1 | 1 | | LRB-5556/1 |
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2 | 2 | | MED&MIM:skw |
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3 | 3 | | 2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE |
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4 | 4 | | 2023 SENATE BILL 991 |
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5 | 5 | | February 7, 2024 - Introduced by COMMITTEE ON LABOR, REGULATORY REFORM, |
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6 | 6 | | VETERANS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS. Referred to Committee on Labor, Regulatory |
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7 | 7 | | Reform, Veterans and Military Affairs. |
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8 | 8 | | ***AUTHORS SUBJECT TO CHANGE*** |
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9 | 9 | | AN ACT to repeal 102.51 (1) (a) 2.; to renumber and amend 102.32 (6m); to |
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10 | 10 | | amend 102.11 (1) (intro.), 102.13 (1) (a), 102.13 (1) (b) (intro.), 1., 3. and 4., |
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11 | 11 | | 102.13 (1) (d) 1., 2., 3. and 4., 102.13 (2) (a), 102.13 (2) (b), 102.17 (1) (d) 1. and |
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12 | 12 | | 2., 102.17 (4) (a), 102.29 (3), 102.42 (2) (a), 102.51 (1) (a) 1., 102.61 (1), 102.61 |
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13 | 13 | | (1g) (b), 102.61 (1g) (c), 102.61 (1m) (a), 102.81 (1) (c) 1. and 102.81 (1) (c) 2.; and |
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14 | 14 | | to create 102.18 (1) (b) 1d., 102.18 (1) (b) 1h., 102.18 (1) (b) 1p., 102.18 (1) (b) |
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15 | 15 | | 1t. and 102.32 (6m) (b) of the statutes; relating to: various changes to the |
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16 | 16 | | worker's compensation law. |
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17 | 17 | | Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau |
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18 | 18 | | This bill makes various changes to the worker's compensation law, as |
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19 | 19 | | administered by the Department of Workforce Development and the Division of |
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20 | 20 | | Hearings and Appeals (DHA) in the Department of Administration. |
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21 | 21 | | Maximum weekly compensation for permanent partial disability |
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22 | 22 | | The bill increases the maximum weekly compensation rate for permanent |
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23 | 23 | | partial disability from $430 to $438 for injuries occurring before January 1, 2025, and |
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24 | 24 | | to $446 for injuries occurring on or after that date. |
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25 | 25 | | Uninsured employers fund |
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26 | 26 | | Under current law, DWD administers an uninsured employers fund (UEF), |
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27 | 27 | | from which DWD pays benefits to injured employees of employers that are not |
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35 | 35 | | 8 - 2 -2023 - 2024 Legislature LRB-5556/1 |
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36 | 36 | | MED&MIM:skw |
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37 | 37 | | SENATE BILL 991 |
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38 | 38 | | insured or self-insured against worker's compensation liability as required under |
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39 | 39 | | the worker's compensation law. Also under current law, the additional solvency |
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40 | 40 | | protection for UEF applies to claims of more than $1,000,000, and is used to pay |
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41 | 41 | | claims of more than $1,000,000. If such a claim is not covered by excess or stop-loss |
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42 | 42 | | reinsurance, worker's compensation insurance carriers are required to reimburse |
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43 | 43 | | UEF, up to $500,000 per year, until the amount paid out of UEF is fully paid. Under |
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44 | 44 | | the bill, the amount of a claim for which UEF is used to pay is increased to $2,000,000 |
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45 | 45 | | or more. |
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46 | 46 | | Advance payment for permanent partial disability |
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47 | 47 | | Under current law, DWD or DHA may direct an advance on a payment of |
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48 | 48 | | unaccrued compensation for permanent disability or death benefits not more than |
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49 | 49 | | three payments per calendar year if DWD or DHA determines it is in the best interest |
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50 | 50 | | of the injured employee or dependents and credits the employer or insurer an interest |
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51 | 51 | | credit of 5 percent against its liability. Under the bill, an employer or an employer's |
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52 | 52 | | insurer may make advance payment of unaccrued compensation for permanent |
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53 | 53 | | partial disability in undisputed cases in the same manner, but without the interest |
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54 | 54 | | credit to the employer or insurer. |
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55 | 55 | | Case closing |
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56 | 56 | | The bill clarifies some of the duties of DWD and DHA with respect to closing |
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57 | 57 | | cases for claims of compensation. The bill requires DHA to return to DWD the case |
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58 | 58 | | file for any case within 30 days after DHA issues an order on the merits of the case, |
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59 | 59 | | if there is no pending appeal to a court. The bill also clarifies that DWD has exclusive |
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60 | 60 | | authority to close a case of a claim for compensation. The bill allows DWD to notify |
