REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Issued two new bulletins:
  • Bulletin 18-01 - Insurance coverage for Contractors and Subcontractors WCD and DOI Joint Bulletin. To view the bulletin go to: http://labor.alaska.gov/wc/bulletins/18-01.pdf
  • Bulletin 18-02 - Update Allowances for Transportation, Meals, and Lodging While Traveling for Medical Treatment. To view the bulletin go to: http://labor.alaska.gov/wc/bulletins/18-02.pdf.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Posted the final regulation regarding the medical fee schedule.  The Alaska Fee Schedule becomes effective on January 1, 2018.
• Posted Bulletin 17-03 regarding Workers' Compensation Board List of Second Independent Medical Examiners.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• The State of Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development Workers' Compensation Board met October 5-6, 2017.  This meeting was open to the public. The meeting was held at the following location: Department of Labor Building 3301 Eagle Street Hearing Room 208 Anchorage, Alaska.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• The following regulations have an effective date of July 27, 2017 and will appear in official published form in the October 2017 supplement to the Alaska Administrative Code:   Regulations relating to second independent medical evaluation procedures and the definition of previously rehabilitated, Effective July 27, 2017 .
• The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the Alaska Workers’ Compensation Board propose to change regulations relating to fees for medical treatment and services. You may comment on the proposed regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the proposed changes, by submitting written comments to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Workers’ Compensation at P.O. Box 115512, Juneau, AK  99811-5512.  Additionally, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Workers’ Compensation will accept comments by facsimile at (907) 465-2797 and by electronic mail at Marie.Marx@alaska.gov. Comments may also be submitted through the Alaska Online Public Notice System, by accessing this notice on the system and using the comment link. The comments must be received not later than 5:00 p.m. on September 25, 2017.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• The State of Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Workers' Compensation Division, Second Independent Medical Examiner (Sime) Selection Panel will meet July 17, 18, 24, 26 & 28, 2017. For additional information, see the Online Public Meeting Notice.

LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS:

• House Bill 132
  This legislation defines the insurance requirements for transportation network company (TNC) drivers. It clearly delineates when a driver's personal automobile policy is covering the driver's vehicle and the requirements when a driver is logged into a TNC network or proving a prearranged ride. Automobile insurers may exclude personal vehicle policies for a driver while they are logged into a transportation network company (TNC) network. This legislation exempts TNC drivers from registering their personal vehicle as a commercial vehicle. This legislation requires a TNC to maintain primary automobile insurance recognizing the driver as a TNC driver used to transport passengers for compensation, and that covers the driver while the driver is logged into a digital network of a company or while they are engaged in a prearranged ride. Insurance required under Title 28 may be placed with an insurer licensed under AS 21.09.060 or with a surplus lines insurer under AS 21.34 with a credit rating not lower than A‐.  This legislation adds an exemption to the Workers’ Compensation Act for transportation network drivers. Effective Date July 6, 2017.

LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS:

• House Bill 77
  An Act making corrective amendments to the Alaska Statutes as recommended by the revisor of statutes.  The legislation makes no substantive changes to the statute but rather clerical changes and statute reference corrections.  Effective Date: July 1, 2017.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• The state has posted a notice of proposed changes relating to second independent medical evaluation procedures and the definition of previously rehabilitated in the regulations of the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the Alaska Workers’ Compensation Board.

FEE SCHEDULE NEWS:

• The state has released the Official Alaska Workers' Compensation Medical Fee Schedule effective April 1, 2017.  Most notable is the reinstatement of the fee schedule to non-physician practitioners, such as physical and occupational therapists.  Effective April 1, 2017, the maximum reimbursement for providers other than physicians, hospitals, outpatient clinics or ambulatory surgery centers, is the lower of 85% of the fee schedule allowance or the provider's charge for the service or treatment.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Posted notice of a new medical fee schedule to become effective April 1, 2017.
• The state has posted new regulations in their Administrative code. The amended regulations address the adoption of a new medical fee scheduled.

FEE SCHEDULE NEWS:

• The state adopted the 2017 ASA basic unit values effective January 1, 2017 and retained the existing anesthesia conversion factor.  The state adopted a new medical and hospital fee schedule effective December 1, 2015 based on the RBRVS values as established by CMS with state published conversion factors. The state has adopted the Medicare Severity Diagnosis Related Groups (MS-DRG) weight published by CMS with the state’s individual conversion factor for inpatient hospital billing.  The data will be updated quarterly along with CMS data.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• As required by AS 44.62.245, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the Alaska Workers’ Compensation Board give notice that the following amended versions of material adopted by reference in 8 AAC 45.083, under authority of AS 23.30.098, and dealing with fees for medical treatment and services, are in effect:
  • Posted notice that the adoption of the proposed amendments to the Workers' Compensation Medical Fee Schedule and Exhibit A, Workers' Compensation Supplemental Medical Fee Schedule, dated January 1, 2017 is deferred until further notice.  Continue using the current fee schedule and exhibit A dated January 1, 2014.
  • Posted bulletin 17-02 regarding filing requirements for the 2016 Annual Report; paying SIF Contributions and paying workers' safety and compensation fees.

FEE SCHEDULE NEWS:

• The state adopted a new medical and hospital fee schedule effective December 1, 2015 based on the RBRVS values as established by CMS with state published conversion factors. The state has adopted the Medicare Severity Diagnosis Related Groups (MS-DRG) weight published by CMS with the state’s individual conversion factor for inpatient hospital billing.  The data will be updated quarterly along with CMS data.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• The Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the Alaska Workers’ Compensation Board give notice that amended versions of material adopted by reference in 8 AAC 45.083, dealing with fees for medical treatment and services, are in effect.
• Alaska has released bulletin 16-5 regarding Cost of Living Adjustment referenced in AS 23.30.175 and AAC 45.138.
• Notice of proposed changes relating to fees for medical treatment and services, second independent medical evaluation procedures, the second injury fund, hearing briefs, discovery, and subpoenas in the regulations of the Alaska department of labor and workforce development and the Alaska Workers’ Compensation Board. The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the Alaska Workers’ Compensation Board propose to change regulations relating to fees for medical treatment and services, second independent medical evaluation procedures, the second injury fund, hearing briefs, discovery, and subpoenas.
• The State of Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development Workers' Compensation Board will meet January 12-13, 2017.
• Alaska released bulletin 16-06 regarding the second injury fund contribution rate for calendar year 2017.
• These bulletins can be found at http://labor.state.ak.us/wc/bulletins.htm.