State Legislation
Florida
When it comes to workers’ compensation claims administration, CorVel offers a simplified approach to a complex process for Florida payors. It starts with efficient incident reporting and immediate intervention by an integrated service model that advocates focused claims management from the very onset of injury. Because all of our claims management services are connected in a single database, interested parties can access healthcare intervention, reporting, analytics and claims data in real time, reducing costly delays.
Our comprehensive return to work program ensures collaboration and communication with all interested parties including the injured worker, employer, human resources, medical and safety teams, and healthcare providers. We use technology, compassionate case management for employees and cost containment measures, to give Florida employers a superior program.
As a service to our clients, CorVel is providing links to information related to the COVID-19 pandemic provided by the states.
Legislature Status: For all bills but the budget – which is being changed as circumstances dictate – the 60-day legislative session otherwise concluded as planned Friday, March 13.
- April 14, 2020 – The Governor announced the state is receiving 1 million N95 masks.
- April 14, 2020 – The Governor announced an “stage two” task force to explore what stage two of the state’s coronavirus response will be, including reopening of the state’s schools, restaurants and other businesses will look like after weeks of lockdown.
- April 11, 2020 – The Governor announced more than 32,000 laptop computers are being distributed to 34 mostly small, rural school districts throughout Florida and the Florida A&M University Developmental Research School to support distance learning.
- April 11, 2020 – The Governor is taking “advantage of this pause” in business to complete infrastructure projects in Florida, he said at a press briefing. Having less people on Florida roads is an opportunity to make some progress on Orlando’s I-4 “construction congestion,” DeSantis said.
Legislation
- SR 1934 Declares the Florida State University Seminoles basketball team, by virtue of tremendous skill on the court and the heart and spirit shown by the players and coaches this basketball season, the 2020 NCAA basketball champions by default upon cancellation of the NCAA tournament due to concerns raised by the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19. Adopted.
- HB 5001 Relates to General Appropriations Act; appropriates $27,296,000 from the Federal Grants Trust Fund to the Department of Health to spend federal dollars approved in the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020; appropriates $25,150,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of health to address the coronavirus outbreak. Eligible for Governor.
Florida Regulatory Updates 04/11/2024
Florida HB 161 – Payments For Health Care Providers and Surgical Procedures Under Workers’ Compensation; Increases Maximum Amounts of Certain Witness Fees Related to Workers’ Compensation Cases; Increases Maximum Reimbursements For Physicians & Surgical Procedures Under Workers’ Compensation.
Issues: Workers’ Compensation (Medical Coverage And Reimbursement), Workers’ Compensation (General)
Summary For 02/25/2024 :This measure increases the maximum workers’ compensation witness fee from $200 to $300. It also increases the maximum reimbursement for physicians and surgeries to 150% of the Medicare rate. It takes effect January 1, 2025.
Most Recent Update:
03/08/2024 This measure failed upon the adjournment of the Legislature on March 8. This measure is ineligible for further consideration.
Florida SB 362 – Medical Treatment Under the Workers’ Compensation Law; Increasing Limits on Witness Fees Charged By Certain Witnesses; Increasing Maximum Reimbursement Allowances For Physicians and Surgical Procedures, Etc.
Issues: Workers’ Compensation (Medical Coverage And Reimbursement), Workers’ Compensation (General)
Summary For 03/06/2024:
This measure increases the witness fee maximum in workers’ compensation cases to $300 from $200. It also increases the maximum reimbursement for physicians to 175% and surgical procedures to 210% of the Medicare rate. It takes effect January 1, 2025
Most Recent Update:
3/07/2024 Following unanimous House passage, the Senate unanimously concurred in the House amendments on March 7. This measure is eligible to be sent to Governor Ron DeSantis (R) for approval.
Florida SB 1658 – Workers’ Compensation Insurance For Employee Leasing Companies; Defining the Terms “Client Company” and “Employee Leasing Company”; Authorizing the Insurer of an Employee Leasing Company to Require That the Employee Leasing Company and Client Company Provide Certain Information and to Audit the Operations of the Employee Leasing Company and Client Company; Requiring the Insurer of an Employee Leasing Company to Provide Workers’ Compensation Coverage to All Employees of the Client Company Under Certain Conditions; Requiring Insurers to Conduct Annual Audits of Employee Leasing Companies and Client Companies For Certain Purposes, Etc.
Issues: Workers’ Compensation (Medical Coverage And Reimbursement), Workers’ Compensation (General)
Summary For 01/09/2024
This measure requires employee leasing companies to grant workers’ compensation insurance for all leased employees. The company that obtains such coverage in the voluntary workers’ compensation market can elect, with the voluntary market insurer’s knowledge and consent, to secure the coverage on leased employees through a workers’ compensation policy.
During the contract period of an employee leasing arrangement with a client company, the insurer of an employee leasing company must provide workers’ compensation coverage for all leased and nonleased employees of the client company. The failure by a client company to report a leased employee’s hiring to an employee leasing company will not serve as a basis for the denial of workers’ compensation benefits. This does not preclude the charging of additional premiums and penalties established by the coverage company.
If an employee leasing company fails to provide reasonable access to payroll and classification records for a payroll and classification audit, the employee leasing company or the client company must pay a premium to the insurer not to exceed three times the most recent estimated annual premium.
