REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• The Workers’ Compensation Commission is pleased today to welcome Stephen M. Morelli as the newest Workers’ Compensation Commission Chairman. Morelli was recently appointed by Governor Dannel Malloy to this position following the retirement of Commissioner John A. Mastropietro. Chairman Morelli thanked Mastropietro in his communication with agency employees, “I share with you a debt of gratitude to Chairman Mastropietro for his years of excellent service and his outstanding stewardship of our organization. I look forward to working with you and am confident that together we can continue to meet the challenges we will face.” After studying at Boston College and the University of Connecticut, from which he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, Morelli earned his Juris Doctor from the University Of Connecticut School Of Law. Following his collegiate studies, he served with the United States Peace Corps in Thailand. Morelli is a member of both the Connecticut and California Bars and is admitted to U.S. District Courts in both states as well, in addition to be a licensed realtor in the state of Connecticut.  Morelli brings with him more than twenty-five years’ experience in employment, general business, personal injury, real estate, and workers’ compensation law, in addition to litigation experience in both state and federal courts. From 1990-1994 he worked as an Associate in Legal Practice with the firm of Li & Kennedy and from 1994-2000 he was a partner in Roggi & Morelli, LLP. He later had his own practice as the Law Office of Stephen M. Morelli. Active as an elected official, Morelli has also served as the Deputy Mayor of the Town of Berlin, and as a member of the Berlin Town Council, the Budget Committee, and the Ordinance Committee (where he served as Chair). He also served previously as a member of the Berlin Housing Authority and the Democratic Town Committee, as well as being a Corporator of The Hospital of Central Connecticut. Morelli first joined the Workers’ Compensation Commission as a Commissioner in 2012, and during the past six years he has served in the agency’s Hartford, New Britain, Norwich, and Waterbury District Offices. We are happy to celebrate his continued public service to the citizens of the state of Connecticut, in his new capacity as Chairman of the Workers’ Compensation Commission.

FEE SCHEDULE NEWS:

• The 2018 Official Connecticut Fee Schedule for Hospitals and Ambulatory Surgical Centers is being adopted with an effective date of April 1, 2018. The next scheduled update is April 2019.

FEE SCHEDULE NEWS:

• Ambulance rates have been updated as of January 1, 2018. The next expected update to these rates is scheduled for January 2019.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Published memorandum number 2018-01 regarding the 2018 WCC Hospital and Ambulatory Surgical Center Fee Schedule. To view the memorandum, go to:  http://wcc.state.ct.us/memos/2018/2018-01.htm.
• Published updated Compensation Review Board (CRB) Calendars.  The calendars were updated on January 8, 2018.  To access the updated calendars, go to: http://wcc.state.ct.us/crb/calendars/calendars.htm.
• The mileage reimbursement rate for all travel expenses incurred on or after January 1, 2018 has risen to 5 cents per mile. This rate change applies to all claimants, regardless of injury date, and coincides with the federal mileage reimbursement rate pursuant to Section 31-312(a) of the Workers’ Compensation Act. To view current and historic information on reimbursement, go to http://wcc.state.ct.us/gen-info/rec-legis/01-mileage.htm

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Connecticut has posted the Voluntary Loss Costs and Assigned Risk Rates Proposed by NCCI.  

LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS:

• House Bill 7132
  The enacted legislation provides specific requirements regarding how and where an employee notifies their employer that a claim for workers’ compensation has been filed. The legislation also provides specific requirements of the employer to notify the employee of the employer’s notification requirements. The legislation also sets time frames for notification by the employee to the employer. Effective Date October 1, 2017.

FEE SCHEDULE NEWS:

• The medical fee schedule has been updated as of July 15, 2017. The new schedule includes updates and revisions to rules, fees and new 2017 CPT codes.  The fee schedule “will be effective for medical services rendered on or after July 15, 2017, regardless of the date of injury, that are payable to health care providers authorized or permitted to render care under the Connecticut Workers’ Compensation Act.”  The next physician fee schedule update is scheduled for July 2018.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• The Workers’ Compensation Commission has just received shipment of its new Bulletin No. 52, amended to January 1, 2017, which is available to the public free of charge. Bulletin No. 52 contains the entire Workers’ Compensation Act, additional related statutes, workers’ compensation administrative regulations, and illustrations of the most up-to-date Connecticut’s workers’ compensation forms. Please contact your nearest Workers’ Compensation Commission District Office for your free copy of the new Bulletin No. 52. You may also call the Commission’s Education Services at (860) 493-1500.
• Has published Memorandum No. 2017-03 which supersedes Memorandum No 2015-04.  The memorandum is regarding the Workers' Compensation Commission Guidelines for Mediation.  The guideline becomes effective July 1, 2017.

LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS:

• House Bill 7037
  This bill requires employers whose employees are subject to an income withholding order for child support to take additional steps when such employees make claims for workers' compensation benefits. By law, when an employee under an income withholding order for child support makes such a claim, his or her employer must promptly notify the dependent (i.e., spouse, former spouse, or child owed the support) or the Judicial Branch's Support Enforcement Services as directed. Under the bill, when such an employee makes a claim for workers' compensation benefits, employers must also include a copy of the income withholding order with the first report of occupational illness or injury to the workers' compensation carrier. The carrier must withhold funds pursuant to the order and pay the withheld funds to the Department of Social Services' Office of Child Support Services. By law, the office must ensure that it distributes the withheld funds to the dependent, state, or support enforcement agency of another state, as appropriate, within two business days of receipt. Effective Date January 1, 2018.

FEE SCHEDULE NEWS:

• A new facility fee schedule has been adopted by the state with an effective date of April 1, 2017. This fee schedule is published by Optum360 and can be obtained by visiting https://www.optum360coding.com/ keyword “Connecticut”.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Connecticut has updated their medical protocols.   The update protocols were adopted and published March 27, 2017.

FEE SCHEDULE NEWS:

• Ambulance rates schedule has been updated as of January 1, 2017. The next update is scheduled for January 1, 2018.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• On January 1, 2017 Connecticut published ambulance rates for 2017. To receive a copy of the ambulance rates for 2017 contact Renee Holota at e-mail Renee.Holota@ct.gov.