Sponsor Statement for CSHB 41 (L&C)
An Act Relating to Impairment Rating Guides Used in Evaluation of Certain Workers' Compensation Claims
CSHB 41 (L&C) provides that the most recently published edition of the American Medical Association Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment ("Guides") shall be used in determining eligibility for benefits under the Alaska Worker's Compensation Act. It provides that the Board shall begin using the new edition not later than 90 days after the last day of the month in which the new edition is published and that the Board, at an open meeting, will select a date within that time frame for use to begin.
Reasons for adopting this legislature are:
Decrease both the hard and soft costs of adopting regulations.
Fourth edition published June 1993; regulation approved in April 1996.
New edition published; older editions hard to come by.
Adopting the latest "state of medical arts".
This bill will not change the current process used but will make it more efficient and less costly. The vote on the House floor on this legislation was 38-0.
I would encourage your support of this legislation.
Ed3.1:2/6/97
Sponsor Statement for HB-41
An Act Relating to Impairment Rating Guides Used in Evaluation of Certain Workers' Compensation Claims
HB 41 provides that the most recently published edition of the American Medical Association Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment ("Guides") shall be used in determining eligibility for benefits under the Alaska Worker’s Compensation Act. It also provides that the Board shall begin using the new edition not later than 90 days after the date of publication. This bill passed the House in 1996 but did not make it through the Senate before the adjournment deadline.
Reasons for adopting this legislature are:
Decrease both the hard and soft costs of adopting regulations.
Fourth edition published June 1993; regulation approved in April 1996.
New edition published; older editions hard to come by.
Adopting the latest "state of medical arts".
This bill will not change the current process used but will make it more efficient and less costly.
I would appreciate your support of this legislation.