REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Published the agenda of the Commission Business Meeting that was held on April 29 at 10:30 a.m. in Commission Hearing Room A at 1333 Main Street, 5th Floor Columbia, South Carolina.  To view the agenda, go to https://wcc.sc.gov/news/2019-04/full-commission-business-meeting-agenda-april-29-2019.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Published the full commission business meeting agenda for March 18, 2019.  To view the agenda, go to https://wcc.sc.gov/news.
• The South Carolina Workers' Compensation Commission has opened registration for the Nuts & Bolts workshop on April 30, 2019. The workshop is for individuals responsible for processing, managing, filing and adjudicating claims in the State workers’ compensation system including claims administrators, adjusters, insurance carriers, legal assistants, paralegals, attorneys and employers.  This workshop will lead you from the initial injury to settlement of the claim. Participants will receive a comprehensive overview of South Carolina’s workers’ compensation system and a detailed explanation of the Commission’s requirements for filing a claim, proper completion of required forms, reporting requirements of the workers’ compensation laws and regulations. This workshop will introduce the basics of the workers’ compensation process. Commission staff will participate in the presentations and will be available during the workshop to respond to questions. To view this notice, go to https://wcc.sc.gov/news/2019-03/nuts-bolts-workshop-april-30-2019-0.  To register, go to http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07eg724eaxec4d3011&llr=ycp54mhab.

LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS:

• Senate Bill 326

A joint resolution to direct the state law enforcement division to distribute two hundred fifty thousand dollars to the South Carolina state firefighter’s association to provide for post-traumatic stress disorder insurance and programs.  Effective Date March 20, 2019.

