Signed by Governor Tom Wolf

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends worker's compensation law.

Highlights:

• Requires that an employee who has received total disability compensation for a period of 104 weeks submit a medical examination from a licensed physician to the insurer within 60 days of request to determine degree and extent of their impairment (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the insurer may request the employee submit their medical examination to a second independent licensed physician certified by the American Medical Association and prohibits any further medical examination requests from the insurer (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that in no event shall the total number of weeks for partial disability compensation exceed 500 weeks for any injury (Sec. 1).

• Amends the threshold impairment rating given to an employee by a licensed physician to receive total disability compensation from 50 to 35 percent impairment (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that an employee who has received a licensed a threshold impairment rating less than 35 percent may be eligible to receive partial disability benefits (Sec. 1)

• Defines “impairment” as an anatomic or functional abnormality or loss that results from an compensable injury and is reasonably presumed to be permanent (Sec. 1).

• Defines “impairment rating” as the percentage of permanent impairment found in an employee’s whole body that is a result of the compensable injury (Sec. 1).

• Increases the compensation amount paid by an employer or insurer in the case of an employee’s death from $3,000 to $7,000, which will be used to cover burial costs (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text