Member Action Helped Avert Workers’ Comp Payment Crisis

Posted on January 4, 2017 by Chapter Staff
Originally Published in HAPTA’s e-Newsletter, What’s HAPTAnin’ – January 2017

On November 17, the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) held a hearing on a proposal that would have switched the medical fee schedule back to Medicare plus 10 percent. Doing so would have pushed the clock back to a time when reimbursements for workers’ comp cases were barely sustainable. Due to notice about this proposed action from our lobbyist, Joy Gold, we were able to mobilize members to submit testimony and testify in person against this proposal.

Due to the large opposition, the DLIR seems to have pulled back for now. Though the crisis is presently averted it remains a concern as there appears to be a movement to reduce reimbursements. HAPTA is monitoring the situation and lobbying with legislators to switch to the Office of Workers Compensation Programs (OWCP) fee schedule used by the federal government and some other states.

We’re often asked, “what do I get for my membership?” This is one of many examples of the work HAPTA, locally and the APTA, nationally are doing. Thank you, to those of you who submitted testimony and have supported HAPTA with your membership. If you are not currently a member, please consider supporting efforts like these by joining us.