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61 | 61 | | the parties when it closes a case of a claim for compensation. The bill requires DWD |
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62 | 62 | | to forward to DHA the file for a closed case of a claim for compensation if a hearing |
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63 | 63 | | is required because a claimant has filed a subsequent application for compensation. |
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64 | 64 | | Finally, the bill provides the statute of limitations begins to run on the date an order |
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65 | 65 | | is issued by the division that approves a compromise agreement, and subsequent |
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66 | 66 | | claims will not be barred except as provided by the applicable statute of limitations. |
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67 | 67 | | Advanced practice nurse prescribers |
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68 | 68 | | Current law provides for the certification of advanced practice nurses by the |
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69 | 69 | | Board of Nursing to allow advanced practice nurses to prescribe medication, and the |
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70 | 70 | | worker's compensation law thus refers to “advanced practice nurse prescribers” in |
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71 | 71 | | lists of treatment providers in various provisions. The bill changes these references |
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72 | 72 | | to “advanced practice registered nurses.” |
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73 | 73 | | Making references in the statutes gender neutral |
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74 | 74 | | The bill makes references to spouses under the worker's compensation law |
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75 | 75 | | gender-neutral, to harmonize it with the holding of the U.S. Supreme Court in |
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76 | 76 | | Obergefell v. Hodges, 135 S. Ct. 2584, 192 L. Ed. 2d 609 (2015), which recognized that |
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77 | 77 | | same-sex couples have a fundamental constitutional right to marriage. |
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78 | 78 | | References to federal law |
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79 | 79 | | The bill updates references to the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to account |
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80 | 80 | | for subsequent amendments to the federal act. - 3 -2023 - 2024 Legislature |
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81 | 81 | | LRB-5556/1 |
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82 | 82 | | MED&MIM:skw |
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83 | 83 | | SENATE BILL 991 |
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84 | 84 | | For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be |
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85 | 85 | | printed as an appendix to this bill. |
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86 | 86 | | The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do |
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87 | 87 | | enact as follows: |
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88 | 88 | | SECTION 1. 102.11 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read: |
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89 | 89 | | 102.11 (1) (intro.) The average weekly earnings for temporary disability, |
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90 | 90 | | permanent total disability, or death benefits for injury in each calendar year on or |
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91 | 91 | | after January 1, 1982, shall be not less than $30 nor more than the wage rate that |
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92 | 92 | | results in a maximum compensation rate of 110 percent of the state's average weekly |
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93 | 93 | | earnings as determined under s. 108.05 as of June 30 of the previous year. The |
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94 | 94 | | average weekly earnings for permanent partial disability shall be not less than $30 |
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95 | 95 | | and, for permanent partial disability for injuries occurring on or after January 1, |
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96 | 96 | | 2017, and before April 10, 2022, not more than $543, resulting in a maximum |
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97 | 97 | | compensation rate of $362; for permanent partial disability for injuries occurring on |
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98 | 98 | | or after April 10, 2022, and before January 1, 2023, not more than $622.50, resulting |
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99 | 99 | | in a maximum compensation rate of $415; and for permanent partial disability for |
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100 | 100 | | injuries occurring on or after January 1, 2023, and before the effective date of this |
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101 | 101 | | subsection .... [LRB inserts date], not more than $645, resulting in a maximum |
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102 | 102 | | compensation rate of $430; for permanent partial disability for injuries occurring on |
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103 | 103 | | or after the effective date of this subsection .... [LRB inserts date], and before January |
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104 | 104 | | 1, 2025, not more than $657, resulting in a maximum compensation rate of $438; and |
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105 | 105 | | for permanent partial disability for injuries occurring on or after January 1, 2025, |
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106 | 106 | | not more than $669, resulting in a maximum compensation rate of $446. Between |
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107 | 107 | | such limits the average weekly earnings shall be determined as follows: |
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108 | 108 | | SECTION 2. 102.13 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read: |
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129 | 129 | | 21 - 4 -2023 - 2024 Legislature LRB-5556/1 |
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130 | 130 | | MED&MIM:skw |