• Senate Bill 358

The legislation amends section 38-31-30, code of laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the application of the South Carolina property and casualty insurance guaranty association, so as to apply the provisions of chapter 31, title 38 to a claim or loss covered by self-insurance that occurred prior to the acquisition of a block of business by a licensed insurer; and to amend section 42-5-20, relating to insurance requirements for workers' compensation, so as to prohibit a self-insurer from participating in or obtaining benefits from the South Carolina property and casualty insurance guaranty association and to require the South Carolina workers' compensation commission to secure an actuarial opinion before approving the transfer of a self-insurer to a licensed insurer.  Effective Date July 1, 2019.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Published the full commission business meeting agenda for February 19, 2019.  To view the notice, go to https://wcc.sc.gov/news.
• Published an Advisory Notice regarding changes to Commission forms. In particular, the Commission edited the language on the Form 50, Form 30, Form 32 and Form 18 for the purposes of clarity and judicial expediency.  In addition to these changes, the Commission discontinued the use of the Form 22.  Any Form 22 submitted after the effective date will be returned. The effective date of the changes to the forms and discontinuance of form 22 is March 1, 2019.   To view this notice, go to  https://wcc.sc.gov/news.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• The net present value tables have been updated as of January 3, 2019.  To view the announcement and tables, go to https://wcc.sc.gov/news/2019-01/net-present-value-tables-updated-january-2019.
• Has published a new mileage reimbursement rate effective January 1, 2019. Regulation 67-1601 A (1) provides the expenses incurred for travel to receive medical attention which shall be reimbursed to the claimant are mileage to and from a place of medical attention which is more than five miles away from home in accordance with the amount allowed state employees for mileage.  The state employee mileage rate is based upon the standard business mileage rate established by the Internal Revenue Service. Effective January 1, 2019 the reimbursement rate for state employee mileage is 58 cents per mile. This represents a three and half per mile increase from the 2018 rate of $0.545 per mile. Therefore, effective January 1, 2019, the new mileage reimbursement rate to and from a place of medical attention is $0.58 per mile.  To view the notice and the new rate, go to https://wcc.sc.gov/news/2018-12/new-mileage-rate-effective-january-1-2019.
• Published the agenda and meeting materials for the January 22, 2019 meeting of the commissioners.  To view the notice and agenda, go to https://wcc.sc.gov/news.
• At the Business Meeting on January 22, 2019, the Commissioners received a draft of the Proposed 2019 Medical Services Provider Manual (MSPM).  The effective date of the revised MSPM is April 1, 2019. The Commission is soliciting comments from interested parties, which will be considered at the Business Meeting February 19, 2019. Please submit comments on the proposed changes by email to Amy Proveaux at aproveaux@wcc.sc.gov no later than February 10. The Commission will consider final approval at the Business Meeting on March 18, 2019.  To view the notice and proposed changes, go to https://wcc.sc.gov/news/2019-01/proposed-changes-2019-medical-services-provider-manual.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Published a summary of the full Commission business meeting held on November 26, 2018. To view a copy of the summary, go to https://wcc.sc.gov/news/2018-11/full-commission-business-meeting-summary-november-26-2018.
• At the Business Meeting on December 17, 2018, the Commission approved the maximum weekly compensation rate at $845.74 for injuries arising on and after January 1, 2019. The South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce certified the average weekly wage July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018. As provided in Title 42 of the SC Code of Laws, 1976 the maximum weekly compensation rate equals 66⅔% of an individual’s average weekly wage, not to exceed the average weekly wage in this State for the preceding fiscal year as determined by the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce.  For additional information about this notice contact: Gary M. Cannon Executive Director 803.737.5744 gcannon@wcc.sc.gov.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Issue Bulletin 2018-12 regarding Information Security Program Exemptions South Carolina Insurance Data Security Act, 2018 S.C. Act No. 17. This is the third in a series of bulletins addressing the implementation of the South Carolina Insurance Data Security Act (2018 S.C. Act No. 171 ("Act")).  The Act is codified as Chapter 99 of Title 38 of the South Carolina Code of Laws.   This Bulletin specifically addresses exemptions  from the information  security program requirements.  To view the bulletin, go to http://www.doi.sc.gov/432/Property-Casualty#bulletins.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• South Carolina has published the workers' compensation commission 2017-2018 Annual Report.  To view the report, go to https://wcc.sc.gov/news/2018-10/sc-workers-compensation-commissions-2017-2018-annual-report-0.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• The department of insurance published bulletin 218-09 regarding cyber security event reporting form.  To view the bulletin, go to http://doi.sc.gov/civicalerts.aspx?AID=168.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• With the approval of the FY18-19 Budget, the General Assembly authorized an increase in the Commission’s filing fee from $25.00 to $50.00 for each requested hearing, settlement or motion. Funds generated by the increase will help support the development and implementation the IT Legacy Modernization Project. This Project is a strategic plan to transform the agency’s business system and processes and upgrading the existing 29-year-old claims management system (Progress). Benefits to the stakeholders include improved security of data, ability to provide financial transactions of fees and fines electronically and creating an avenue for filing pleadings electronically and document accessibility by parties to claims.  The effective date of the increase is August 1, 2018. Each request for a hearing, settlement or motion filed on or after August 1 will require a $50.00 filing fee.
• The following is a summary of the items discussed and actions taken at the SC Workers’ Compensation Commission’s Business Meeting on July 16, 2018.  Commission Approved 23 Applications to Self-Insure The Commission approved applications to self-insure twenty-three (23) prospective members of four (4) funds.  Received Agency Departmental Reports The Department Directors and Executive Director reviewed their monthly reports submitted to the Commission prior to the meeting.   Filing Fee Increase, Effective August 1, 2018 Effective August 1, 2018, the filing fee will increase from $25.00 to $50.00 for each requested hearing, settlement, or motion.  A complete copy of the summary can be viewed at http://www.wcc.sc.gov/Pages/default.aspx.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Published the full agenda for the Commission business meeting held on June 18 at 10:30 A.M. in Commission Hearing Room A at 1333 Main Street, 5th Floor Columbia, South Carolina.  To view the agenda and materials discussed at the meeting, go to http://www.wcc.sc.gov/Pages/default.aspx.
• Published a memo regarding letter of representation. Attorneys must write the Commission’s Judicial Department to notify the Commission of their representation of a party pursuant to Reg. 67-1202.  This may be done by letter or by using eCase, the electronic notice function available through the Commission’s On-Line Reporting Interface. The Judicial Department encourages attorneys to use eCase rather than submit a letter to fulfill this requirement.
  Using eCase to notice the Commission of an Attorney’s representation ensures that the Attorney is promptly added to the correct file in a time efficient and accurate manner.  Written letters of representation printed out and physically sent to the Commission by mail are costly, time-consuming, and at greater risk of being recorded in error.  Please use eCase to notify the Judicial Department electronically of the Attorney’s representation.