| April 29 | Workers' compensation in the Courts of Appeals is updated. | | April 27 | Members of the workers' compensation community are invited to attend a brief ceremony on Thursday, May 19, 2005, at 2:30 p.m. in the fourth floor lobby of the Workers' Compensation Commission at 10 East Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21202. The Maryland Workers' Compensation Educational Association (MWCEA) will unveil a new addition to the Alfred M. Porth Memorial Award (located in the lobby), dedicated to the Award's most recent recipient, the late Robert L. Humphreys, Jr. Members of Mr. Humphreys' family and of his law firm Herwig & Humphreys, will be in attendance. The Alfred M. Porth Memorial Award was established by the MWCEA in 2001 to honor select members of the workers' compensation community for outstanding commitment to the fair and honest administration of the Maryland workers' compensation system. The Award is named for Alfred M. Porth (1916-1992), with the law firm of Smith, Somerville & Case and one of the foremost practitioners of Maryland workers' compensation law. Prior recipients of the Award have been Mr. Porth and Martin E. Gerel of the law firm of Ashcraft & Gerel. | April 22
| ATTENTION ALL ATTORNEYS
When submitting forms to the Commission that contain a "certification of service" to all parties, either electronically (via WFMS Online Services WebForms) or hardcopy, you are by signature certifying that you have mailed a hard copy of the form to all parties in the claim. It is the responsibility of the filing party to provide a hard copy to all parties when indicated by the WCC form directions.
Neither the WFMS Online Services nor the Commission will provide service of such forms to other parties in a claim. | April 20 | Important Notice to Carriers & Self-insured Employers: NOTE THIS POLICY HAS BEEN REVISED MAY 2005- See MAY 2005 Notices. The Commission has recently made changes to its docketing system in order to provide hearing notices as quickly as possible. After issues are filed, a hearing notice will be generated on the day that the case is put in line. Claims involving priority one and two issues ( #' 1-2-3-4-6-7-8-10-16 & 17) will be set beginning 45 days from the issue filing date; and cases involving priority three issues (# 5-9-11-12-13-14 & 15) will be set beginning 62 days from the issue filing date. When a hearing notice is received, it is important for carriers and self-insured employers to apprise their attorney of this hearing date if the attorney's appearance has not yet been entered. In any event, upon entering his/her appearance, an attorney has the responsibility to check the Commission's file (via WFMS or IVR) to see if a hearing date has been scheduled. The Commission has taken other steps to streamline the process so that attorneys have as much notice as possible of the case. The continuance policy that was in effect under the previous docketing system will be modified as follows: Requests for a continuance within 20 days of the hearing date will only be approved under exigent circumstances. Requests for a continuance outside of 20 days of the hearing date will only be granted for just cause. With the implementation of this new change, the Commission will no longer be sending out a "notice of issues filed" letter. | Procedures for Requesting an Interpreter: Effective February 1, 2005, parties requesting interpreter support for a hearing receive a reservation number by telephone within one business day of their request. The requesting party or representative must provide this reservation number at the time of the hearing for interpreter services. If the requesting party does not have the reservation number at the time of the hearing, an interpreter cannot be provided. If the hearing is continued, the reservation is cancelled. When the continued hearing is rescheduled, the requesting party must obtain a new reservation number following the same procedure presented on the 'Interpreter/LEP' page.
CLICK HERE FOR THE PAGE. |
| | April 15 | On February 24, 2005, the Workers' Compensation Commission proposed amendments to Regulation .05 under COMAR 14.09.06 ( Local Office Requirements) and Regulation .23 under COMAR 14.09.01 (Procedural Regulations). This action was taken at a public meeting, notice of which was given by publication, pursuant to State Government Article 10-506, Annotated Code of Maryland. The proposed regulations will be published in the April 15, 2005 issue of the Maryland Register.
See Adjudication Claims >
Regulatory Changes for more detail. | | April 1 | On December 9, 2004, the Workers' Compensation Commission adopted amendments to Regulations under 14.09.06. This action was proposed for adoption in 32:2 Md. R. 176 ( January 21, 2005). This Regulation was adopted as proposed at an open meeting on March 10, 2005 and will be effective April 11, 2005.
On December 9, 2004, the Workers' Compensation Commission adopted amendments to Regulations under 14.09.01. This action, was proposed for adoption in 32:2 Md. R. 175 ( January 21, 2005). This Regulation was adopted as proposed at an open meeting on March 10, 2005 and will be effective April 11, 2005.
On November 18, 2004, the Workers' Compensation Commission adopted amendments to Regulation .08 under COMAR 14.09.10 (Individual Employer Self-Insurer). . This action was proposed in 32:1 Md. R. 62 (January 7, 2005). This Regulation was adopted as proposed at an open meeting on March 10, 2005 and will be effective April 11, 2005.
See Adjudication Claims > Regulatory Changes for more detail. |
|
