Oregon Regulators Implement Workers’ Comp Changes

March 24, 2008, is the last day that the Oregon Insurance Division is accepting public comment on its proposed rulemaking to implement 2007 legislation related to workers’ compensation insurance. The proposed amendments will incorporate the National Council on Compensation Insurance changes regarding fraudulent claims reporting, access to data and compensation for medical services, and will amend the division rule pertaining to cancellation notification by a servicing carrier of policies issued under the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Plan.

The amendments to OAR 836-042-0045 include increasing the amount of compensation that a subject employer may pay for medical services for non-disabling claims, from an amount not exceeding $1,500 to a maximum amount established annually by the director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services. This change is in response to last year’s passage of Senate Bill 762 by the Oregon Legislative Assembly.

In addition, the passage of House Bill 2783 would require a change to OAR 836-043-0068 to decrease the cancellation notification required to employers for the non-payment of premium, from 30 days to 10 days.

Source: Oregon Insurance Division