The Maryland Workers' Compensation Commission (WCC) has begun the framework upon which the future will build. As demonstrated at the Maryland Workers' Compensation Educational Association Conference in September 2000, we are committed to providing our customers with the most secure and responsive ways to interact and conduct transactions with the Commission. As technologies continue to evolve, we will begin to introduce Internet-based services before the end of 2002. Our web page will be hosted at the Commission's Baltimore City offices and will introduce submission of Employer's First Report of Injury Forms to the Commission from the registered user's Internet browser. We will also begin to provide web-based claim status inquiry and viewing of WCC claim-related documents to authorized subscribers.

With this important initiative we have also developed the basis for technologies that will permit Internet submission of WCC claim administration forms and the electronic mailing Hearing Notices and other Commission correspondence to registered parties. Of paramount concern in developing these applications and offering them to our customers is privacy, assuring the secure transmission of this information and validating to the highest degree possible the identity and authority of those registered to access WCC information. Our goal is to provide the best service possible to all of our customers involved in the WCC's mission processes from the convenience of their desktop PC.   CLICK HERE for more.

Effective July 2, 2002 the mileage reimbursement rate increased to $0.34 per mile as determined by the Maryland Department of Budget & Management.

Section 9-638 of the Labor and Employment Article provides for an annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) for compensation paid under Subtitle V to covered employees with a permanent total disability. The COLA provision became effective January 1, 1988 and is only payable for an accidental injury or occupational disease sustained on or after January 1, 1988. The cost of living adjustment that will become effective on January 1, 2003 is 2.6%

August 13

On August 8, 2002, an open meeting was held to take final action to adopt Regulations .07 under COMAR 14.09.01, Average Weekly Wage, .01 and .23 under COMAR 14.09.01, Procedural Regulations, and .01 and .02 under COMAR 14.09.06, Local Office Requirements for Insurers. Notice of this public meeting was given pursuant to State Government Article 10-506, Annotated Code of Maryland.  The final action notice will be published in the August 23, 2002 issue of the Maryland Register, and these regulations will become effective September 3, 2002.