SB991: Bill Text

SB991,,1 2023 SENATE BILL 991

February 7, 2024 - Introduced by Committee on Labor, Regulatory Reform, Veterans and Military Affairs. Referred to Committee on Labor, Regulatory Reform, Veterans and Military Affairs.

SB991,,2 An Act to repeal 102.51 (1) (a) 2.; to renumber and amend 102.32 (6m); to amend 102.11 (1) (intro.), 102.13 (1) (a), 102.13 (1) (b) (intro.), 1., 3. and 4., 102.13 (1) (d) 1., 2., 3. and 4., 102.13 (2) (a), 102.13 (2) (b), 102.17 (1) (d) 1. and 2., 102.17 (4) (a), 102.29 (3), 102.42 (2) (a), 102.51 (1) (a) 1., 102.61 (1), 102.61 (1g) (b), 102.61 (1g) (c), 102.61 (1m) (a), 102.81 (1) (c) 1. and 102.81 (1) (c) 2.; and to create 102.18 (1) (b) 1d., 102.18 (1) (b) 1h., 102.18 (1) (b) 1p., 102.18 (1) (b) 1t. and 102.32 (6m) (b) of the statutes; relating to: various changes to the worker’s compensation law.

SB991,,3 Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill makes various changes to the worker’s compensation law, as administered by the Department of Workforce Development and the Division of Hearings and Appeals (DHA) in the Department of Administration.

Maximum weekly compensation for permanent partial disability

The bill increases the maximum weekly compensation rate for permanent partial disability from $430 to $438 for injuries occurring before January 1, 2025, and to $446 for injuries occurring on or after that date.

Uninsured employers fund

Under current law, DWD administers an uninsured employers fund (UEF), from which DWD pays benefits to injured employees of employers that are not insured or self-insured against worker’s compensation liability as required under the worker’s compensation law. Also under current law, the additional solvency protection for UEF applies to claims of more than $1,000,000, and is used to pay claims of more than $1,000,000. If such a claim is not covered by excess or stop-loss reinsurance, worker’s compensation insurance carriers are required to reimburse UEF, up to $500,000 per year, until the amount paid out of UEF is fully paid. Under the bill, the amount of a claim for which UEF is used to pay is increased to $2,000,000 or more.

Advance payment for permanent partial disability

Under current law, DWD or DHA may direct an advance on a payment of unaccrued compensation for permanent disability or death benefits not more than three payments per calendar year if DWD or DHA determines it is in the best interest of the injured employee or dependents and credits the employer or insurer an interest credit of 5 percent against its liability. Under the bill, an employer or an employer’s insurer may make advance payment of unaccrued compensation for permanent partial disability in undisputed cases in the same manner, but without the interest credit to the employer or insurer.

Case closing

The bill clarifies some of the duties of DWD and DHA with respect to closing cases for claims of compensation. The bill requires DHA to return to DWD the case file for any case within 30 days after DHA issues an order on the merits of the case, if there is no pending appeal to a court. The bill also clarifies that DWD has exclusive authority to close a case of a claim for compensation. The bill allows DWD to notify the parties when it closes a case of a claim for compensation. The bill requires DWD to forward to DHA the file for a closed case of a claim for compensation if a hearing is required because a claimant has filed a subsequent application for compensation. Finally, the bill provides the statute of limitations begins to run on the date an order is issued by the division that approves a compromise agreement, and subsequent claims will not be barred except as provided by the applicable statute of limitations.

Advanced practice nurse prescribers

Current law provides for the certification of advanced practice nurses by the Board of Nursing to allow advanced practice nurses to prescribe medication, and the worker’s compensation law thus refers to “advanced practice nurse prescribers” in lists of treatment providers in various provisions. The bill changes these references to “advanced practice registered nurses.”

Making references in the statutes gender neutral

The bill makes references to spouses under the worker’s compensation law gender-neutral, to harmonize it with the holding of the U.S. Supreme Court in Obergefell v. Hodges, 135 S. Ct. 2584, 192 L. Ed. 2d 609 (2015), which recognized that same-sex couples have a fundamental constitutional right to marriage.

