by Lindy Z. Kerr, Esq.

The State Legislature is in the midst of their 2013 session, with cross-over day having occurred on March 7, 2013. House Bill 154, which if passed would change several provisions of the WC Act, has already made it through the House with 165 votes. The bill is now pending in the Senate.

The version of the bill that passed the House contains all of the major revisions initially proposed. These include capping medical benefits at 400 weeks for all non-catastrophic cases occurring on or after July 1, 2013 and raising the maximum TTD and TPD rates to $550 and $350 respectively. The bill also proposes to shorten the timeframe to pay mileage from 30 days to 15 days and to change the WC-240 job offer process to allow the employer/insurer to unilaterally suspend income benefits if the employee returns to work but attempts the job for less than eight cumulative hours or one scheduled work day. Under the current rule the employer/insurer are required to automatically recommence benefits if the employee returns to work but fails to attempt the job for even one day.