Author: Kevin Anderson

October 29, 2024
by Kevin Anderson

Oregon Workers’ Compensation Division Reviewing Medical Service and Billing Rules Nov. 5th

The WCD is hosting an advisory committee meeting on November 5, 2024. You can find the agenda here including information about how to participate in…

April 30, 2024
by Kevin Anderson

Surgery in Oregon? Here’s What to Know

The Oregon Workers’ Compensation Division recently added some new deadlines to be aware of when dealing with surgery requests in the MCO context. You can…

January 30, 2024
by Kevin Anderson

Oregon WCD Proposing New Medical Treatment and Billing Rules

The Oregon Workers’ Compensation Division had a public comment meeting in November 2023 to discuss issues related to the medical fee schedule, medical services, and…

October 25, 2023
by Kevin Anderson

Reminder – Oregon Legislative Changes Starting January 1, 2024

As we approach the end of the year, it is important to remember that there are some big changes coming to Oregon workers’ compensation claim…

May 5, 2023
by Kevin Anderson

New Claim Closure and Overpayment Rules in Oregon Starting January 1, 2024

As we have touched on before, there will be some major changes next year to how we process claims, particularly when it comes to claim…

September 21, 2022
by Kevin Anderson

Chronic Condition Award Does Not Automatically Result in Work Disability in Oregon

The Oregon Workers’ Compensation Board recently issued a helpful decision when it comes to determining permanent work restrictions and dealing with the reconsideration proceeding. Richard…

May 10, 2022
by Kevin Anderson

Oregon WCD Starts Rulemaking Process for Timeloss Bill (HB 4138)

The WCD held the first public meeting on May 3rd to address issues related to implementing HB 4138 made several changes to processing temporary disability…

May 4, 2022
by Kevin Anderson

Oregon Workers’ Compensation Board Reopening to the Public

After two years of telephonic and video hearings, the Oregon Workers Compensation Board is reopening to the public and starting to set in-person hearings and…

March 18, 2022
by Kevin Anderson

2022 Legislative Update

The Oregon legislature met for a short regular session in early 2022, but we saw some significant changes to the workers’ compensation system in that…

December 22, 2021
by Kevin Anderson

Oregon Course and Scope Cases Focusing on Where Injury Occurred

In two recent cases, the Oregon Court of Appeals found two off-premises injuries compensable. Charles Davis v SAIF, 316 Or App 301 (2021); Lahna Lynn…

August 18, 2021
by Kevin Anderson

Oregon In-Person Workers’ Compensation Hearings Appear to Remain on Hold

It was only a few weeks ago vaccination rates were increasing, businesses were reopening to the public, and people were starting to return to their…

March 24, 2021
by Kevin Anderson

Oregon Legislature Considering Dismantling Self-Insurance in Oregon

The Senate Committee on Labor and Business recently held a public hearing on two concerning pieces of legislation, SB-801 and SB-802. While the hearing initially…

December 16, 2020
by Kevin Anderson

Oregon MLAC Holds Final Meeting for 2020

The Management Labor Advisory Committee (MLAC) held what is most likely its final meeting of 2020. Much of the meeting was recapping the significant changes…

August 21, 2020
by Kevin Anderson

New Rules in Oregon Affecting Assessed Attorney Fees in Workers’ Compensation Cases

The Oregon Workers’ Compensation Board (“WCB”)  met on August 18, 2020 to finalize two new rule proposals affecting attorney fees for claimant’s counsel. First, the…

August 19, 2020
by Kevin Anderson

Oregon Court of Appeals Clarifies Occupational Disease Standard

In a recent decision, the Court of Appeals clarified a worker’s burden of proof in an occupational disease claim. Johnston v. Gordon Trucking – Heartland…

July 27, 2020
by Kevin Anderson

Trial Attorneys and Unions Pushing for COVID-19 Presumption Legislation

On June 23, 2020, Governor Brown directed the Management-Labor Advisory Committee (MLAC) to explore any gaps in our current workers’ compensation system related to COVID-19,…

April 8, 2020
by Kevin Anderson

Oregon Workers’ Compensation Rule Updates During COVID-19 Crisis

Needless to say, there have been a lot of changes recently, not just in our daily lives, but also in claim processing issues. The WCD…

July 24, 2019
by Kevin Anderson

WCB issues new rules related to translation of written documents at hearing

After several months of deliberation, the board passed new rules requiring translation of non-English documents for hearing. OAR 438-007-0045. The parties can either stipulate to…

June 17, 2019
by Kevin Anderson

2019 Oregon Legislative Update

It has been a busy year in the Oregon legislature, but there has been only one major change to the statutes governing workers’ compensation. Senate…

March 27, 2019
by Kevin Anderson

WCD Issues New Rules Related to Medical Services

The WCD has written new rules related to medial services that will go into effect April 1, 2019. While there are a number of changes,…

December 12, 2018
by Kevin Anderson

Workers Compensation Board Reviewing Attorney Fees

The WCB is statutorily required to review claimant attorney fees every other year and it just held a public meeting to discuss the issue. Several…

November 20, 2018
by Kevin Anderson

WCD Rulemaking Meeting – Medical Billing/Services

The WCD held another public advisory meeting, this time to discuss the medical billing and medical services administrative rules. Probably the most important and interesting…

November 14, 2018
by Kevin Anderson

WCD Reviewing Rules Pertaining to IME’s and WRME’s

The WCD held a meeting to take public comment on the administrative rules related to Independent Medical Exams (IME’s) and Worker Requested Medical Exams (WRME’s)….

February 16, 2018
by Kevin Anderson

New Average Weekly Wage Calculation Rules

The Workers’ Compensation Division recently issued new rules for calculating average weekly wage. The new rules will apply to claims with dates of injury on…

May 11, 2017
by Kevin Anderson

Oregon Court of Appeals further defines susceptibilities or predispositions vs. preexisting conditions.

The Oregon Court of Appeals recently decided another case addressing what qualifies as a preexisting condition. Doris L. Lowells v. SAIF, 285 Or App 161…