References to federal law

The bill updates references to the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to account for subsequent amendments to the federal act.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

SB991,,4 The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB991,1 Section 1. 102.11 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB991,,6 102.11 (1) (intro.) The average weekly earnings for temporary disability, permanent total disability, or death benefits for injury in each calendar year on or after January 1, 1982, shall be not less than $30 nor more than the wage rate that results in a maximum compensation rate of 110 percent of the state’s average weekly earnings as determined under s. 108.05 as of June 30 of the previous year. The average weekly earnings for permanent partial disability shall be not less than $30 and, for permanent partial disability for injuries occurring on or after January 1, 2017, and before April 10, 2022, not more than $543, resulting in a maximum compensation rate of $362; for permanent partial disability for injuries occurring on or after April 10, 2022, and before January 1, 2023, not more than $622.50, resulting in a maximum compensation rate of $415; and for permanent partial disability for injuries occurring on or after January 1, 2023, and before the effective date of this subsection .... [LRB inserts date], not more than $645, resulting in a maximum compensation rate of $430; for permanent partial disability for injuries occurring on or after the effective date of this subsection .... [LRB inserts date], and before January 1, 2025, not more than $657, resulting in a maximum compensation rate of $438; and for permanent partial disability for injuries occurring on or after January 1, 2025, not more than $669, resulting in a maximum compensation rate of $446. Between such limits the average weekly earnings shall be determined as follows:

SB991,2 Section 2. 102.13 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB991,,8 102.13 (1) (a) Except as provided in sub. (4), whenever compensation is claimed by an employee, the employee shall, upon the written request of the employee’s employer or worker’s compensation insurer, submit to reasonable examinations by physicians, chiropractors, psychologists, dentists, physician assistants, advanced practice nurse prescribers registered nurses, or podiatrists provided and paid for by the employer or insurer. No employee who submits to an examination under this paragraph is a patient of the examining physician, chiropractor, psychologist, dentist, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse prescriber, or podiatrist for any purpose other than for the purpose of bringing an action under ch. 655, unless the employee specifically requests treatment from that physician, chiropractor, psychologist, dentist, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse prescriber, or podiatrist.

SB991,3 Section 3. 102.13 (1) (b) (intro.), 1., 3. and 4. of the statutes are amended to read:

SB991,,10 102.13 (1) (b) (intro.) An employer or insurer who requests that an employee submit to reasonable examination under par. (a) or (am) shall tender to the employee, before the examination, all necessary expenses including transportation expenses. The employee is entitled to have a physician, chiropractor, psychologist, dentist, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse prescriber, or podiatrist provided by himself or herself present at the examination and to receive a copy of all reports of the examination that are prepared by the examining physician, chiropractor, psychologist, podiatrist, dentist, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse prescriber, or vocational expert immediately upon receipt of those reports by the employer or worker’s compensation insurer. The employee is entitled to have one observer provided by himself or herself present at the examination. The employee is also entitled to have a translator provided by himself or herself present at the examination if the employee has difficulty speaking or understanding the English language. The employer’s or insurer’s written request for examination shall notify the employee of all of the following:

SB991,,11 1. The proposed date, time, and place of the examination and the identity and area of specialization of the examining physician, chiropractor, psychologist, dentist, podiatrist, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse prescriber, or vocational expert.

SB991,,12 3. The employee’s right to have his or her physician, chiropractor, psychologist, dentist, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse prescriber, or podiatrist present at the examination.

SB991,,13 4. The employee’s right to receive a copy of all reports of the examination that are prepared by the examining physician, chiropractor, psychologist, dentist, podiatrist, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse prescriber, or vocational expert immediately upon receipt of these reports by the employer or worker’s compensation insurer.

