News and announcements from the Maryland Workers' Compensation Commission. http://www.wcc.state.md.us http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Fri, 3 Feb 2012 15:38:17 -0500 Fri, 3 Feb 2012 15:37:23 -0500 FeedForAll v2.0 (2.0.2.9) http://www.feedforall.com All Online Services (forms, inquiries, etc.) are unavailable this Saturday, February 4th, 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. for system maintenance. We regret the inconvenience and urge all to plan accordingly. http://www.wcc.state.md.us 5622BE8A-C0C7-45BF-80A9-AF497BDB333E Fri, 3 Feb 2012 15:37:23 -0500 The Commission and Maryland State offices are closed Monday, February 20, 2012 in observance of Presidents' Day.  We will open for business at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, February 21st. http://www.wcc.state.md.us 1CCB2609-26BF-47A3-BE19-EDA4FC5C8607 Fri, 3 Feb 2012 15:36:41 -0500 Delia Turano Schadt, a native of Cumberland, Maryland graduated from James Madison University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science in 1989. She earned her Juris Doctor from The University of Dayton School of Law in 1992. She then served as law clerk to The Honorable J. Frederick Sharer and The Honorable Gary G. Leasure in the Circuit Court for Allegany County. She began her legal career practicing workers’ compensation law and was employed by the Injured Workers’ Insurance Fund from 1993 until 2000. Following this, she was employed with the Maryland Office of the Attorney General where she served as Board Counsel to health occupation licensing boards until being appointed to the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission by Governor Martin O’Malley in 2011. http://www.wcc.state.md.us/Adjud_Claims/Notices_and_Announcements/Dec_2011_Notices.html 2B65C589-0AAB-444F-8BDF-9FF996337A06 Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:02:54 -0500 The State of Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission is currently seeking an energetic, versatile, and highly skilled Senior Network Administrator in the position of Computer Network Specialist, Lead. The Senior Network Administrator’s role is to manage the day-to-day operations of WCC systems and converged networks. This includes planning, developing, installing, configuring, maintaining security, supporting, and optimizing all network hardware, software, and communication links for LAN, WAN, WLAN, VoIP, and VPN. The main purpose of this position is to monitor and maintain local and wide area network system continuity, telecommunication services, operating systems’ software, and application software; as well as to install, configure, update, monitor, and provide troubleshooting support for PCs, servers, switches, routers, firewalls, network appliances, access points, printers, scanners, and other associated computer equipment and cabling in support of the Agency’s users. http://www.wcc.state.md.us/Gen_Info/Jobs_info.html F687BDE9-4D0B-49D8-9676-F84C461593E8 Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:02:00 -0500 The Commission is proud to announce that Executive Director, Mary Ahearn, was elected President of the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards & Commissions (‘IAIABC’) at its August 25, 2011 business meeting. The IAIABC is North America’s oldest workers’ compensation association. Ms. Ahearn will serve with 10 other executives from around the US and Canada to provide strategic leadership and financial oversight for the association. For more information about the IAIABC or the new Executive Committee, please visit their website at http://www.iaiabc.org/i4a/headlines/headlinedetails.cfm?id=252 http://www.wcc.state.md.us/Adjud_Claims/Notices_and_Announcements/Sept_2011_Notices.html CDB60758-BAAB-4821-A51B-F95F6484734E Thu, 22 Sep 2011 16:45:02 -0400 Issues form H24R is revised and now posted to WFMS Online Services and the WCC Forms page. Please begin using the new form immediately. We will not accept any prior versions of the form after September 30, 2011. This revision contains several updates, including layout & format, the selection of parties raising issues and newly required information when requesting authorization for medical treatment. The Issues form must include a brief description when a request for authorization of medical treatment is submitted. Note that this change also affects all WFMS Online Services forms that utilize Issues (H24R) as page 2. http://www.wcc.state.md.us/Adjud_Claims/Notices_and_Announcements/Sept_2011_Notices.html 53D5056C-081E-4A52-AC84-958E2AD8B5A7 Thu, 22 Sep 2011 