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131 | 131 | | SECTION 2 SENATE BILL 991 |
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132 | 132 | | 102.13 (1) (a) Except as provided in sub. (4), whenever compensation is claimed |
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133 | 133 | | by an employee, the employee shall, upon the written request of the employee's |
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134 | 134 | | employer or worker's compensation insurer, submit to reasonable examinations by |
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135 | 135 | | physicians, chiropractors, psychologists, dentists, physician assistants, advanced |
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136 | 136 | | practice nurse prescribers registered nurses, or podiatrists provided and paid for by |
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137 | 137 | | the employer or insurer. No employee who submits to an examination under this |
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138 | 138 | | paragraph is a patient of the examining physician, chiropractor, psychologist, |
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139 | 139 | | dentist, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse prescriber, or |
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140 | 140 | | podiatrist for any purpose other than for the purpose of bringing an action under ch. |
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141 | 141 | | 655, unless the employee specifically requests treatment from that physician, |
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142 | 142 | | chiropractor, psychologist, dentist, physician assistant, advanced practice registered |
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143 | 143 | | nurse prescriber, or podiatrist. |
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144 | 144 | | SECTION 3. 102.13 (1) (b) (intro.), 1., 3. and 4. of the statutes are amended to |
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145 | 145 | | read: |
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146 | 146 | | 102.13 (1) (b) (intro.) An employer or insurer who requests that an employee |
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147 | 147 | | submit to reasonable examination under par. (a) or (am) shall tender to the employee, |
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148 | 148 | | before the examination, all necessary expenses including transportation expenses. |
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149 | 149 | | The employee is entitled to have a physician, chiropractor, psychologist, dentist, |
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150 | 150 | | physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse prescriber, or podiatrist |
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151 | 151 | | provided by himself or herself present at the examination and to receive a copy of all |
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152 | 152 | | reports of the examination that are prepared by the examining physician, |
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153 | 153 | | chiropractor, psychologist, podiatrist, dentist, physician assistant, advanced |
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154 | 154 | | practice registered nurse prescriber, or vocational expert immediately upon receipt |
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155 | 155 | | of those reports by the employer or worker's compensation insurer. The employee is |
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156 | 156 | | entitled to have one observer provided by himself or herself present at the |
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181 | 181 | | 25 - 5 -2023 - 2024 Legislature |
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182 | 182 | | LRB-5556/1 |
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183 | 183 | | MED&MIM:skw |
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184 | 184 | | SECTION 3 |
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185 | 185 | | SENATE BILL 991 |
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186 | 186 | | examination. The employee is also entitled to have a translator provided by himself |
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187 | 187 | | or herself present at the examination if the employee has difficulty speaking or |
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188 | 188 | | understanding the English language. The employer's or insurer's written request |
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189 | 189 | | for examination shall notify the employee of all of the following: |
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190 | 190 | | 1. The proposed date, time, and place of the examination and the identity and |
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191 | 191 | | area of specialization of the examining physician, chiropractor, psychologist, dentist, |
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192 | 192 | | podiatrist, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse prescriber, or |
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193 | 193 | | vocational expert. |
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194 | 194 | | 3. The employee's right to have his or her physician, chiropractor, psychologist, |
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195 | 195 | | dentist, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse prescriber, or |
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196 | 196 | | podiatrist present at the examination. |
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197 | 197 | | 4. The employee's right to receive a copy of all reports of the examination that |
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198 | 198 | | are prepared by the examining physician, chiropractor, psychologist, dentist, |
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199 | 199 | | podiatrist, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse prescriber, or |
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200 | 200 | | vocational expert immediately upon receipt of these reports by the employer or |
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201 | 201 | | worker's compensation insurer. |
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202 | 202 | | SECTION 4. 102.13 (1) (d) 1., 2., 3. and 4. of the statutes are amended to read: |
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203 | 203 | | 102.13 (1) (d) 1. Any physician, chiropractor, psychologist, dentist, podiatrist, |
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204 | 204 | | physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse prescriber, or vocational |
