Senate Bill 229 proposes to transfer the adjudicatory functions concerning disputed workers' compensation claims from the Division of Hearings and Appeals (DHA) to the Department of Workforce Development (DWD). The bill includes several amendments and repeals existing statutes, specifically removing references to the DHA and replacing them with the DWD in key sections such as 102.01 (2) (ad), 102.15 (1) (b), and 102.18 (1) (b) 1t. This consolidation aims to streamline the handling of workers' compensation claims, enhancing efficiency and clarity in the administration of these laws.

Additionally, the bill modifies the process for determining the necessity of treatment for injured employees and the reasonableness of prescription drug charges. It allows the DWD to seek expert opinions when assessing treatment necessity but does not require it, and it clarifies that the DWD will deny payment for unnecessary treatments. The bill also specifies that if an insurer concedes liability for a prescription drug cost but disputes its reasonableness, the DWD will include its determination in its order. Overall, these changes are designed to centralize authority within the DWD, streamline decision-making, and clarify the department's responsibilities in managing disputes related to treatment necessity and prescription drug costs.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 40.65(2)(b)3, 40.65, 40.65(2)(b)4, 102.01(2)(ad), 102.01, 102.01(2)(dm), 102.04(2r)(b), 102.04, 102.07(8)(c), 102.07, 102.12, 102.13(1)(c), 102.13, 102.13(1)(d)2, 102.13(1)(d)3, 102.13(1)(f), 102.13(2)(a), 102.13(3), 102.13(4), 102.13(5), 102.14(title), 102.14, 102.14(1), 102.14(2), 102.15(1)(b), 102.15, 102.16(1), 102.16, 102.16(1m)(a), 102.16(1m)(b), 102.16(1m)(c), 102.16(2)(a)