This measure takes effect July 1, 2024.
Most Recent Update:
3/08/2024 This measure failed upon the adjournment of the Legislature on March 8. This measure is ineligible for further consideration.
Florida Regulatory Updates 04/20/2023
SB 1344 – Medical Treatment Under the Workers’ Compensation Law; Increasing Limits on Witness Fees Charged By Certain Witnesses; Increasing Maximum Reimbursement Allowances For Physicians and Surgical Procedures, Etc.
Issues: Workers’ Compensation (Medical Coverage And Reimbursement), Workers’ Compensation (General)
Summary: This measure increases the fees for various services provided under workers’ compensation. It increases the witness fee from $200 to $300, the maximum reimbursement for medical and osteopathic physicians from 110% of the Medicare rate to 200%, and the maximum reimbursement for surgical services from 140% of the Medicare rate to 200% of the Medicare rate. It takes effect July 1, 2023.
Most Recent Update:
4/05/2023 This measure is scheduled to be heard on April 5 in the Banking and Insurance Committee.
HB 1299 – Payments For Health Care Providers and Surgical Procedures Under Workers’ Compensation; Increases Maximum Amounts of Certain Witness Fees Related to Workers’ Compensation Cases; Increases Maximum Reimbursements For Physicians & Surgical Procedures Under Workers’ Compensation.
Issues: Workers’ Compensation (Medical Coverage And Reimbursement), Workers’ Compensation (General)
Summary:
This measure increases the fees for witness fees provided under workers’ compensation. It increases the expert witness fee from $200 to $300 per hour, and the witness fee for experts who only review records from $200 to $300 per day. It takes effect July 1, 2023.
Most Recent Update:
3/27/2023 This measure is scheduled to be heard on March 27 in the Commerce Committee, Insurance & Banking Subcommittee chaired by Representative Wyman Duggan (R)
Florida Regulatory Updates 6/3/2021
HB 815 – An Act relating to Insurance; Authorizes Use of Specified Modeling Indications For Rate Filings For Residential Property, et al.
Issues: Workers’ Compensation (Medical Coverage And Reimbursement), Workers’ Compensation (General)
Summary:
This measure provides for workers compensation determination rates. This measure is applicable to workers’ compensation. This measure provides that for workers’ compensation and employer’s liability insurance the past loss experience and prospective loss experience within and outside this state and the impact resulting from the past loss experience and prospective loss experience for insurers whose data are missing from statewide experience due to insolvency must be used in the determination and fixing of rates. Prior reported data for insurers and all other relevant information may be used to assess the impact on rates. This measure takes effect July 1, 2021.
Most Recent Update:
4/30/2021 This measure failed upon adjournment of the 2021 Legislative Session. This measure is ineligible for further consideration.
Florida Regulatory Updates 4/1/2021
HB 815 – An Act relating to Insurance; Authorizes Use of Specified Modeling Indications For Rate Filings For Residential Property, et al.
Issues: Workers’ Compensation (Medical Coverage And Reimbursement), Workers’ Compensation (General)
Summary:
This measure provides for workers compensation determination rates. This measure is applicable to workers’ compensation. This measure provides that for workers’ compensation and employer’s liability insurance the past loss experience and prospective loss experience within and outside this state and the impact resulting from the past loss experience and prospective loss experience for insurers whose data are missing from statewide experience due to insolvency must be used in the determination and fixing of rates. Prior reported data for insurers and all other relevant information may be used to assess the impact on rates. This measure takes effect July 1, 2021.
Most Recent Update:
3/25/2021 A hearing was held, and the measure passed the House State Administration & Technology Appropriations Subcommittee.
Florida Regulatory Updates 4/15/2020
HB 359 – An Act relating to Insurance; Provides That Employee Receiving Workers’ Compensation Payments May Authorize Carrier to Transmit Compensation Payments to Licensed Money Transmitter
Issues: Workers’ Compensation (Medical Coverage And Reimbursement)
Summary:
This measure allows employees receiving workers’ compensation payments to authorize a carrier to transmit payments through a money transmitter.
The measure stipulates that weekly compensation payments under 440.12 Florida Statutes may be transmitted to the employee’s account with a money transmitter licensed under part II of chapter 560.
Most Recent Update: On March 10, 2020, this measure was tabled. This measure failed upon adjournment of the legislature on March 19, 2020.
Florida Managed Care Arrangement
Florida Statute 440 Managed Care Arrangement (MCA) is an optional state program and requires a filing of an application and managed care plan every two years to the State of Florida. A Managed Care Coordinator (MCC) is identified as a gatekeeper or primary care physician who must authorize all specialists that treat in order to prevent doctor shopping. This provides better control and oversight of physicians and outside channeling. Learn more about the Florida MCA.
We are here to help.
CorVel has been a certified MCA in Florida since 1994 and will authorize all specialists in compliance with Florida requirements. Read CorVel’s workers’ compensation solutions or contact a local representative for additional information.
Florida Services
- Workers’ compensation claims management
- Industry leading savings for bill review
- Full visibility to pharmacy data
- State-approved utilization management
Florida Resources
Ready to get started?
Our team is ready to answer any questions and help you find the right solutions.