REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• The 2018 New Mexico Workers' Compensation Administration's 2018 Annual Report is available online for browsing and for download.  To view the annual report, go to https://workerscomp.nm.gov/NMWCA-Publications.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• New Mexico Workers' Compensation Administration Director Darin A. Childers announced the reappointment of Anthony "Tony" Couture to serve a five-year term as a workers' compensation judge, effective August 28, 2018. By law, workers' compensation judges are appointed for an initial one-year term, which may then be followed by subsequent five-year appointments. Judge Couture began his initial term on August 28, 2017. The reappointment expires in August 2023.
• The Advisory Council on Workers’ Compensation and Occupational Disease Disablement is interested in different points of view about the workers’ compensation system. Anyone who wishes to speak to the Council may contact the Council’s staff assistant at 841-6052. Meetings are planned in advance and the agenda for each meeting depends on the time available. If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation, please notify the staff.  While the Council’s role is advisory, the Council has authority to appoint members to the panel that approves Independent Medical Examination providers. It otherwise has no authority and cannot make recommendations on individual cases.
• The Advisory Council on Workers' Compensation and Occupational Disease and Disablement will meet for a round table discussion on September 18, 2018 at 9:30 a.m. at the WCA main office, 2410 Centre SE. The public is invited.
• The WCA will TEMPORARILY limit Access to its electronic filing systems. “As you may be aware, the WCA’s public website was recently hacked. We want to assure the public that no data was retrieved or compromised at that time. However, in order to ensure that we can continue to provide users with a secure connection, the WCA is conducting security audits nightly, making Electronic Case Filing (ECF), WEB-EDI, and the Inpatient applications temporarily unavailable during these security checks.  The ECF, EDI and Inpatient applications will ONLY be available during the following hours:

Monday – Friday:            6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday/Sunday:            8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Again, these closure periods are temporary. We hope to complete security audits and reopen full access within a few weeks. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your cooperation as we conduct these necessary security audits.”

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• The WCA Will Temporarily Limit Access to its Electronic Filing Systems:  As you may be aware, the WCA’s public website was recently hacked. We want to assure the public that no data was retrieved or compromised at that time. However, in order to ensure that we can continue to provide users with a secure connection, we will complete security audits nightly, making Electronic Case Filing (ECF), WEB-EDI, and the Inpatient applications temporarily unavailable during these security checks.
• Beginning on Friday, July 27, 2018, the ECF, EDI and Inpatient applications will ONLY be available during the following hours:

                      Monday – Friday:            6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

