On Thursday, the Senate Appropriations Committee heard testimony on House Bill 1153 (Workers’ Compensation), authored by Rep. Matt Lehman (R-Berne) and sponsored by Sen. Phil Boots (R-Crawfordsville). This measure has been discussed for several years. The bill increases workers’ comp benefits by 3% each year for four years, beginning on July 1, 2022. The bill also adds an ambulatory outpatient surgical (ASC) center to the definition of “medical service facility” under the workers’ compensation law. Including ASCs under that definition caps their reimbursement for workers’ comp at 200% of Medicare.
The Chamber, Indiana Manufacturers Association and the Insurance Institute of Indiana testified in favor of the bill. Putting ASCs under the definition of “medical service facility” has been attempted for several years. The ASCs testified that they would like to see their rates paired with hospital rates.
The committee chairman, Sen. Ryan Mishler (R-Bremen), had intended to prepare an amendment that would have removed “not to exceed” language (at the request of the hospitals) related to 200% of Medicare, but the amendment was drafted incorrectly. Mishler indicated that he would be offering an amendment on second reading to remove that language and move the effective date to coincide with next year’s budget.
Though not likely to succeed, labor groups, along with Senate Democrats, will be attempting to raise the benefits for workers more than the current bill allows.
The measure passed the committee unanimously and now goes to the Senate floor for second reading.
Resource: Mike Ripley at (317) 264-6883 or email: mripley@indianachamber.com
