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Committee advances workers’ compensation changes including broader fee schedule and higher dependent allowance
Summary
The Senate Commerce Committee returned SB 15 51 with a due-pass recommendation after the committee approved an amendment that broadens the workers' compensation fee schedule categories and increases the monthly dependent allowance for temporary total disability from $25 to $100.
The Senate Commerce Committee gave a due-pass recommendation to Senate Bill 15 51 after testimony from insurers and injured-worker representatives supporting the measure.
SB 15 51 revises the workers' compensation fee schedule framework to associate fee schedules with charges for medical care, dental care and supplies received by injured employees rather than listing charges by specific provider types. The bill instructs the Industrial Commission of Arizona (ICA) to publish the schedule on its website (rather than republishing the entire schedule in the administrative register) and exempts the schedule from the administrative-register publication requirement. The bill also increases the monthly dependent allowance paid in addition to compensation for temporary total disability from $25 to $100; supporters said the $25 figure dates to 1991 and is long overdue for adjustment.
Emily Rice of BFree Strategies testified for the Arizona Self Insurers Association in support and said stakeholders had coordinated with the ICA on implementation details, including adding third-party administrators to the definition of interested parties for ICA portal access. Michael Monti, representing the Arizona Association of Lawyers for Injured Workers, also urged support, specifically noting the dependent allowance increase.
Committee members heard that ICA interprets provider categories broadly and that the intent of the statutory change is not to exclude physicians, therapists, or other providers from the fee schedule but to broaden categories to reflect current billing and care practices. The committee adopted a 10-page chairman's amendment and returned the bill as amended with a due-pass recommendation; roll-call recorded 9 ayes and 1 nay.
Supporters said the bill modernizes a technical regulatory component and modestly improves benefits for dependents of temporarily disabled workers; ICA staff indicated they had participated in stakeholder discussions.
