Illinois Workers' Compensation Reform
Since Governor Quinn took over as CEO of Illinois, reforming Illinois Workers' Compensation has been a priority. He believes that reform is necessary to maintain a system that treats injured workers falrly, but will also improve the business climate in the State of Illinois.
Illinois' medical fee schedule is ranked the 2nd highest in the country. With a 30 percent decrease in the schedule, Illinois would still rank 2nd, but it is believed that employers could save up to $500 million- or as much as 14.9 percent in premiums.
Some of the proposed reforms include:
Capping temporary total disability payments (alleged savings $19 millions) for carpal tunnel syndrome;
Returning compensation for temporary total incapacity partial disability to pre 2005 levels;
Denying benefits to workers who were inebriated at the time of their injury
Putting a cap on wage differential awards at the age of 67 or 5 years post accident. (Alleged savings $87 million)
Increasing medical utilization reviews for physical therapy, occupational theray and chiropractic care (Alleged savings $16 million)
Of course the Governor says that we need to have a system that protects the rights of the injured worker:
In order to avoid a disruption in treatment, insurers must accept electronic filing of bills from providers;
Medical providers must be paid on a timely basis or insurers could be assessed interest and penalties;
Holding employers responsible for not maintaining proper coverage.
In addition to reforms of the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act, Governor Quinn wants to shake things up at the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission:
Performance evaluations will be required prior to a re-appointment of any arbitrator at the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission.
Arbitrators will be required to be licensed attorneys and are to follow the same rules that apply to judges.
Attorneys appearing before the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission will follow the same ethical standards as attorneys who appear before a court.
Any claims filed by employees of the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission will be heard by the Court of Claims and not by an arbitrator.
Governor Quin believes that passing Workers' Compensation reforms is essential to keeping Illinois employers in Illinois and that will help to continue job growth.
The reforms that are being proposed focus on what can be changed in the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act. But who really benefits from these reforms? Illinois employers or the companies that insure them? Will the savings really be passed on to Illinois employers in the form of reduced premiums? We'll just have to wait and see...
