Trade Group Urges Indiana Governor to Sign Work Comp Bill
The Indiana General Assembly ended a very productive 2013 legislative session early in the morning on April 27 having passed workers’ compensation reform, legislation permitting the use of electronic devices to show evidence of insurance as well as positive uninsured motorist excess liability provisions, according to the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI).
The legislature also passed bills calling for studies of no pay/no play and litigation financing.
One of the last major insurance issues addressed this session was workers’ compensation reform. House Bill 1320, if signed by Gov. Mike Pence, would put in place a workers’ compensation hospital fee schedule at 200 percent of Medicare and establish that the maximum pricing for repackaged drugs cannot be higher than the average wholesale price set by the original manufacturer. In addition, the bill places a cap on the price of implants at the actual cost plus 25 percent, according to PCI.
PCI said the bill is the right step toward stronger cost containment in the state’s workers’ compensation system.
“This legislation will begin to put Indiana in alignment with most states by adopting a workers’ compensation hospital reimbursement schedule based on Medicare rates,” said Ann Weber, vice president, state government relations for PCI.
Earlier this month Gov. Pence signed the PCI-supported Senate Bill 620 that allows for the use of electronic devices in lieu of paper cards for evidence of financial responsibility. Indiana joins 14 other states that now have adopted e-card laws or regulations.
House Bill 1190 which specifies that uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is not required to be made available under a personal umbrella or excess liability policy is on the governor’s desk pending his signature. The legislation requires notice of a removal or reduction of uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. However, if the insurer makes the coverage available, it allows the insurer to determine the coverage limits to be made available.
Source: PCI