Bill No.: SF0032                  Drafter:  JWL

 

LSO No.:  12LSO-0152              Effective Date:  July 1, 2012

 

Enrolled Act No.:  SEA0019

 

Chapter No.:       CH0048

 

Prime Sponsor:     Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Interim Committee

 

Catch Title:       Workers' compensation amendments.

 

Subject:           Workers' compensation immunity for medical advisers.

 

Summary/Major Elements:  The Workers' Compensation Medical Commission conducts medically contested cases and advises the Division on medical issues.  The Division also uses the services of contract medical advisers to review medical claims and medical utilization issues.  This act:

 

·  Provides that medical commission members and medical advisers are considered public employees for purposes of the Wyoming Governmental Claims Act, which provides tort immunity and indemnity by the state;

 

·  Elects federal tort protection for medical commission members and medical advisers, as authorized for health care professional review bodies by the federal Health Care Quality Improvement Act of 1986;

 

·  Requires medical commission members, medical advisers and the division to report suspected substandard or inappropriate health care to the appropriate professional licensing board.