SB991,4 Section 4. 102.13 (1) (d) 1., 2., 3. and 4. of the statutes are amended to read:

SB991,,15 102.13 (1) (d) 1. Any physician, chiropractor, psychologist, dentist, podiatrist, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse prescriber, or vocational expert who is present at any examination under par. (a) or (am) may be required to testify as to the results of the examination.

SB991,,16 2. Any physician, chiropractor, psychologist, dentist, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse prescriber, or podiatrist who attended a worker’s compensation claimant for any condition or complaint reasonably related to the condition for which the claimant claims compensation may be required to testify before the division when the division so directs.

SB991,,17 3. Notwithstanding any statutory provisions except par. (e), any physician, chiropractor, psychologist, dentist, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse prescriber, or podiatrist attending a worker’s compensation claimant for any condition or complaint reasonably related to the condition for which the claimant claims compensation may furnish to the employee, employer, worker’s compensation insurer, department, or division information and reports relative to a compensation claim.

SB991,,18 4. The testimony of any physician, chiropractor, psychologist, dentist, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse prescriber, or podiatrist who is licensed to practice where he or she resides or practices in any state and the testimony of any vocational expert may be received in evidence in compensation proceedings.

SB991,5 Section 5. 102.13 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB991,,20 102.13 (2) (a) An employee who reports an injury alleged to be work-related or files an application for hearing waives any physician-patient, psychologist-patient, or chiropractor-patient privilege with respect to any condition or complaint reasonably related to the condition for which the employee claims compensation. Notwithstanding ss. 51.30 and 146.82 and any other law, any physician, chiropractor, psychologist, dentist, podiatrist, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse prescriber, hospital, or health care provider shall, within a reasonable time after written request by the employee, employer, worker’s compensation insurer, department, or division, or its representative, provide that person with any information or written material reasonably related to any injury for which the employee claims compensation. If the request is by a representative of a worker’s compensation insurer for a billing statement, the physician, chiropractor, psychologist, dentist, podiatrist, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse prescriber, hospital, or health care provider shall, within 30 days after receiving the request, provide that person with a complete copy of an itemized billing statement or a billing statement in a standard billing format recognized by the federal government.

SB991,6 Section 6. 102.13 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB991,,22 102.13 (2) (b) A physician, chiropractor, podiatrist, psychologist, dentist, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse prescriber, hospital, or health service provider shall furnish a legible, certified duplicate of the written material requested under par. (a) in paper format upon payment of the actual costs of preparing the certified duplicate, not to exceed the greater of 45 cents per page or $7.50 per request, plus the actual costs of postage, or shall furnish a legible, certified duplicate of that material in electronic format upon payment of $26 per request. Any person who refuses to provide certified duplicates of written material in the person’s custody that is requested under par. (a) shall be liable for reasonable and necessary costs and, notwithstanding s. 814.04 (1), reasonable attorney fees incurred in enforcing the requester’s right to the duplicates under par. (a).

SB991,7 Section 7. 102.17 (1) (d) 1. and 2. of the statutes are amended to read:

SB991,,24 102.17 (1) (d) 1. The contents of certified medical and surgical reports by physicians, podiatrists, surgeons, dentists, psychologists, physician assistants, advanced practice nurse prescribers registered nurses, and chiropractors licensed in and practicing in this state, and of certified reports by experts concerning loss of earning capacity under s. 102.44 (2) and (3), presented by a party for compensation constitute prima facie evidence as to the matter contained in those reports, subject to any rules and limitations the division prescribes. Certified reports of physicians, podiatrists, surgeons, dentists, psychologists, physician assistants, advanced practice nurse prescribers registered nurses, and chiropractors, wherever licensed and practicing, who have examined or treated the claimant, and of experts, if the practitioner or expert consents to being subjected to cross-examination, also constitute prima facie evidence as to the matter contained in those reports. Certified reports of physicians, podiatrists, surgeons, psychologists, and chiropractors are admissible as evidence of the diagnosis, necessity of the treatment, and cause and extent of the disability. Certified reports by doctors of dentistry, physician assistants, and advanced practice nurse prescribers registered nurses are admissible as evidence of the diagnosis and necessity of treatment but not of the cause and extent of disability. Any physician, podiatrist, surgeon, dentist, psychologist, chiropractor, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse prescriber, or expert who knowingly makes a false statement of fact or opinion in a certified report may be fined or imprisoned, or both, under s. 943.395.