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205 | 205 | | expert who is present at any examination under par. (a) or (am) may be required to |
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206 | 206 | | testify as to the results of the examination. |
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207 | 207 | | 2. Any physician, chiropractor, psychologist, dentist, physician assistant, |
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208 | 208 | | advanced practice registered nurse prescriber, or podiatrist who attended a worker's |
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209 | 209 | | compensation claimant for any condition or complaint reasonably related to the |
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234 | 234 | | MED&MIM:skw |
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235 | 235 | | SECTION 4 SENATE BILL 991 |
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236 | 236 | | condition for which the claimant claims compensation may be required to testify |
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237 | 237 | | before the division when the division so directs. |
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238 | 238 | | 3. Notwithstanding any statutory provisions except par. (e), any physician, |
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239 | 239 | | chiropractor, psychologist, dentist, physician assistant, advanced practice registered |
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240 | 240 | | nurse prescriber, or podiatrist attending a worker's compensation claimant for any |
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241 | 241 | | condition or complaint reasonably related to the condition for which the claimant |
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242 | 242 | | claims compensation may furnish to the employee, employer, worker's compensation |
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243 | 243 | | insurer, department, or division information and reports relative to a compensation |
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244 | 244 | | claim. |
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245 | 245 | | 4. The testimony of any physician, chiropractor, psychologist, dentist, |
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246 | 246 | | physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse prescriber, or podiatrist who |
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247 | 247 | | is licensed to practice where he or she resides or practices in any state and the |
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248 | 248 | | testimony of any vocational expert may be received in evidence in compensation |
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249 | 249 | | proceedings. |
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250 | 250 | | SECTION 5. 102.13 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read: |
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251 | 251 | | 102.13 (2) (a) An employee who reports an injury alleged to be work-related |
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252 | 252 | | or files an application for hearing waives any physician-patient, |
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253 | 253 | | psychologist-patient, or chiropractor-patient privilege with respect to any condition |
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254 | 254 | | or complaint reasonably related to the condition for which the employee claims |
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255 | 255 | | compensation. Notwithstanding ss. 51.30 and 146.82 and any other law, any |
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256 | 256 | | physician, chiropractor, psychologist, dentist, podiatrist, physician assistant, |
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257 | 257 | | advanced practice registered nurse prescriber, hospital, or health care provider |
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258 | 258 | | shall, within a reasonable time after written request by the employee, employer, |
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259 | 259 | | worker's compensation insurer, department, or division, or its representative, |
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260 | 260 | | provide that person with any information or written material reasonably related to |
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285 | 285 | | 25 - 7 -2023 - 2024 Legislature |
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286 | 286 | | LRB-5556/1 |
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287 | 287 | | MED&MIM:skw |
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288 | 288 | | SECTION 5 |
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289 | 289 | | SENATE BILL 991 |
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290 | 290 | | any injury for which the employee claims compensation. If the request is by a |
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291 | 291 | | representative of a worker's compensation insurer for a billing statement, the |
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292 | 292 | | physician, chiropractor, psychologist, dentist, podiatrist, physician assistant, |
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293 | 293 | | advanced practice registered nurse prescriber, hospital, or health care provider |
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294 | 294 | | shall, within 30 days after receiving the request, provide that person with a complete |
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295 | 295 | | copy of an itemized billing statement or a billing statement in a standard billing |
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296 | 296 | | format recognized by the federal government. |
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297 | 297 | | SECTION 6. 102.13 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read: |
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298 | 298 | | 102.13 (2) (b) A physician, chiropractor, podiatrist, psychologist, dentist, |
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299 | 299 | | physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse prescriber, hospital, or |
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300 | 300 | | health service provider shall furnish a legible, certified duplicate of the written |
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301 | 301 | | material requested under par. (a) in paper format upon payment of the actual costs |
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302 | 302 | | of preparing the certified duplicate, not to exceed the greater of 45 cents per page or |
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303 | 303 | | $7.50 per request, plus the actual costs of postage, or shall furnish a legible, certified |
