compensation Court Medical Advisory Board was held on Tuesday, February 28, 2017, 6:00 p.m., at Workers’ Compensation Court Room 4M, One Dorrance Plaza, Providence, Rhode Island.
• New forms have been released regarding Electronic Payment of Workers' Compensation Benefits:
  • DWC-EB1 is the agreement for electronic payment
  • DWC-EB2 is the rescission of agreement electronic payment.