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Division of Workers' Compensation

News and Updates

October 2009
  • The Injured Worker FAQs have been updated
  • Compliance statistics updated
  • A Spanish version [560K PowerPoint] of the Injured Worker Workshop slideshow is now available on the Employee Education and Information page
  • EDI statistics (paper vs. electronic submissions) updated
  • Bureau of Compliance district offices information has been updated
  • The Division is pleased to announce the continuation of Employer Seminars regarding Workers' Compensation and Workplace Safety (presented by OSHA). These seminars are designed to assist Florida employers in understanding their rights and responsibilities under the Florida Workers' Compensation law and in providing a Safe Workplace for their employees. The seminars are free and are offered in several locations throughout Florida. In addition, 4 seminars (in various locations) will be presented in the Spanish language. More details can be found on the Employer Education page. You are welcome to disseminate the flyer and registration forms to anyone you believe may be interested in attending.
September 2009
  • DWC FWCI Conference PowerPoint Slides (August 2009) [5.8MB PowerPoint]
  • A Hearing on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for the Division of Workers' Compensation Rule 69L-6.012, Notice of Election to be Exempt, Florida Administrative Code, will be held, if requested within 21 days of the date the notice is published. The Notice was published in the September 18, 2009, Florida Administrative Weekly. If requested, the hearing will be held on Wednesday, October 14, 2009; 10:00 am – 12:00 pm in Room 104J Hartman Building., 2012 Capital Circle SE, Tallahassee, Florida. If a hearing is not requested, it will not be held. For additional information, please contact Tasha Carter at (850) 413-1878 or Tasha.Carter@myfloridacfo.com.
  • EDI Training PowerPoint Slides [1.9MB PowerPoint] from the DWC FWCI Conference are available on the Claims EDI page
  • The Division of Workers' Compensation has published its 2009 Annual Report [2.5MB PDF] and it is now available under Publications and Manuals. The Annual Report contains a summary of the Division’s activities and accomplishments for fiscal year 2008/2009.
  • Compliance statistics have been updated
  • The 2009 4th quarter schedule for the Division's free classes regarding Florida’s Workers' Compensation law and Workplace Safety is available. For more information see the Employer Education section.
  • Claims EDI section updated
  • The Injured Worker Frequently Asked Questions page has been updated
  • The Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation and Division of Risk Management announce a free two day EDI training class October 6, 7, and 8, 2009 in Tallahassee on the Claims EDI Release 3 mandate, and EDI Rule (69L-56, F.A.C.). Seating is limited to 75, and prior registration is required. Registration preference will be given to those who have previously submitted a request for future training and those who have not previously attended an EDI training class. Please complete and return the EDI Training Registration form to the Division. » Get form
August 2009
  • An updated Health Care Provider Tutorial [1.5MB PowerPoint] is available
  • The Division of Workers' Compensation announces the publication of Informational Bulletin DFS-02-2009 issued on August 12, 2009. This bulletin deals with employer/carrier reimbursement decisions regarding pharmaceuticals dispensed by Florida licensed physicians. All Division bulletins are available under Informational Memoranda.
  • EDI statistics (paper vs. electronic submissions) updated
  • Rule 69L-6.025 - Conditional Release of Stop-Work Order and Periodic Payment Agreement was amended effective July 20, 2009. The amendment provides new language that outlines the terms and conditions under which an employer qualifies to enter into a new Payment Agreement Schedule For Periodic Payment of Penalty.
  • The recently available Non-Compliance Referral Database allows individuals to submit referrals of alleged violations of the workers’ compensation laws. Since June the Division has received 328 referrals. As a result of those referrals, 36 Stop-Work Orders were issued, resulting in $526,000 in assessed penalties. See the Databases section for all Division applications.