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304 | 304 | | duplicate of that material in electronic format upon payment of $26 per request. Any |
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305 | 305 | | person who refuses to provide certified duplicates of written material in the person's |
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306 | 306 | | custody that is requested under par. (a) shall be liable for reasonable and necessary |
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307 | 307 | | costs and, notwithstanding s. 814.04 (1), reasonable attorney fees incurred in |
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308 | 308 | | enforcing the requester's right to the duplicates under par. (a). |
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309 | 309 | | SECTION 7. 102.17 (1) (d) 1. and 2. of the statutes are amended to read: |
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310 | 310 | | 102.17 (1) (d) 1. The contents of certified medical and surgical reports by |
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311 | 311 | | physicians, podiatrists, surgeons, dentists, psychologists, physician assistants, |
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312 | 312 | | advanced practice nurse prescribers registered nurses, and chiropractors licensed in |
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313 | 313 | | and practicing in this state, and of certified reports by experts concerning loss of |
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314 | 314 | | earning capacity under s. 102.44 (2) and (3), presented by a party for compensation |
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339 | 339 | | 25 - 8 -2023 - 2024 Legislature LRB-5556/1 |
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340 | 340 | | MED&MIM:skw |
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341 | 341 | | SECTION 7 SENATE BILL 991 |
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342 | 342 | | constitute prima facie evidence as to the matter contained in those reports, subject |
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343 | 343 | | to any rules and limitations the division prescribes. Certified reports of physicians, |
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344 | 344 | | podiatrists, surgeons, dentists, psychologists, physician assistants, advanced |
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345 | 345 | | practice nurse prescribers registered nurses, and chiropractors, wherever licensed |
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346 | 346 | | and practicing, who have examined or treated the claimant, and of experts, if the |
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347 | 347 | | practitioner or expert consents to being subjected to cross-examination, also |
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348 | 348 | | constitute prima facie evidence as to the matter contained in those reports. Certified |
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349 | 349 | | reports of physicians, podiatrists, surgeons, psychologists, and chiropractors are |
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350 | 350 | | admissible as evidence of the diagnosis, necessity of the treatment, and cause and |
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351 | 351 | | extent of the disability. Certified reports by doctors of dentistry, physician |
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352 | 352 | | assistants, and advanced practice nurse prescribers registered nurses are |
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353 | 353 | | admissible as evidence of the diagnosis and necessity of treatment but not of the |
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354 | 354 | | cause and extent of disability. Any physician, podiatrist, surgeon, dentist, |
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355 | 355 | | psychologist, chiropractor, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse |
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356 | 356 | | prescriber, or expert who knowingly makes a false statement of fact or opinion in a |
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357 | 357 | | certified report may be fined or imprisoned, or both, under s. 943.395. |
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358 | 358 | | 2. The record of a hospital or sanatorium in this state that is satisfactory to the |
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359 | 359 | | division, established by certificate, affidavit, or testimony of the supervising officer |
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360 | 360 | | of the hospital or sanatorium, any other person having charge of the record, or a |
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361 | 361 | | physician, podiatrist, surgeon, dentist, psychologist, physician assistant, advanced |
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362 | 362 | | practice registered nurse prescriber, or chiropractor to be the record of the patient |
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363 | 363 | | in question, and made in the regular course of examination or treatment of the |
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364 | 364 | | patient, constitutes prima facie evidence as to the matter contained in the record, to |
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365 | 365 | | the extent that the record is otherwise competent and relevant. |
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366 | 366 | | SECTION 8. 102.17 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read: |
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391 | 391 | | 25 - 9 -2023 - 2024 Legislature |
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392 | 392 | | LRB-5556/1 |
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393 | 393 | | MED&MIM:skw |
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394 | 394 | | SECTION 8 |
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395 | 395 | | SENATE BILL 991 |
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396 | 396 | | 102.17 (4) (a) Except as provided in this subsection and s. 102.555 (12) (b), in |
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397 | 397 | | the case of occupational disease, the right of an employee, the employee's legal |
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398 | 398 | | representative, a dependent, the employee's employer or the employer's insurance |
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399 | 399 | | company, or other named party to proceed under this section shall not extend beyond |
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400 | 400 | | 12 years after the date of the injury or death or after the date that compensation, |
