Sen. Kwame Raoul Comments on New Workers Comp Reform Law

Navistar
Melrose Park, IL
June 29, 2011


In an effort to make Illinois a more attractive state for businesses comprehensive workers' compensation reforms were signed into law Tuesday. Governor Pat Quinn signed House Bill 1698, which was sponsored by Senator Kwame Raoul (D--Chicago). These reforms will save Illinois businesses more than $500 million by addressing systemic abuses, while ensuring that legitimately injured workers can still file and receive their claims.

Governor Quinn, Senator Raoul, State Representative John Bradley (D-Marion), former Illinois Insurance Director Michael McRaith, and other state officials and business owners will visit four major Illinois businesses Tuesday. Visits include Navistar in Melrose Park, Ingersoll in Rockford, Kraft in Champaign and Aisin in Marion. These businesses and others across Illinois will benefit from these Workers' Comp reforms.

"As we continue to look for ways to improve economic conditions in our state, this is major reform for Illinois," Raoul said. "This law is a clear sign that we want to improve our business climate. There have been serious abuses of our state's workers' compensation system and we had to take action to correct these abuses. With this law in place, employers will be held to a fair standard of accountability and employees that have valid claims will still be protected."

Highlights of House Bill 1698

Reduces the medical fee schedule by 30% (Illinois has nation's 2nd highest fee schedule).
Strikes a reasonable compromise by allowing workers to choose their own doctors while preventing them from "doctor shopping". Also allows employers to create networks of doctors to choose from, much like a health insurance network.
Requires doctors to follow American Medical Association (AMA) guidelines for determining levels of disability, and creates a list of criteria that the Workers' Compensation Commission must consider when making final disability determinations.
Caps carpal tunnel awards.
Makes it easier for employers to deny claims for accidents resulting from intoxication.
Increases penalties for workers' compensation fraud and allows for anonymous reports of fraud.

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News & Politics

Tags:

• Work
• Comp
• Reform
• Bill
• Signing