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 processing and employment issues. Here are some of the larger changes, which have been passed by the legislature, but do not take effect until January 1, 2024:
- Medically stationary dates cannot be back-dated more than 60 days;
- Insurer required to provide worker with notification of medically stationary status within 7 days of receiving information;
- Insurer can only recover up to 50% of a PPD award at closure against an overpayment;
- Insurer cannot assert a new overpayment for benefits from over 2 years ago;
- Insurer required to provide notice to worker prior to stopping temporary disability benefits;
- Attending physician will be able to authorize retroactive temporary disability for up to 45 days (previously 14);
- Exempts temporary disability processing limitations such as retroactive authorization on denied claims and claims with a dispute over attending physician;
- Provides for temporary disability authorization for a worker attending medical exam on an accepted, disabling claim;
- Physician assistants will no longer be a Type-B Attending Provider, but can provide medical services and authorize temporary disability for up to 180 days;
SBH has provided updates throughout the year on these changes, but, naturally, there are a lot of questions. You can check out our past blogs on the issues here.
For more information on exactly how these changes will impact claim processing, please come join me at the SBH virtual workshop, where I will be presenting with Hannah Teig regarding these changes, other workers’ compensation changes this year, and several employment issues.
As always, please feel free to contact me at or 503-595-2130 with any questions or concerns.
Posted by Kevin Anderson.