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401 | 401 | | other than for treatment or burial expenses, was last paid, or would have been last |
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402 | 402 | | payable if no advancement were made, whichever date is latest, and in the case of |
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403 | 403 | | traumatic injury, that right shall not extend beyond 6 years after that date. The |
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404 | 404 | | statute of limitations under this subsection begins to run on the date an order is |
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405 | 405 | | issued by the division approving a compromise agreement. A further claim is not |
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406 | 406 | | barred except as provided in this subsection, regardless of whether an award is |
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407 | 407 | | made. |
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408 | 408 | | SECTION 9. 102.18 (1) (b) 1d. of the statutes is created to read: |
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409 | 409 | | 102.18 (1) (b) 1d. If an application has been filed under s. 102.17 (1) (a) 1. for |
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410 | 410 | | a claim for compensation, after the division issues an order on the merits of the case |
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411 | 411 | | of the claim under subd. 1., or an order under sub. (2) (c), if there is no pending action |
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412 | 412 | | for review by a court, the division shall return to the department the file for the case |
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413 | 413 | | of the claim within 30 days after issuing the order. The department shall conduct |
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414 | 414 | | further administrative activities, including closing the case of the claim. |
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415 | 415 | | SECTION 10. 102.18 (1) (b) 1h. of the statutes is created to read: |
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416 | 416 | | 102.18 (1) (b) 1h. The department has exclusive authority to close a case of a |
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417 | 417 | | claim for compensation. |
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418 | 418 | | SECTION 11. 102.18 (1) (b) 1p. of the statutes is created to read: |
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419 | 419 | | 102.18 (1) (b) 1p. If the department determines it is necessary, the department |
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420 | 420 | | shall notify the parties when it closes a case of a claim for compensation. |
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445 | 445 | | 25 - 10 -2023 - 2024 Legislature LRB-5556/1 |
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446 | 446 | | MED&MIM:skw |
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447 | 447 | | SECTION 12 SENATE BILL 991 |
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448 | 448 | | SECTION 12. 102.18 (1) (b) 1t. of the statutes is created to read: |
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449 | 449 | | 102.18 (1) (b) 1t. The department shall forward to the division a case of a claim |
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450 | 450 | | for compensation if a hearing is required when a party in interest files a subsequent |
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451 | 451 | | application under s. 102.17 (1) (a) 1., after an order has been issued under subd. 1. |
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452 | 452 | | or sub. (2) (c). |
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453 | 453 | | SECTION 13. 102.29 (3) of the statutes is amended to read: |
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454 | 454 | | 102.29 (3) Nothing in this chapter shall prevent an employee from taking the |
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455 | 455 | | compensation that the employee may be entitled to under this chapter and also |
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456 | 456 | | maintaining a civil action against any physician, chiropractor, psychologist, dentist, |
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457 | 457 | | physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse prescriber, or podiatrist for |
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458 | 458 | | malpractice. |
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459 | 459 | | SECTION 14. 102.32 (6m) of the statutes is renumbered 102.32 (6m) (a) and |
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460 | 460 | | amended to read: |
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461 | 461 | | 102.32 (6m) (a) The department or the division may direct an advance on a |
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462 | 462 | | payment of unaccrued compensation for permanent disability or death benefits if the |
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463 | 463 | | department or the division determines that the advance payment is in the best |
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464 | 464 | | interest of the injured employee or the employee's dependents. In directing the |
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465 | 465 | | advance, the department or the division shall give the employer or the employer's |
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466 | 466 | | insurer an interest credit against its liability. The credit shall be computed at 5 |
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467 | 467 | | percent. An injured employee or dependent may receive no more than 3 advance |
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468 | 468 | | payments per calendar year under this paragraph. |
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469 | 469 | | SECTION 15. 102.32 (6m) (b) of the statutes is created to read: |
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470 | 470 | | 102.32 (6m) (b) Notwithstanding par. (a), an employer or an employer's insurer |
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471 | 471 | | may voluntarily make a lump sum payment of unaccrued compensation for |
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472 | 472 | | permanent partial disability in undisputed claims to an injured employee or the |
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497 | 497 | | 25 - 11 -2023 - 2024 Legislature |
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498 | 498 | | LRB-5556/1 |
