IWCC December Updates

The IWCC's Medical Fee Advisory Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, December 7 at 2pm.  Currently, the only identified topic of discussion on the agenda is a status update on the changes to the medical fee schedule. 

We did send an inquiry to Glen Boyle regarding the posting of the new fee schedule regions' rates on the IWCC website.  Per his response, the anticipated release timeframe should be the end of this week.  We will verify this is still the release schedule at the Board meeting on Wednesday.

IWCC issues impairment ratings to the arbitrators
The Commission voted to provide recommendations to its arbitrators regarding the use of the American Medical Association impairment ratings in the determination of permanent partial disability awards.

Section 8.1b of HB 1698/Public Act 097-0018 included the following language:

...The most current edition of the American Medical Association's "Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment" shall be used by the physician in determining the level of impairment.

The Commission issued a memo to arbitrators regarding the use of the AMA impairment ratings. It includes the following guidance:

1. An impairment report is not required to be submitted by the parties with a settlement contract. 
2. If an impairment rating is not entered into evidence, the Arbitrator is not precluded from entering a finding of disability.

Call coverage for former arbitrator Jeffrey Tobin
As previously announced, former arbitrator Jeffrey Tobin was appointed to the Seventh Judicial Circuit.  The IWCC updated its call coverage schedule for December.

In December, Arbs. Falcioni and Mathis will cover the Mt. Vernon call, Arb. Holland will handle Urbana, and Arbs. Falcioni and Lee will appear in Decatur.  

Settlement contracts for cases assigned to former Arb. Tobin may be presented in person to whichever arbitrator is scheduled to handle the respective calls on each date. If submitted by mail, send Mt. Vernon contracts to Arb. Mathis, Urbana contracts to Arb. Holland, and Decatur to Arb. Falcioni.

2012 Joliet arbitration hearing site change
Effective January 5, 2012, Joliet arbitration hearings will be held at the Joliet Public Library, 150 N. Ottawa Street, 2nd floor.