Luisiana Legislature Passes Workers Comp. Bill

The Louisiana legislature has passed a new law requiring timely medical treatment for injured workers.

S.B. 303, written by Sen. Neil Riser (R-Columbia), is intended to establish and enforce medical treatment schedules to ensure workers receive timely and effective treatment following an injury.

The bill requires medical treatment to be in line with the principles of evidence-based medicine. The Louisiana Office of Workers Compensation Administration must also establish a medical treatment schedule, which must be formally adopted by September 30, 2010.

Under the terms of the bill, the workers compensation director would be responsible for appointing a medical advisory committee, and have the authority to contract with a medical director to oversee the implementation and development of biannual reviews of the treatment schedules.

The bill was passed unanimously by both the Louisiana House and Senate.  Governor Bobby Jindal is expected to sign the bill into law.

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