16:38:52 -0400 Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for Calendar Year 2012: 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 effective on January 1, 2012 is 1.6%. See MD Compensation Rates for more information http://www.wcc.state.md.us/Adjud_Claims/Comp_Rates.html 8492EBCD-3D75-4A2C-AC09-56053C24B692 Fri, 15 Jul 2011 10:10:38 -0400 Our printed form SF-2 - Surgeon's Report of Injury will no longer be mailed by the Commission. Medical Providers may access the online form or printable form on the our website. The online form may be completed and submitted electronically or the printable form can be completed and mailed to the Commission. Both versions of the Surgeon's Report form can be accessed from the Medical Forms page. http://www.wcc.state.md.us/MFG/MFG_Forms.html 66A5BC5E-93F9-4098-A4DE-827C2CE46A57 Fri, 15 Jul 2011 10:09:28 -0400 Effective July 1, 2011, the 2011 mileage reimbursement rate will increase from 51.0¢ to 55.5¢ for eligible travel incurred on or after July 1, 2011. http://www.wcc.state.md.us/Adjud_Claims/Comp_Rates.html 42D6795B-CC26-42D3-A9A7-B6BAA5870EB7 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 14:52:20 -0400 It has come to the attention of the Commission that some appeals of an award of attorney’s fees are not in compliance with COMAR 14.09.06.05B, “When the issue appealed is the award of attorney’s fees, the appellant’s attorney shall forward a copy of the petition for judicial review to the Attorney General assigned to represent the Commission." Please remember that this is a regulatory requirement and should be followed at all times. The petition copy should be sent to Michele J. McDonald, Esq., Principal Counsel, Workers' Compensation Commission, 10 East Baltimore St., Baltimore, MD 21202-1641. http://www.wcc.state.md.us D175171F-1525-422D-A218-B3C82B15E269 Wed, 1 Jun 2011 16:44:03 -0400 Effective July 1, 2011, awards subject to LE § 9-806 (Subsequent Injury Fund Assessment) and LE § 9-1007(B) (Uninsured Employer Fund Assessment), will be billed separately by the two funds.  Award Orders issued by the Workers’ Compensation Commission will contain new language to reflect this billing and collection procedure change.  Employers or Insurers must pay the assessments to the two funds within thirty (30) days of their respective invoices. http://www.wcc.state.md.us/Adjud_Claims/Notices_and_Announcements/Current_Notices.html 49D15273-EBF5-4113-A125-05E5A411D7BD Fri, 13 May 2011 14:05:21 -0400 The Commission's Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2010 is available on our Publications page. The report contains statistics, legislative & regulatory updates and accomplishments achieved during FY2010 http://www.wcc.state.md.us/Gen_Info/Publications.html#Annual_Reports CF2E2296-58E6-4CC0-88BA-076E837A95D0 Fri, 25 Feb 2011 14:31:45 -0500 Opportunity for Public Comment: Notice of Proposed Action - 14.09.03 Guide of Medical and Surgical Fees (see our Regulatory Changes page for details) A public hearing is scheduled for April 14, 2011 at 11:00 a.m., at 10 E. Baltimore Street, 4th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202. http://www.wcc.state.md.us/Adjud_Claims/Reg_Changes.html BD65B232-BD25-4EF5-90BC-941BFACE25D3 Tue, 22 Feb 2011 05:49:28 -0500 Calendar year 2011 Medical Fee Guide resources (values, MEI, etc) and Workers' Compensation Benefit Rates (Average Weekly Wage, Cost of Living, etc.) are posted on our web. http://www.wcc.state.md.us/Adjud_Claims/Notices_and_Announcements/Dec_10_Notices.html 14F2E007-544F-40F1-AC0D-BC2598E1B94C Mon, 13 Dec 2010 14:41:01 -0500 Effective immediately, when an Employee Claim Form C-1 is hand-delivered to the Commission, Public Service staff will review the form and verify that it meets all requirements under COMAR 14.09.01.06 before accepting and dating the form. We only accept documents for filing at our Baltimore City Public Service Office located at 10 East Baltimore Street, 4th floor, Baltimore, MD, 21202 during normal business hours. The quality assurance process will require additional time and we appreciate the community's patience and cooperation. http://www.wcc.state.md.us/Adjud_Claims/Notices_and_Announcements/Nov_10_Notices.html 67E2638F-57D6-474F-BD64-B76A050C2380 Thu, 4 Nov 2010 11:13:31 -0400 We are saddened to announce the passing of Lourenna Ellen (Wren) Fisher on October 30, 2010. Ms. Fisher retired as our Secretary to the Commission in 1995. More information is available on the Zellman Funeral Home, P.A. http://www.zellmanfuneralhome.com/ 26528B17-AD44-47A8-B078-70C4B7C2F6B5 Thu, 4 Nov 2010 11:11:59 -0400