SB991,,25 2. The record of a hospital or sanatorium in this state that is satisfactory to the division, established by certificate, affidavit, or testimony of the supervising officer of the hospital or sanatorium, any other person having charge of the record, or a physician, podiatrist, surgeon, dentist, psychologist, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse prescriber, or chiropractor to be the record of the patient in question, and made in the regular course of examination or treatment of the patient, constitutes prima facie evidence as to the matter contained in the record, to the extent that the record is otherwise competent and relevant.

SB991,8 Section 8. 102.17 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB991,,27 102.17 (4) (a) Except as provided in this subsection and s. 102.555 (12) (b), in the case of occupational disease, the right of an employee, the employee’s legal representative, a dependent, the employee’s employer or the employer’s insurance company, or other named party to proceed under this section shall not extend beyond 12 years after the date of the injury or death or after the date that compensation, other than for treatment or burial expenses, was last paid, or would have been last payable if no advancement were made, whichever date is latest, and in the case of traumatic injury, that right shall not extend beyond 6 years after that date. The statute of limitations under this subsection begins to run on the date an order is issued by the division approving a compromise agreement. A further claim is not barred except as provided in this subsection, regardless of whether an award is made.

SB991,9 Section 9. 102.18 (1) (b) 1d. of the statutes is created to read:

SB991,,29 102.18 (1) (b) 1d. If an application has been filed under s. 102.17 (1) (a) 1. for a claim for compensation, after the division issues an order on the merits of the case of the claim under subd. 1., or an order under sub. (2) (c), if there is no pending action for review by a court, the division shall return to the department the file for the case of the claim within 30 days after issuing the order. The department shall conduct further administrative activities, including closing the case of the claim.

SB991,10 Section 10. 102.18 (1) (b) 1h. of the statutes is created to read:

SB991,,31 102.18 (1) (b) 1h. The department has exclusive authority to close a case of a claim for compensation.

SB991,11 Section 11. 102.18 (1) (b) 1p. of the statutes is created to read:

SB991,,33 102.18 (1) (b) 1p. If the department determines it is necessary, the department shall notify the parties when it closes a case of a claim for compensation.

SB991,12 Section 12. 102.18 (1) (b) 1t. of the statutes is created to read:

SB991,,35 102.18 (1) (b) 1t. The department shall forward to the division a case of a claim for compensation if a hearing is required when a party in interest files a subsequent application under s. 102.17 (1) (a) 1., after an order has been issued under subd. 1. or sub. (2) (c).

SB991,13 Section 13. 102.29 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB991,,37 102.29 (3) Nothing in this chapter shall prevent an employee from taking the compensation that the employee may be entitled to under this chapter and also maintaining a civil action against any physician, chiropractor, psychologist, dentist, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse prescriber, or podiatrist for malpractice.

SB991,14 Section 14. 102.32 (6m) of the statutes is renumbered 102.32 (6m) (a) and amended to read:

SB991,,39 102.32 (6m) (a) The department or the division may direct an advance on a payment of unaccrued compensation for permanent disability or death benefits if the department or the division determines that the advance payment is in the best interest of the injured employee or the employee’s dependents. In directing the advance, the department or the division shall give the employer or the employer’s insurer an interest credit against its liability. The credit shall be computed at 5 percent. An injured employee or dependent may receive no more than 3 advance payments per calendar year under this paragraph.

SB991,15 Section 15. 102.32 (6m) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

SB991,,41 102.32 (6m) (b) Notwithstanding par. (a), an employer or an employer’s insurer may voluntarily make a lump sum payment of unaccrued compensation for permanent partial disability in undisputed claims to an injured employee or the employee’s dependents with no interest credit against the liability of the employer or the employer’s insurer.