                      Saturday/Sunday:            8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• New Mexico Workers' Compensation Administration Director Darin A. Childers announced the reappointment of Anthony "Tony" Couture to serve a five-year term as a workers' compensation judge, effective August 28, 2018. By law, workers' compensation judges are appointed for an initial one-year term, which may then be followed by subsequent five-year appointments. Judge Couture began his initial term on August 28, 2017. The reappointment expires in August 2023.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• The IME Provider Selection Committee organized pursuant to § 52-1-1.2. D. is revising its list of health care providers who are authorized to conduct independent medical examinations (IMEs).  This list includes one applicant to be considered during the June 2018 IME Committee meeting.  The list can be found on the Health Care Providers page. Written public comment on any health care provider being considered for inclusion or continuation on the list of authorized IME providers will be accepted from May 1, 2018, through close of business on May 31, 2018. In making its decisions, the “Committee shall, to the greatest extent possible, designate only health care providers whose judgments are respected, or not objected to, by recognized representatives of both employer and worker interests and whose judgments are not perceived to favor any particular interest group.” To provide written public comment, please contact the Workers’ Compensation Administration’s Medical Cost Containment Bureau, PO Box 27198, Albuquerque, NM 87125-7198, phone (505) 841-6811, fax (505) 841-6078.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• The Advisory Council on Workers' Compensation and Occupational Disease and Disablement will meet on Thursday April 19, 2018 at 9:30 a.m. at the WCA main office, 2410 Centre SE.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• The WCA did not host its weekly “Lump Sum Tuesday” on Nov. 21, 2017, due to the short holiday week for the Thanksgiving holiday.
• The New Mexico Workers’ Compensation Administration has revised and redesigned its guidebook for workers, which is now available on the state's website: http://www.workerscomp.nm.gov/ under “publications.” The booklet is organized into a “question and answer” format. The guidebook includes chapters on what to do when hurt on the job, temporary and permanent disability benefits, medical care and dispute resolution, among others. A printed version should be available very soon, and we are also working to get the revised book translated into Spanish.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• The New Mexico Workers' Compensation Administration will conduct a public hearing on the adoption of new WCA Rules at: 1:30 p.m., Friday, October 27, 2017 Workers’ Compensation Administration 2410 Centre Avenue SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106.   The proposed rule will be available on the WCA website at: http://www.workerscomp.nm.gov/ on September 14, 2017.  To receive a copy of the proposed rule by e-mail, contact the WCA General Counsel Office at (505) 841-6869. To receive a copy by mail, submit a self-addressed, stamped envelope with your request to WCA General Counsel Office, 2410 Centre Ave. SE, Albuquerque, NM  87106.   Comments may be made at the public hearing and written comments will be accepted until the close of business on October 27, 2017.  The Director will take all comments into consideration.  The WCA proposes to repeal and replace Part 4 (Claims Resolution) of Title 11 to implement rules for filing pleadings within the new WCA e-filing system. The proposed rule also makes minor changes to the Health Care Provider (HCP) section to clarify the HCP selection process. There were minor changes to the Mediation section, decreasing the time to reschedule a mediation conference from 90 to 75 days. The fee schedule is also being updated to coincide with the AMA codes. Both proposed rules will take effect January 1, 2018.  The Director of the WCA has authority to adopt reasonable rules pursuant to NMSA 1978, §52- 5-4 (2003).
• Has proposed a Medical Fee Schedule to become effective on January 1, 2018.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Albuquerque, N.M. August 7, 2017 –  New Mexico Workers’ Compensation Administration (WCA) Director Darin A. Childers announced the appointment of Tony Couture to serve as a workers’ compensation judge for the WCA. He will assume his new position on August 28, 2017, replacing Judge David Skinner. Open cases previously assigned to Judge Skinner will be reassigned to Judge Couture.  Couture was hired as a WCA mediator in January of this year, after spending 10 years in private law practice. His workers’ compensation experience includes representing both employers/insurers and injured workers. Couture earned his law degree in 2007 from the University Of New Mexico School Of Law. Prior to his legal career, he worked as a registered nurse, in both emergency room and in-patient settings, and as a computer scientist.
• The Advisory Council on Workers' Compensation and Occupational Disease Disablement will meet Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017 at 10 a.m at WCA Albuquerque 2410 Centre Ave. SE.  The council will consider the following agenda items:
  • Introductions
  • Approval of Agenda
  • Review/approve minutes of February 9, 2017, meeting
  • Director’s Report
  • 2017 Legislative Activity wrap-up;  2018 preview
  • Presentation on WCA’s Return-to-work pilot program-Jessica Sanchez
  • Break
  • Public Comment
  • Advisory Council Action Items / Administrative and Scheduling
  • Adjournment.
• In order to best serve our southeastern New Mexico customers, the WCA will move its Lovington field office to the James M. Murray State Building in Hobbs, N.M. at the end of August. To facilitate the move, the WCA's Lovington office will close on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2017, and will reopen at the Murray building in Hobbs on Tuesday, Sept. 5 following the Labor Day holiday. The new Hobbs address and toll-free telephone number will be:James M. Murray State Building
  2120 North Alto - Unit 3
  Hobbs, NM 88240
  800-934-2450

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• The pharmacy board had adopted an amendment to 19.33 NMAC, Section 9.  The amended rule addresses Tele-Pharmacy and Dispensing.  It becomes effective on 06-23-2017. While this rule is not specifically targeted toward Workers' Compensation it does apply to pharmacy across the board regardless of payor.
• New Mexico Workers’ Compensation Administration (WCA) Director Darin A. Childers announced the reappointment of Shanon S. Riley to serve a new five-year term as a workers’ compensation judge, effective August 20, 2017.  By law, workers’ compensation judges are appointed for an initial one-year term, which may then be followed by subsequent five-year appointments. Judge Riley was initially appointed on August 20, 2011.

FEE SCHEDULE NEWS:

• The Gross Tax Receipts schedule has been updated for the period of July 1 through December 31, 2017.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• The Workers’ Compensation Administration (WCA) announces the vacancy of an Administrative Law Judge, effective July 1, 2017, due to the retirement of Judge David Skinner. The WCA Director solicits applications from interested persons to fill the position. Pursuant to NMSA 1978 52-5-2, the appointment will be made for an initial one-year term, which may be extended for subsequent five-year terms. The administration is currently accepting applications and will begin the review process June 26, 2017. The application process will be ongoing until the position is filled. For questions about the application process, please contact Executive Deputy Director Dana Chavez at Chavez@state.nm.us or (505) 841-6810.