On June 16, 2020, Governor DeWine of Ohio signed House Bill 81. With this bill, several changes will be brought to the Ohio Workers’ Compensation System. This will include the following:
- Reduces the statute of limitations for filing an application for violation of specific safety requirements to one year from the date of injury or occupational disease.
- Creates a statutorily recognized voluntary abandonment defense to temporary total disability claims which supersedes any pre-existing judicial decisions on the issue. The new code states: “If an employee is not working or has suffered a wage loss as the direct result of reasons unrelated to the allowed injury or occupational disease, the employee is not eligible to receive compensation under this section.”
- Settlement of state fund claims can no longer be objected to by the state fund employer if both of the following apply: the employee is no longer employed with the employer and the claim is no longer within the date of impact for the employer’s experience rating
- In certain circumstances, enlarges the time period from 6- days to 150 days for filing judicial level appeals under Ohio Revised Code 4123.512 for claims pending on or arising after September 29, 2017.
- Increases the maximum amount of reimbursable funeral expenses in death claims from $5500 to $7500
- The Industrial Commission may now invoke continuing jurisdiction from within five years from the date medical services were provided or services rendered without further requirement that the medical services were paid under the claim
The new Workers’ Compensation changes for the state of Ohio will go into effect on September 14, 2020.
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If you have become the victim of an on the job injury, it may be beneficial to speak with an attorney and the doctor that is treating you to determine how to make the process as easy as possible. AllianceMeds understands that a workplace accident can be challenging and is here to help. We will deliver your medication to your door using overnight delivery and cover any out of pocket expenses that may arise. If you have any questions about how we can help, contact AllianceMeds today.