Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation–Recent Enforcement Actions in Texas Workers’ Compensation Law

AUSTIN, TX — Commissioner of Workers’ Compensation, Ryan Brannan, recently announced final disciplinary actions taken by the Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC).

The final actions include administrative penalties ordered against insurance carriers and health care providers in the workers’ compensation system. Beginning January 1, 2015, through May 31, 2015, the Commissioner of Workers’ Compensation has ordered administrative penalties totaling $803,500 for system participants. The penalties include $588,300 in fines ordered for insurance carriers, $169,700 in fines ordered for health care providers, and $45,500 in fines ordered for other entities.

Violations of the Texas Labor Code by insurance carriers cited in recent orders include failure to accurately and timely pay benefits ordered to an injured employee, failure to accurately and timely notify DWC of termination of benefits, and failure to pay benefits in accordance with a designated doctor examination. Violations cited in orders naming health care providers include improper billing of medical services to an injured employee; issuing improper, unreasonable, or medically unnecessary treatment or medical services to an injured employee; and failure to timely file and/or accurately complete DWC forms, reports, or records. Violations cited in orders naming other entities include failure to timely respond to DWC when ordered to produce requested documents.

Summaries of disciplinary actions are available on the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) website at:https://wwwapps.tdi.state.tx.us/inter/asproot/commish/da/dwcclips2015.asp.

Specific order summaries also can be viewed by searching by the subject of the order here:
http://www.tdi.texas.gov/commish/actions.html.

Copies of Commissioner of Workers’ Compensation orders also may be obtained by calling Maria Jimenez, DWC Enforcement, at (512) 804-4703 or via e-mail to Maria.Jimenez@tdi.texas.gov.

 

For more information contact: MediaRelations@tdi.texas.gov

 

 

Williams, McClure & Parmelee is dedicated to high quality legal representation of businesses and insurance companies in a variety of matters. We are experienced Texas civil litigation attorneys based in Fort Worth who know Texas courts and Texas law. For more information, please contact the law firm at 817-335-8800. The firm’s new office location is 5601 Bridge Street, Suite 300, Fort Worth, Texas 76112.

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