  • Audio files from the July workshops (69L-7.501 - Florida Workers' Compensation Reimbursement Manual for Hospitals and 69L-7.602 - Florida Workers' Compensation Medical Services Billing, Filing and Reporting Rule) are available under Draft Rules
July 2009
  • New Bureau of Monitoring and Audit statistics are available in the Statistics section
  • A new Publications Order Form [16K PDF] (Effective July 1, 2009) has been posted under Publications
  • 69L-5 Hearing Transcript [text file] - from the June 24th Hearing on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for the Division of Workers' Compensation's Rules for Self Insurers Under the Workers Compensation Act, 69L-5
  • The Claims Statistics Database has been restored and is available under Databases
  • Claims EDI section updated
  • Compliance statistics have been updated
  • A Hearing on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking of 69L-24, F.A.C. [124K PDF], Workers' Compensation Insurers' Standards and Practices, WILL be held on Wednesday, August 5, 2009; 10:00am-12:00pm in Room 104 J Hartman Bldg., 2012 Capital Circle SE, Tallahassee, Florida.
  • The Division has published the assessment rates for the Workers' Compensation Administration Trust Fund (WCATF) and Special Disability Trust Fund (SDTF), in Informational Bulletin DFS-03-2009 [3.5MB PDF] and Assessment Rate Orders number 105011-09-WC and 105012-09-WC. The assessment rate for the WCATF will be 0.80% for calendar year 2010. For the 2009-2010 fiscal year, the SDTF assessment rate remains at 4.52%. All division bulletins are available under Informational Memoranda.
June 2009
May 2009
  • The Proof of Coverage EDI and Claims EDI sections have been updated
  • New Informational Memoranda: DFS-01-2009 [245K PDF] - Wage Loss Discount Factor Tables, May 20, 2009
  • The Bureau of Data Quality and Collection page has been updated. All bureau information can be found under About the Division.
  • A Hearing on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for the Division of Workers' Compensation’s Rules for Self Insurers Under the Workers Compensation Act, 69L-5, Florida Administrative Code, will be held if requested within 21 days of the date the Notice was published. Rule Chapter 69L-5, F.A.C. is being amended to concurrently repeal and replace all existing rules with new rules which have been restructured and renumbered to promote clarity and efficiencies to the process by which self-insured employers comply with the duties and obligations associated with the privilege of self-insuring pursuant to Chapter 440, Florida Statutes. If requested, the hearing will be held on Wednesday, June 24, 2009; 10:00am – 12:00pm in Room 104 J Hartman Bldg., 2012 Capital Circle SE, Tallahassee, Florida. If a hearing is not requested, it will not be held.
  • The following forms have been updated: SI-5 Self-Insurers Payroll Report, SI-6 Sample Self-Insurers Irrevocable Letter of Credit, SI-20 Report of Outstanding Workers' Compensation Liabilities, SI-23 Service Company Annual Report Form. All Division forms can be found under Rules and Forms.
  • Updated files and information have been added to the Claims EDI section
  • The DWC-250 form [36K PDF] (Notice of Election to be Exempt) has been updated again
  • The Division is pleased to announce the publication of its first research brief, which focuses on the effects of the changes to the compensability requirements in SB 50A, which was the 2003 workers’ compensation legislative reform bill.
  • Compliance statistics have been updated
  • Employee Assistance Office information updated
  • EDI statistics (paper vs. electronic submissions) updated
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
  • The Division of Insurance Fraud, Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Fraud and the Division of Workers’ Compensation, Bureau of Compliance issued a Joint Report [3.7M PDF] summarizing their respective efforts and activities in combating workers’ compensation fraud and employer non-compliance for the period of July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008.