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499 | 499 | | MED&MIM:skw |
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500 | 500 | | SECTION 15 |
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501 | 501 | | SENATE BILL 991 |
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502 | 502 | | employee's dependents with no interest credit against the liability of the employer |
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503 | 503 | | or the employer's insurer. |
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504 | 504 | | SECTION 16. 102.42 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read: |
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505 | 505 | | 102.42 (2) (a) When the employer has notice of an injury and its relationship |
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506 | 506 | | to the employment, the employer shall offer to the injured employee his or her choice |
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507 | 507 | | of any physician, chiropractor, psychologist, dentist, physician assistant, advanced |
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508 | 508 | | practice registered nurse prescriber, or podiatrist licensed to practice and practicing |
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509 | 509 | | in this state for treatment of the injury. By mutual agreement, the employee may |
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510 | 510 | | have the choice of any qualified practitioner not licensed in this state. In case of |
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511 | 511 | | emergency, the employer may arrange for treatment without tendering a choice. |
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512 | 512 | | After the emergency has passed the employee shall be given his or her choice of |
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513 | 513 | | attending practitioner at the earliest opportunity. The employee has the right to a |
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514 | 514 | | 2nd choice of attending practitioner on notice to the employer or its insurance carrier. |
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515 | 515 | | Any further choice shall be by mutual agreement. Partners and clinics are |
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516 | 516 | | considered to be one practitioner. Treatment by a practitioner on referral from |
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517 | 517 | | another practitioner is considered to be treatment by one practitioner. |
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518 | 518 | | SECTION 17. 102.51 (1) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read: |
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519 | 519 | | 102.51 (1) (a) 1. A wife married person upon a husband his or her spouse with |
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520 | 520 | | whom he or she is living at the time of his the spouse's death. |
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521 | 521 | | SECTION 18. 102.51 (1) (a) 2. of the statutes is repealed. |
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522 | 522 | | SECTION 19. 102.61 (1) of the statutes is amended to read: |
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523 | 523 | | 102.61 (1) Subject to subs. (1g) and (1m), an employee who is entitled to receive |
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524 | 524 | | and has received compensation under this chapter, and who is entitled to and is |
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525 | 525 | | receiving instruction under 29 USC 701 to 797b 796l, as administered by the state |
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526 | 526 | | in which the employee resides or in which the employee resided at the time of |
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551 | 551 | | 25 - 12 -2023 - 2024 Legislature LRB-5556/1 |
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552 | 552 | | MED&MIM:skw |
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553 | 553 | | SECTION 19 SENATE BILL 991 |
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554 | 554 | | becoming physically disabled, shall, in addition to other indemnity, be paid the |
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555 | 555 | | actual and necessary costs of tuition, fees, books, and travel required for the |
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556 | 556 | | employee's rehabilitation training program and, if the employee receives that |
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557 | 557 | | instruction elsewhere than at the place of residence, the actual and necessary costs |
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558 | 558 | | of maintenance, during rehabilitation, subject to the conditions and limitations |
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559 | 559 | | specified in sub. (1r). The costs of travel under this subsection shall be paid at the |
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560 | 560 | | same rate as is provided for state officers and employees under s. 20.916 (8). |
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561 | 561 | | SECTION 20. 102.61 (1g) (b) of the statutes is amended to read: |
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562 | 562 | | 102.61 (1g) (b) If an employer offers an employee suitable employment as |
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563 | 563 | | provided in par. (c), the employer or the employer's insurance carrier is not liable for |
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564 | 564 | | temporary disability benefits under s. 102.43 (5) (b) or for the cost of tuition, fees, |
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565 | 565 | | books, travel, and maintenance under sub. (1). Ineligibility for compensation under |
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566 | 566 | | this paragraph does not preclude an employee from receiving vocational |
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567 | 567 | | rehabilitation services under 29 USC 701 to 797b 796l if the department determines |
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568 | 568 | | that the employee is eligible to receive those services. |
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569 | 569 | | SECTION 21. 102.61 (1g) (c) of the statutes is amended to read: |
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570 | 570 | | 102.61 (1g) (c) On receiving notice that he or she is eligible to receive vocational |
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571 | 571 | | rehabilitation services under 29 USC 701 to 797a 796l, an employee shall provide the |
