Texas Department of Insurancewww.tdi.state.tx.us - Consumer Helpline 1-800-252-3439
Workers' Compensation Reform - House Bill 779th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2005Employees | Employers | Health Care Providers | Carriers / Insurers
2006 DWC Strategic Management Plan [PDF]
House Bill 7 Implementation Update (October 2006) [PDF] Workers' Comp Network Rules Adopted | PDF Version Health Care Networks: A New Approach for Workers' Compensation Division of Workers' Compensation Begins at TDI September 1, 2005 The 79th Texas Legislature enacted workers' compensation reform through House Bill 7, signed by Governor Perry on June 1, 2005 with key provisions effective September 1, 2005. The bill addresses specific problems in the Texas workers' comp system, namely, high medical costs, poor return-to-work outcomes, and the structure of the state agency charged with administering the system. HB 7 transfers the functions of the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission (TWCC) to the newly created Division of Workers' Compensation at the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), effective September 1, 2005. In addition, HB 7 creates a new state agency, the Office of Injured Employee Counsel (OIEC), to provide assistance to injured employees and administer an ombudsman program, effective September 1, 2005. We are committed to making sure that the reforms are successful, and that the transition is as smooth as possible. We appreciate your patience as the transition teams work to make the legislative intention a reality. Information will be posted to this website as it becomes available. From an administrative standpoint, we are striving to make the necessary internal adjustments while keeping the external interruptions to a minimum. Services to system participants will continue. At this time, it is expected that the Division of Workers' Compensation and the newly created Office of Injured Employee Counsel will remain at the current TWCC locations. Both the full text of HB 7 and a detailed bill summary [PDF Version] are available online, as is a time line for the various statutory deadlines pertaining to its implementation. Following is specific information for employees, employers and health care providers.
TDI Bulletins On Implementation of HB7 Workers' Compensation Reform
TDI Corrects Erroneous Information Regarding NetworksA press release issued by Comprehensive Network Solutions, Inc. (CNS) on August 9, 2005 contained several factual errors and has been retracted. In the release CNS stated that it had been certified as a workers' compensation network by the commissioner of workers' compensation. This is incorrect. The workers' compensation commissioner, a new position, has yet to be named by the Governor, and TDI has not yet issued network certification requirements. As required by House Bill 7, the agency will not begin accepting applications for network certification until January 1, 2006.
For more information: For general questions about workers' compensation, check the Division of Workers' Compensation web pages at www.tdi.state.tx.us/wc/indexwc.html, telephone the Division of Workers' Compensation toll-free at 800-372-7713, or email WorkersCompCustomerServices@tdi.state.tx.us . Information about workers' compensation research or the newly authorized health care networks can be found on the TDI website at www.tdi.state.tx.us/wc/. Questions about networks can be sent to WCNET@tdi.state.tx.us . Other questions can be emailed to PIO@tdi.state.tx.us . After September 1, 2005, all workers' compensation questions can be directed to TDI. For more information contact: PIO@tdi.state.tx.us Last updated: 10/11/2007 |
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