Rule Chapter 69L-24, F.A.C., is being amended to concurrently repeal and replace all existing rules with new rules which have been restructured and renumbered to promote clarity regarding the establishment of uniform guidelines under which the ...

 

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES
Division of Worker's Compensation

RULE NO: RULE TITLE
69L-24.001: Purpose
69L-24.002: Scope
69L-24.003: Definitions
69L-24.004: Monitoring, Examining and Investigating
69L-24.005: Maintaining and Providig Records
69L-24.006: Administrative Penalties and Fines
69L-24.007: Patterns and Practices
69L-24.021: Minimum Performance Standards
69L-24.0211: Monitoring
69L-24.022: Auditing
69L-24.0222: Re-Audit and Certification for Noncompliance
69L-24.0231: Benefits and Administration Trust Fund Penalties Improper Filing Practices
69L-24.024: Medical Penalties
69L-24.0241: Employee Failure to Appear for Independent Medical Examination
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: Rule Chapter 69L-24, F.A.C., is being amended to concurrently repeal and replace all existing rules with new rules which have been restructured and renumbered to promote clarity regarding the establishment of uniform guidelines under which the Department of Financial Services, Division of Workers’ Compensation will monitor, audit and investigate regulated entities to ensure compliance with statutory obligations under Chapter 440, Florida Statutes. The proposed rules provide guidance to regulated entities regarding requirements to provide timely payment of workers’ compensation benefits to injured workers, to timely pay medical bills to providers, and to timely report workers’ compensation data to the Department. Regulated entities include but are not limited to insurers, service companies, third-party administrators, self-serviced self-insured employers or funds, managing general agents, and data submitters that are responsible for adjusting workers’ compensation claims or submitting information and data regarding those claims to the Department. The purpose and effect is also to establish uniform guidelines to penalize regulated entities for failure to provide timely payment of workers’ compensation benefits to injured workers, for failure to timely pay medical bills to providers, and for failure to timely report workers’ compensation information or data to the Department, based on findings made during the process of monitoring, auditing and investigating those regulated entities.
SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED: Repeal of all existing rules in Rule Chapter 69L-24, F.A.C., and replacement of those rules with new rules which establish guidelines to monitor, audit and investigate regulated entities for compliance with the requirements of Chapter 440, Florida Statutes, regarding timely payment of benefits to injured workers, timely payment of medical bills, and timely reporting of data to the Department, and establish penalty guidelines for assessment of penalties for failure to comply with the statutory requirements.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 440.13(11), 440.185(10), 440.20(6), 440.525(4), 440.591, 440.593(5) FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 440.13(11), 440.185, 440.20(6), (8), 440.525, 440.593 FS.

IF REQUESTED IN WRITING AND NOT DEEMED UNNECESSARY BY THE AGENCY HEAD, A SECOND RULE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:

DATE AND TIME: Wednesday, April 15, 2009, 10:00 a.m.

PLACE: 104 J Hartman Bldg., 2012 Capital Circle S.E., Tallahassee, Florida

Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 5 days before the workshop/meeting by contacting: Robin Ippolito, [phone] or [e-mail]. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT AND A COPY OF THE PRELIMINARY DRAFT, IF AVAILABLE, IS: Robin Ippolito, Bureau Chief, Bureau of Monitoring and Audit, Division of Workers’ Compensation, Department of Financial Services, 200 East Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-4224, [phone]

THE PRELIMINARY TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT IS AVAILABLE ON THE DEPARTMENT’S DIVISION OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION WEBSITE AT: http://www.fldfs.com/wc/.

THE PRELIMINARY TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT IS AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE FROM THE CONTACT PERSON LISTED ABOVE.