Illinois Workers' Compensation Preferred Provider Program – WCPPP Update

HFN has been approved as a Workers' Compensation Preferred Provider Program Administrator (WCPPPA) by the Illinois Department of Insurance.

The HFN WCPPP Solution
Employers now have, for the first time, the ability to direct their injured workers into a “Workers' Compensation Preferred Provider Program” for their medical treatment. HFN is uniquely positioned and ready to help you realize the benefits and savings associated with utilizing a WCPPP. The final rules have been published and became effective March 4, 2013. HFN is ready to assist you in understanding these regulations and how they can benefit your organization.   

We are available to discuss designating HFN as your WCPPP. HFN is ready to provide comprehensive or customized solutions that can lower your workers’ compensation costs, improve employee health, reduce indemnity and increase productivity for your entire workforce. To augment our WCPPP HFN has the largest Coordinated Occupational Health Network in Illinois (COP®) with 24 hour coverage and Return to Work initiatives to partner with your healthy workforce goals.

For more information about HFN’s WCPPP, Work Comp Direct and other workers comp services  please contact Guy Swanson at (630) 990-8609 or SwansonG@hfninc.com. Additional information is also available at HFN’s WC blog: http://ilwcreformguide.blogspot.com/

IWCC Meeting Updates

The Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission has several Board meetings scheduled this month.  All of the meetings will take place at the James R. Thompson Center (100 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL).

Workers' Compensation Medical Fee Advisory Board
March 22, 2013 10:00 am
IWCC contact person: Kimberly Janas, Secretary and Operations Manager

Self-Insurers Advisory Board
March 26, 2013 10:30 am
IWCC contact person: Maria Sarli-Dehlin, Manager of Self-Insurance

Commission Review Board
April 17, 2013 10:00 am
IWCC contact person: Carolyn Parks, Executive Director and Judicial Manager

Workers' Compensation Advisory Board
April 17, 2013 1:00 pm
IWCC contact person: Kimberly Janas, Secretary and Operations Manager

PPP Rules Effective March 4, 2013

The final rules on the Preferred Provider Program (PPP) have been published, and are effective as of March 4, 2013. PPPs were authorized by the 2011 legislation.

To view the proposed rules, click here. Select the link for Issue 11/March 15, 2013, and go to page 154 of the pdf.

Direct any questions about the PPP rules to Kari Dennison (217/782-1771) at the Department of Insurance.

IWCC Posts Updated Repricing Instructions

On January 24, the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission posted its Instructions and Guidelines for Treatment On or After 9/1/11 to its website.  These instructions include all of the changes implemented in HB 1698/PA 97-18 and the subsequent rulemakings approved through the JCAR process.  

Previously, the Rules section on the IWCC website was updated with many of the updates and changes, but the Instructions and Guidelines section was pending.

The IWCC maintains all of these documents under the Medical Fee Schedule/FAQs section of its website.

1/23/2012 IWCC Board meetings

Both the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission's Workers' Compensation Advisory Board and Commission Review Board meet on Wednesday, January 21, 2013.

The Workers' Compensation Advisory Board meets at 1PM in the 8th Floor Chairman's Conference room at the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago.  The agenda includes Commission and Legislative updates, Commission appointments, and a discussion on a possible pro se assistance program.  Friday's post included the IWCC's publication of its regulatory agenda update.

The Commission Review Board will also meet Wednesday in the Thompson Center's 8th Floor Chairman's Conference room at 10AM.  The current agenda includes a report by Carolyn Parks regarding communications involving IWCC Arbitrators.



 

IWCC 2013 Regulatory Agenda

In this morning's Illinois Register, the IWCC filed a regulatory agenda update for the Illinois
Insurance Regulations (50 Ill. Adm. Code 7100).

On Page 630 (PDF page 156) of the Illinois Register, the IWCC gives a general overview of its intentions to update both Sections 7100.100 and 7100.70 of the Insurance Regulations.  The IWCC notification lists the anticipated JCAR First Notice submission date as "undetermined."

Description: The Commission anticipates changes to two Sections of Part 7100 of its rules. Section 7100.100 sets forth the procedure for the enforcement of the insurance compliance provisions of Section 4 of the Workers' Compensation Act. This rule has not been updated since 1990 and there have been several significant amendments to Section 4 since that time, including the ability of the Commission to issue a work-stop order for an employer who has knowingly failed to provide workers' compensation insurance. In addition, Section 7100.100 does not include the minimum $10,000 fine for the knowing and willful failure or refusal to obtain workers' compensation insurance set forth in Section 4(d) of the Workers' Compensation Act and the applicability of such fine to corporate officers and directors, which is also set forth in Section 4(d) of the Act. Section 7100.70 sets forth the qualifications required to be approved as a self-insurer in Illinois, as well as the procedural aspects of the application process. This rule has not been updated since 1996. The rule will be updated in order ensure the integrity of the self-insurance program.

 

WC PPP Rulemaking Update

The General Assembly's Joint Committee on Administrative Rules met on January 8, 2012, and the Illinois Department of Insurance's WC PPP rulemaking was on the agenda.  JCAR voted to extend the review process by 45 days, and the updates to the Illinois Insurance Code will now appear on the JCAR's February meeting agenda.

JCAR will meet at 9:00am on February 5 at the Stratton Office Building in Springfield, IL to discuss the proposed rulemakings.