No. 32764 (Amendment): R602-2-3. Compensation for Medical Panel Services

DAR File No.: 32764
Filed: 06/29/2009, 09:42
Received by: NL

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

The purpose of the proposed rule change is to increase the compensation for medical experts serving on Commission medical panels by $12.50 per half hour.

Summary of the rule or change:

The proposed rule change increases compensation for medical panel chairmen from $125 to $137.50 per half hour and increases compensation for medical panel members from $112.50 to $125 per half hour. All panel chairmen and members are physicians or trained medical professionals.

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

Section 34A-1-301 et seq.

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

There will be no direct cost or savings to the state budget. Expenses of medical panels are paid from the Uninsured Employers Fund and are not a part of state general fund expenditures. However, because the Uninsured Employers Fund is partly funded by assessments against workers' compensation insurance premiums, a small part of the state's workers' compensation insurance premium payments will go toward the increased payments to medical panel members authorized by this proposed rule. In terms of the state's overall workers' compensation costs, the fiscal impact of this proposal will be negligible.

local governments:

Because expenses of medical panels are paid from the Uninsured Employers Fund, which is partly funded by assessments against workers' compensation insurance premiums, a small part of local governments' workers' compensation insurance premium payments will go toward the increase payments to medical panel members authorized by this proposed rule. In terms of local governments' overall workers' compensation costs, the fiscal impact of this proposal will be negligible.

small businesses and persons other than businesses:

Because expenses of medical panels are paid from the Uninsured Employers, Fund, which is partly funded by assessments against workers' compensation insurance premiums, a small part of small businesses' workers' compensation insurance premium payments will go toward the increased payments to medical panel members authorized by this proposed rule. In terms of small businesses' overall workers' compensation costs, the fiscal impact of this proposal will be negligible.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

The proposed rule does not impose any additional compliance requirements and will not result in any compliance costs for affected persons.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

In comparison to overall workers' compensation costs, the modest increase in payments to medical experts who serve on the Commission's medical panels is so small as to have no discernible effect on businesses' workers' compensation premiums. However, the proposed rule will benefit all participants in the workers' compensation system by helping to maintain the Commission's access to the medical expertise that is necessary to resolve the difficult medical issues that are frequently involved in workers' compensation cases. Sherrie Hayashi, Commissioner

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Labor Commission
Adjudication
HEBER M WELLS BLDG
160 E 300 S
SALT LAKE CITY UT 84111-2316

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

Richard M. Lajeunesse at the above address, by phone at 801-536-7928, by FAX at 801-530-6333, or by Internet E-mail at [e-mail]

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

08/14/2009

This rule may become effective on:

08/21/2009

Authorized by:

Sherrie Hayashi, Commissioner

RULE TEXT

R602. Labor Commission, Adjudication.

R602-2. Adjudication of Workers' Compensation and Occupational Disease Claims.

R602-2-3. Compensation for Medical Panel Services.

Compensation for medical panel services, including records review, examination, report preparation and testimony, shall be $[112.50]125 per half hour for medical panel members and $[125]137.50 per half hour for the medical panel chair.

 

KEY: workers' compensation, administrative procedures, hearings, settlements

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: [March 10], 2009

Notice of Continuation: August 15, 2007

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 34A-1-301 et seq.; 63G-4-102 et seq.