Texas Legislature passes workers' compensation bills

(Workers compensation information courtesy of Texas Mutual Insurance Company)

The 80th session of the Texas Legislature ended May 28, 2007. Lawmakers passed three workers’ compensation bills that employers should know about.

The bill allows workers’ comp fraud to be prosecuted under the Labor Code or any other criminal statute. The bill may result in stronger penalties for fraud.

The bill allows an optional preauthorization plan for the small employer returnto-work program through the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation.

The program reimburses employers with two employees to 50 employees up to $2,500 for costs incurred in modifying a workspace to bring an injured employee back to work. The total annual reimbursement under the program is limited to $100,000.

House Bill 886 allows employers to submit their plan for modifications in advance and receive a guarantee of reimbursement for expenses.

House Bill 724

• Allows health insurance companies to pursue imbursement from workers’ comp insurers for health care services paid on claims that were later determined to be compensable.
• Provides that the parents of injured employees who die with no other eligible dependents are eligible for up to 104 weeks of death benefits.
• Restores a pre-court step in the medical dispute resolution process.