REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• As you may know, the Urbana Civic Center is closing at the end of 2018.  We thought we secured a seamless transition to another location in Urbana, but that location fell through.  As a result, while we continue our search for another Urbana location, as of January 1, 2019 all matters scheduled to be heard at the Urbana Civic Center will be heard at our Springfield location at the IWCC, 4500 S. Sixth St., Springfield, IL 62703. Dates and times will be posted shortly.  We will continue to update you as to our facility search when updates become available.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Effective September 2018, the Waukegan Status Calls will be held in the new Jury Assembly Room in the Criminal Courts Tower. The arbitration hearings will continue to be held in the Lake County Courthouse but will move from room D-300 on the third floor to room C-200 on the second floor.  Please note that the Waukegan hearing dates for October and December of 2018 have been revised.  The October trial cycle will begin with the Status Call on Friday, October 19th in the new Jury Assembly Room in the Criminal Courts Tower. Hearings will be held in room C-200 of the Lake County Courthouse on October 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 29th, 30th, and 31st.The December trial cycle will begin with the Status Call on Friday, December 14th in the new Jury Assembly Room in the Criminal Courts Tower. Hearing will be held in room C-200 of the Lake County Courthouse on December 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th. The Status Call and trial dates for September and November have not changed.
• Governor Rauner reappointed the following Arbitrators for the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission: Maria S. Bocanegra, Paul V. Cellini, Stephen J. Friedman, Jessica A. Hegarty, Gerald A. Granada, Jeffrey B. Huebsch, Nancy H. Lindsay, Christine Marie Ori, Maureen H. Pulia, Melinda M. Rowe-Sullivan, and Douglas S. Stephenson.
• The Village of New Lenox has informed the IWCC that the Village Hall will be closing early on Friday, November 9th for an employee function. The Village has requested that the IWCC complete all judicial activities for that day no later than 11:00 AM. Please keep this in mind when completing your schedules.
• Published a revised table of Trauma Centers by Region.  To view the revised table, go to dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/emergency-preparedness-response/ems/trauma-program/centersByReg.

LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS:

• House Bill 4650

Amends the Illinois Controlled Substance Act. In a provision allowing pharmacists to authorize a designee to consult the Prescription Monitoring Program on their behalf, defines "pharmacist" to include, but be not limited to, a pharmacist associated with a health maintenance organization or a Medicaid managed care entity providing services under the Illinois Public Aid Code. Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Provides that any pharmacist feedback, including grades, ratings, or written or verbal statements, in opposition to a clinical decision that the prescription of a controlled substance is not medically necessary shall not be the basis of any adverse action, evaluation, or any other type of negative credentialing, contracting, licensure, or employment action taken against a prescriber or dispenser. In a provision allowing pharmacists to authorize a designee to consult the Prescription Monitoring Program on their behalf, defines "pharmacist" to include a clinical pharmacist employed by and designated by a Medicaid Managed Care Organization providing services under the Illinois Public Aid Code under a contract with the Department of Health and Family Services for the sole purpose of clinical review of services provided to persons covered by the entity under the contract to determine compliance with the Act (in the introduced bill, defines "pharmacist" to include, but be not limited to, a pharmacist associated with a health maintenance organization or a Medicaid managed care entity providing services under the Illinois Public Aid Code). Provides that a managed care entity pharmacist shall notify prescribers of review activities.  Deletes language providing pharmacist feedback, including grades, ratings, or written or verbal statements, in opposition to a clinical decision that the prescription of a controlled substance is not medically necessary shall not be the basis of any adverse action, evaluation, or any other type of negative credentialing, contracting, licensure, or employment action taken against a prescriber or dispenser.  Effective Date August 21, 2018.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• The IWCC plans to implement the IAIABC's EDI Claims Release 3.1 XML Standard in the second quarter of 2019.  Draft tables and other information regarding the implementation are being developed and will be shared in the next few months.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Posted a revision to the table Trauma Centers by Region.  To view the revised table, go to http://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/emergency-preparedness-response/ems/trauma-program/centersByReg. The revised table was effective July 13, 2018.  The table was published July 17, 2018.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

