AgdaPkt 2003-09-22 - Laserfiche WebLink

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9A& l' WORKERS COMP from page 5 • • • • • • - ever we suggest that if approval is not provided, the physician should be require to immediately refer to a facility in which he /she has no conflicted interest. Repeal of Vocational Rehabilitation: Repeals existing vocational rehabilitation statute as part of repeal of vocational rehabilitation mandate. Position: Pending. Vocational Rehabilitation Grandfather Clause: Continues rehab for those persons already involved in rehab programs. Position: Support. Supplemental Job Displacement Benefit: Establishes a new supplemental job displacement benefit with savings from repeal of vocational reha- bilitation. Provides that employees who do not return to work for their employer within 60 days of the end of temporary disability period will receive an addi- tional benefit equivalent to an increase of 15% points of permanent partial disability. Provides that this benefit will not be used to qualify for a life pension, permanent total disability, or an increase in the weekly indemnity rate. Position: Support, however, we suggest that this increased benefit not be payable to employees who receive a disability retirement benefit paid for by the employer separate and apart from the work comp benefit. Limitation on Employers Liability For Supplemental Job Displacement: Provides that the employer will not be liable for the supplemental lob displacement benefit if, within 30 days of the end of the temporary disability, it offers, and the em- ployee rejects, or fails to accept, an offer of modified or alternative work. Position: Support, however the time period for identifying and offering such an assignment should be extended to 60 days rather than 30 days. This would give the employee a greater chance of being offered an alternative assignment. Carve -out Expansion: Establishes a new carve -out program, in any industry, except construc- tion Only the union may initiate the process by petitioning the AD. The AD will review and issue a letter allowing a one -year window for negotiations. The parties may request a one -year extension. Minimum employer premium = $50,000. Minimum group premium = $500,000. Position: No position, unless this applies to the public sector as well. The proposed language limits requests to negotiate to be ............................... made by unions only. Requests to negotiate should be allowed by unions or employers, but carve -out can only be implemented if agreed by Loth. Fraud Penalty: Increases maximum fraud penalty to $150,000. Position: Support. Generic Drug Requirement: Tightens up language on generic drugs. Position: Pending, must see language. We suggest that generic drugs be required in all cases unless no generic equivalent exists. Repeal Existing Pharmaceutical Lan- guage: We assume that this proposal will elimi- nate existing language relating to pharmaceutical fees and make it clear that fees for pharmaceuti- cal will be equal to 100% of medical. Position: Support. Prompt Payment: Reduces time to pay medical bills from 60 days to 30 working days from the date of complete billing. Increases penalty for late payment from 10% to 15 %. Position: Pend- ing. To insure timely payment, there should be a requirement that for this time period to apply, the bill must be at fee schedule and on an approved form to be developed by the AD. Electronic Billing: Requires the AD to adopt regulations on electronic payment by January 1, 2005. All employers must accept electronic billing by July 1, 2006. If bills are sent electronically, and are within the fee schedule, payment must be made within 15 days Position: Pending. It appears that this bill process needs further study and more time. New Fee Schedule: 120% of Medicare, except for 135% for outpatient surgery centers, and 100% of Medi -Cal for pharmaceuticals. Position: Support. Repeal of Existing Outpatient Lan- guage: Position: Support. Fee Schedule Transition Period: Limits decrease in fees to no more than 10% per year for five years. This is apparently to ease the impact on providers who charges are not regu- Continued on Page 7 PAGE 6 /PRIORITY FOCUS Visit the League's Official Web Site -- www.cacities.org