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572 | 572 | | employer with a written report from a physician, chiropractor, psychologist, or |
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573 | 573 | | podiatrist stating the employee's permanent work restrictions. Within 60 days after |
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574 | 574 | | receiving that report, the employer shall provide to the employee in writing an offer |
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575 | 575 | | of suitable employment, a statement that the employer has no suitable employment |
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576 | 576 | | for the employee, or a report from a physician, chiropractor, psychologist, or |
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577 | 577 | | podiatrist showing that the permanent work restrictions provided by the employee's |
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578 | 578 | | practitioner are in dispute and documentation showing that the difference in work |
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603 | 603 | | 25 - 13 -2023 - 2024 Legislature |
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604 | 604 | | LRB-5556/1 |
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605 | 605 | | MED&MIM:skw |
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606 | 606 | | SECTION 21 |
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607 | 607 | | SENATE BILL 991 |
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608 | 608 | | restrictions would materially affect either the employer's ability to provide suitable |
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609 | 609 | | employment or a vocational rehabilitation counselor's ability to recommend a |
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610 | 610 | | rehabilitative training program. If the employer and employee cannot resolve the |
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611 | 611 | | dispute within 30 days after the employee receives the employer's report and |
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612 | 612 | | documentation, the employer or employee may request a hearing before the division |
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613 | 613 | | to determine the employee's work restrictions. Within 30 days after the division |
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614 | 614 | | determines the employee's work restrictions, the employer shall provide to the |
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615 | 615 | | employee in writing an offer of suitable employment or a statement that the |
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616 | 616 | | employer has no suitable employment for the employee. |
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617 | 617 | | SECTION 22. 102.61 (1m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read: |
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618 | 618 | | 102.61 (1m) (a) If the department has determined under sub. (1) that an |
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619 | 619 | | employee is eligible for vocational rehabilitation services under 29 USC 701 to 797b |
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620 | 620 | | 796l, but that the department cannot provide those services for the employee, the |
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621 | 621 | | employee may select a private rehabilitation counselor certified by the department |
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622 | 622 | | to determine whether the employee can return to suitable employment without |
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623 | 623 | | rehabilitative training and, if that counselor determines that rehabilitative training |
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624 | 624 | | is necessary, to develop a rehabilitative training program to restore as nearly as |
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625 | 625 | | possible the employee to his or her preinjury earning capacity and potential. |
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626 | 626 | | SECTION 23. 102.81 (1) (c) 1. of the statutes is amended to read: |
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627 | 627 | | 102.81 (1) (c) 1. The department shall pay a claim under par. (a) in excess of |
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628 | 628 | | $1,000,000 $2,000,000 from the uninsured employers fund in the first instance. If |
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629 | 629 | | the claim is not covered by excess or stop-loss reinsurance under sub. (2), the |
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630 | 630 | | secretary of administration shall transfer from the appropriation account under s. |
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631 | 631 | | 20.445 (1) (ra) to the uninsured employers fund as provided in subds. 2. and 3. an |
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655 | 655 | | 24 - 14 -2023 - 2024 Legislature LRB-5556/1 |
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656 | 656 | | MED&MIM:skw |
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657 | 657 | | SECTION 23 SENATE BILL 991 |
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658 | 658 | | amount equal to the amount by which payments from the uninsured employers fund |
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659 | 659 | | on the claim are in excess of $1,000,000 $2,000,000. |
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660 | 660 | | SECTION 24. 102.81 (1) (c) 2. of the statutes is amended to read: |
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661 | 661 | | 102.81 (1) (c) 2. Each calendar year the department shall file with the secretary |
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662 | 662 | | of administration a certificate setting forth the number of claims in excess of |
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663 | 663 | | $1,000,000 $2,000,000 in the preceding year paid from the uninsured employers |
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664 | 664 | | fund, the payments made from the uninsured employers fund on each such claim in |
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665 | 665 | | the preceding year, and the total payments made from the uninsured employers fund |
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666 | 666 | | on all such claims and, based on that information, the secretary of administration |
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667 | 667 | | shall determine the amount to be transferred under subd. 1. in that calendar year. |
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668 | 668 | | (END) |
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