Category: Changes in WC law
SBH Attorney Aaron Bass Testifies in Front of Washington State Senate
Attorney Aaron Bass testified on behalf of Washington Self-Insurers Association in opposition to SHB 2409. The bill not only increases the penalty amounts, it imposes…
Oregon Supreme Court rules that medical services for conditions caused in material part by the work injury incident, not just accepted conditions, are compensable
In a much-awaited decision, the Oregon Supreme Court recently ruled in Garcia-Solis v. Farmers Ins. Co., 365 Or 26 (2019) that medical services for conditions…
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…
Worker’s Compensation Division Addresses House Bill 2338 Regarding Benefits to Surviving Children
The Workers’ Compensation Division issued an Addendum to Bulletin No. 377 on December 8, 2017. The Division issued the addendum to address House Bill 2338,…
Oregon Workers’ Compensation Division announces new administrative rules in response to Brown v. SAIF
On March 30, 2017, the Oregon Supreme Court issued a much-awaited decision in Brown v. SAIF Corporation, 361 Or 241 (2017), ruling that the term…
Oregon WCD issues Temporary Rules Clarifying Claim Closure Requirements
In our efforts to keep you apprised of the latest developments regarding the Oregon Supreme Court’s decision in Brown (see Andrew’s blog on the case…
What can Brown do for you? In a long-awaited decision, the Oregon Supreme Court reverses Brown v. SAIF
It has been almost three years since the Oregon Court of Appeals issued its decision in Brown v. SAIF, 262 Or App 640 (2014), finding…
Changes to Oregon rules regarding Employer/Insurer Coverage Responsibility effective as of January 1, 2017
OAR 436-050 governs the responsibility of employers and insurers to provide workers’ compensation coverage to subject workers for compensable injuries and illnesses. Many changes to…
Changes to Oregon Employer-at-Injury Program effective as of January 1, 2017
OAR 436-105 explains who qualifies for and how to request assistance and reimbursement from the Employer-at-Injury Program (EAIP). The EAIP encourages early return to work…
Changes to OAR 436-060 effective as of January 1, 2017
In 2016, the Workers’ Compensation Division drafted changes to OAR 436-060. These changes went into effect on January 1, 2017. Below, I have outlined several…
New Oregon WCD Rules go into effect January 1, 2017
Earlier this year, the Oregon Workers’ Compensation Division proposed extensive changes to division rules. The rule changes go into effect on January 1, 2017. The…
Board’s new attorney fee rules go into effect on November 1.
The Oregon Workers’ Compensation Board passed revised attorney fee rules on October 13, 2016. The most significant changes involve increased attorney fees for disputed claims…
Oregon WCD Proposes Rule Changes
The WCD is seeking input on three topics before the end of August. Proposed rules would be drafted and discussed at a public meeting in…
Attorney Fee Proposals
The Workers’ Compensation Board is moving forward with several changes in attorney fee rules. Formal rules will be drafted and reviewed at a public hearing…
New Bill Alters Timeline for Initial Time Loss Payment
On January 1, 2016, House Bill 2797 went into effect, modifying when initial temporary disability payments must be made. Prior to January 1, 2016, if…
2015 Legislative Update: Changes in Oregon Workers’ Compensation
A couple of weeks ago, I presented a legislative update related to Oregon employment law and what effects new legislation has on your employment policy…