•  The Illinois Department of Public Health has amended the list of Trauma Centers by Region.  To view the updated list; go to http://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/emergency-preparedness-response/ems/trauma-program/centersByReg.
• Chairman Joann Fratianni is pleased to announce another step forward in the IWCC's modernization and technological upgrade of operations.  Pursuant to the IWCC's Rules, as found in Section 50 of the Illinois Administrative Code, parties will receive case activity notices electronically beginning on July 2, 2018.  The IWCC will no longer send case notices via U.S. Mail as of this date. All parties (law firms on behalf of clients and pro se litigants) will be required to maintain a designated electronic mail ("e-mail") address for receiving case notices, just as they are now required to maintain a physical address to receive them by U.S. Mail.  You only need to fill out the "E-Mail Registration Form" once (just like providing us your physical address), so that we can update our system.  PLEASE NOTE that it does not matter if you already have an e-mail on file or in use with us – we are populating the system with new and updated information.  So, please submit a law firm/pro se e-mail address to us again. * The only exception to electronic notices is respondent parties at the time a case is initially filed, whom will be notified that a case has been filed against them by U.S. Mail at the address provided by the petitioner.  This is the current practice.   Attorneys – Our system links cases before the IWCC to the law firm, not the individual practitioner.  So, please provide us your firm's e-mail address for receipt of electronic notices.  If one of your attorney’s "updates" your firm e-mail address with their own, all firm notices will go to the most updated address.  To view the notice and all associated information, go to https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/iwcc/news/Pages/news.aspx#iwcc-57.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• The 2018 Arbitrator Evaluation Form is now available by following the link provided below.  The evaluation form is also available on the Forms Page of the IWCC website.  Instructions for completion and submission are detailed in the PDF.  https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/iwcc/resources/Documents/2018ArbitratorEvaluationForm.pdf
• Published a notice of correction in the state register on February 2, 2018.   The notice of correction was published regarding registration of workers' compensation utilization review organizations. To view the notice of correction,  go to http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/index/register/volume42/register_volume42_issue5.pdf.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• The Department of Insurance issued Insurance Bulletin 2017-04 regarding Workers' compensation Preferred Provider Program Registration/Renewal Fees.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Governor Rauner announced arbitrator reappointments and new arbitrator appointments.  Governor Rauner has reappointed the following Arbitrators for the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission: Anthony C. Erbacci, Steven J. Fruth, David A. Kane, Michael K. Nowak, Ketki Shroff Steffen. Joining the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission as newly appointed Arbitrators are Thomas Ciecko, Robert M. Harris and Robert E. Luedke.
• Adopted a new section to Illinois Administrative Code 2909 regarding Workers' Compensation Large Deductible Business.
• The Peoria office will resume normal operations beginning Tuesday, September 26th. The office hours are from 8:30 am until 5:00 pm. If you have any questions please contact Teena Pitman at (309) 671-3019.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Issued a revision regarding trauma center designations by region.  The revision is effective August 22, 2017.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Arbitrator Dollison will not be available to preside over his Waukegan docket in July or his Rockford docket in August. His calls and hearing dates will be covered by other arbitrators. In his absence settlement contracts for review can be presented to the sitting arbitrator or can be sent to either Arbitrator Jessica Hegarty or Arbitrator Anthony Erbacci. Settlement contracts can also be sent to Bob Devereaux at the IWCC in Chicago. Motions and other correspondence related to the Rockford call on August 10th should be sent to the attention of Arbitrator Carolyn Doherty. The addresses are as follows:
  • Arbitrator Doherty
    PO Box 420
    Elmhurst, IL 60126
  • Arbitrator Erbacci
    2615 N. Drury Lane
    Arlington Heights, IL  60004
  • Arbitrator Hegarty
    PO Box 21268
    Elmhurst, IL 60126
  • Bob Devereaux
    IWCC
    100 W Randolph St Suite 8-200
    Chicago, IL 60601
• Arbitrator Dollison will be in Woodstock for the September trial cycle.