DWC

Alaska Workers' Compensation Board Meeting May 14-15, 2026

The Alaska Workers' Compensation Board will hold a full Board meeting on May 14-15, 2026, beginning at 9:00 a.m., in Hearing Room 208 of the Department of Labor Building at 3301 Eagle Street, Anchorage, Alaska, with virtual participation available via Zoom. The meeting will cover regular business of the Board and Division, including discussion of the Alaska Workers' Compensation Act and potential regulation changes. Public comment is scheduled for 10:15-11:15 a.m. on May 14, 2026. Written comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. on May 8, 2026.

Medical Services Review Committee Meetings May 28-Aug 7, 2026

The Alaska Workers' Compensation Division's Medical Services Review Committee has scheduled four public meetings on May 28, June 26, July 17, and August 7, 2026, each from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with public comment periods held from 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. at each meeting. The August 7 meeting will be held in person at 3301 Eagle St. Rm 208, Anchorage, AK 99503, while the other three meetings will be conducted via Zoom only. The committee will develop recommendations relating to the Alaska Medical Fee Schedule to be adopted under 8 AAC 45.083 for calendar year 2027.

Insurance Commissioner Amanda Crawford to Host Public Event April 10

The Texas Department of Insurance will host a Speak Up, Texas! public event in Nacogdoches on Friday, April 10, 2026, from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at The Fredonia Hotel. Insurance Commissioner Amanda Crawford will discuss the home and auto insurance market, tips for shopping for insurance, and how TDI can assist Texans. Texans unable to attend in person can submit ideas online at www.tdi.texas.gov/speakuptexas.

Commissioner Crawford Hosts Speak Up Texas Event San Antonio April 17

TDI Commissioner Amanda Crawford will host a Speak Up, Texas! community event on Friday, April 17, 2026, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at UT San Antonio's Downtown Campus in the Durango Building's Riverwalk Room B (501 W. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd.). The event invites Texans to share ideas on strengthening and improving the home and auto insurance market, learn tips for shopping for insurance, and understand how TDI can assist Texas consumers. Texans unable to attend in person can submit feedback online at tdi.texas.gov/speakuptexas.

NJ Workers' Compensation Benefit Rates 2000-2026

The New Jersey Division of Workers' Compensation has published updated 2026 workers' compensation benefit rates effective for accidents occurring on or after January 1, 2026, with maximum weekly benefits of $1,199 and minimum of $320 for temporary disability and total disability. The 2024 statewide average weekly wage stands at $1,598.66, reflecting a 3.4% increase from the prior year. Accident statistics for 2024 show 129,029 reported First Reports of Injury, 30,956 new claim petition filings, and 5,141 re-openers. Data on the page was last updated November 25, 2025.

Legal Decisions, Notices, Resources, Seminars for Workers' Compensation

The New Jersey Division of Workers' Compensation has published an updated legal information page aggregating recent court notices, rule amendments, and seminar announcements. The 2025 May Day Seminar is scheduled for May 5th from 1PM to 4PM at each court vicinage, covering Public Employee Issues, Ethical Use of AI, and Temporary Disability matters, with 3.6 CLE credits available including 1.2 ethics credits. Registration closes May 2, 2025 with the Head Clerk at each vicinage. Historical entries document the Thomas P. Canzanella Twenty First Century Responders Protection Act reporting requirements and 2022 rule amendments to N.J.A.C. 12:235-3.11, 3.12, and new rule 3.19.

DWC Posts 2024 Newslines: Fee Schedules, QME Exams, Office Updates

California Division of Workers' Compensation posted its 2024 newsline index listing 50+ regulatory announcements including multiple Official Medical Fee Schedule adjustments for pathology, clinical laboratory, physician services, DMEPOS, hospital outpatient departments, and ambulance services throughout 2024. Key actions include adoption of an updated Pharmaceutical Fee Schedule effective July 1, 2025, and multiple 15-day public comment periods for pharmaceutical fee schedule revisions. The newsline also covers QME examination registrations for October 2024, office relocations in San Jose and Eureka, temporary closure and reopening of the San Bernardino district office, and transition to CourtCall video platform for hearings.

DWC 2025 Workers' Compensation Newsline: UR Regulations Approved, Medical Fee Schedule Updates, Proposed MTUS and ADA Rules

The California Division of Workers' Compensation published its 2025 newsline documenting multiple regulatory actions including OAL approval of proposed utilization review regulations (December 30), approximately 25 adjustments to the Official Medical Fee Schedule across multiple service categories (pathology, laboratory, DMEPOS, hospital outpatient, physician services, ambulance), proposed ADA accommodation and MTUS evidence-based updates open for public comment, and 2026 temporary total disability rates of $1,609.96 per week announced November 21. The DWC also posted draft EAMS Rules and SJDB/RTW rules for comment, opened registration for the 33rd annual Educational Conference, launched an online public records request system, and released the 2024 Independent Medical Review report.

Multiple Fee Schedule Adjustments, MTUS Updates, QME Exam Announcements

The California Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) Newsline archives a series of announcements from January through April 2026 covering multiple Official Medical Fee Schedule adjustments for hospital outpatient departments, ambulatory surgical centers, DMEPOS, pathology/laboratory, and physician/non-physician practitioner services; adoption of MTUS Drug List updates effective April 30, 2026; a new QME process regulation (section 55.1) effective April 1, 2026; and an increased mileage rate for medical and medical-legal travel expenses effective January 1, 2026. The DWC also announces QME exam applications open for April 11–17, 2026, a Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee meeting on April 15, 2026, and proposals open for public comment on ADA accommodation regulations and attorney deposition fee ranges.

Iowa DIAL Meets Federal Long-Term Care Survey Requirements for 2025

The Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL) has confirmed it met all federal requirements established by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for federal fiscal year 2025, which ran from October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025. For FFY2025, DIAL was required to conduct at least 5% of standard nursing home surveys during off-hours, complete at least 10% during off-hours, investigate immediate jeopardy complaints within two business days, and complete recertification surveys no more than 15.9 months after the prior survey. DIAL achieved an average interval of 11.32 months between consecutive standard nursing home surveys, below the 12.9-month threshold for informational purposes.