  • The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) has proposed a rate increase in response to a recent Florida Supreme Court Decision involving attorney fees. The NCCI estimates that the full impact of this decision will be an increase in overall Florida workers’ compensation system costs of 18.6%. The NCCI anticipates that it will take two years for the full impact to be realized, and therefore proposes a first year increase of half of the full impact. On November 14, 2008, NCCI submitted its filing for a proposed first year rate level increase of 8.9% to Florida’s Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR). The NCCI rate filing is proposed to be effective on March 1, 2009, and is currently under review at OIR. More » [62K PDF]
    This rate filing comes on the heels of NCCI’s recently approved annual rate filing wherein the NCCI reduced Florida workers’ compensation rates by 18.6% effective January 1, 2009. The new overall workers' compensation rate level will result in a cumulative 60.5% average decrease since reforms to the workers’ compensation system were implemented in 2003. More » [103K PDF]
  • The Office of Medical Services page has been updated
  • New Informational Memorandum: DFS-02-2008 [22K PDF] - Maximum Workers' Compensation Rate, Effective January 1, 2009
  • A Hearing on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for the Division of Workers' Compensation’s EDI Rule, 69L-56, Florida Administrative Code, will be held if requested within 21 days of the date the Notice was published. The proposed rule amendment addresses Electronic Proof of Coverage filing requirements for Employee leasing companies, as well as revisions made to EDI forms and EDI Implementation Manuals. If requested, the hearing will be held on Wednesday, January 21, 2009; 10:00am – 12:00pm in room 104 J Hartman Bldg., 2012 Capital Circle SE, Tallahassee, Florida. If a hearing is not requested, it will not be held.
  • The Division of Workers' Compensation will hold a rule workshop to amend rule 69L-24 F.A.C. Insurers' Standards and Practices. The workshop will be held on Tuesday, January 6, 2009; 10:00am - 12:00pm in room 104 J Hartman Bldg., 2012 Capital Circle SE, Tallahassee, Florida. The proposed rule amendment establishes guidelines to monitor, audit and investigate regulated entities for compliance with requirements of Chapter 440, Florida Statutes, regarding timely payment of benefits to injured workers, timely payment of medical bills, and timely reporting of data to the Department, and establish penalty guidelines for assessment of penalties for failure to comply with the statutory requirements.
  • EDI statistics (paper vs. electronic submissions) updated
November 2008
  • The new Online Workers' Compensation Insurance Registration site is now available on the homepage under Popular Items
  • The Bureau of Compliance is offering free workers’ compensation and workplace safety classes, and more than 100 Florida employers and licensed contractors have attended since the classes began on October 1, 2008, some earning continuing education credits. The Bureau will offer 11 classes quarterly throughout Florida, and the first quarter 2009 schedule will be available in December.
  • Bureau of Compliance statistics have been updated for November
  • The National Council on Compensation Insurance, Inc. (NCCI) has issued its analysis on the proposed medical fee reimbursement changes for hospital outpatient services. This analysis will be presented at the Three-Member Panel meeting on Thursday, November 20 at 1:00 pm in room 116 of the Larsen Building in Tallahassee, Florida. The Three-Member Panel will consider testimony and comments regarding the proposed adoption of Medicare’s Outpatient Prospective Payment System in concert with determined payment adjustment factors as the methodology for reimbursing hospitals 60% and 75% of usual and customary charges for outpatient services provided to Florida’s injured workers.
  • The Division of Workers’ Compensation will hold a rule workshop to amend the rule 69L-56 F.A.C. Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Requirements for Proof Coverage and Claims (Non-Medical). The workshop will be held on Monday, Nov. 17, 2008; 10:00am - 12:00pm in room 104 J Hartman Bldg., 2012 Capital Circle SE, Tallahassee, Florida. The proposed rule amendment addresses Electronic Proof of Coverage filing requirements for Employee leasing companies, as well as revisions made to forms and EDI Implementation Manuals.
October 2008
  • The Workers' Compensation System Guide (WC System Guide) has been written and published in accordance with section 440.207, Florida Statutes. Its purpose is to provide a summary and overview of the Workers Compensation Law. It is intended to educate and assist all stakeholders in the workers' compensation system as to their rights and responsibilities and to provide resources to persons needing direction and support with the workers' compensation process and system. The Workers' Compensation Guide is not intended to replace or supersede the workers' compensation law (Chapter 440, Florida Statutes) or Florida workers' compensation case law.
  • Bureau of Compliance statistics have been updated
  • The Medical EDI section has been updated
  • Several additions have been made to the Claims EDI area
  • EDI statistics (paper vs. electronic submissions) updated

For older news, see the News Archive