Whole lotta changes going on at the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission.
Editor’s Comment: We didn’t think new Chairman Gerry Jutila would be very active but there is lots of new stuff. One of the best things may be reining in the gaps in the Illinois medical fee schedule.
First, the 2009 Arbitration calendar has been posted with lots of Arbitrator reassignments included. It is our understanding there is a push to limit mileage expense among the Arbitrators. We applaud that effort. The 2009 arbitration calendar is on the web at http://www.iwcc.il.gov/calendars.htm.
As Chairman Jutila will not longer be handling claims, Arbitrator Bob Lammie will handle Arbitrator/Chairman-designee Jutila’s cases for the rest of 2008; in 2009, Arbitrator Greg Dollison will take over Chairman Jutila’s call. At that time, Arbitrator Lammie will return to handling pro se settlements, status calls, and vacation trial dockets.
The following Arbitrator assignment changes take effect January 1, 2009:
- Arbitrator Peter Akemann will handle 3/4th of Rockford cases;
- Arbitrator George Andros will handle DeKalb, 1/4th of Rockford cases, and 1/4th of Waukegan cases;
- Arbitrator John Dibble will handle Whittington/Herrin;
- Arbitrator Anthony Erbacci will handle 1/3rd of Wheaton cases and Woodstock;
- Arbitrator Bob Falcioni will handle 2/3rd of Joliet cases;
- Arbitrator JoAnn Fratianni will handle 3/4th of Waukegan cases;
- Arbitrator James Giordano will handle Kankakee and Ottawa;
- Arbitrator Leo Hennessy will handle 1/4th of Geneva cases and 1/3rd of Joliet cases;
- Arbitrator Doug Holland will handle Clinton, Danville, Galesburg, Rock Falls, and Rock Island;
- Arbitrator Jackie Kinnaman will handle 3/4th of Geneva cases;
- Arbitrator Steve Mathis will handle Peoria;
- Arbitrator Andy Nalefski will handle Collinsville and Lawrenceville;
- Arbitrator Neva Neal will handle Carlinville, Decatur, and Urbana;
- Arbitrator Peter O’Malley will handle 2/3rd of Wheaton cases;
- Arbitrator Jennifer Teague will handle Belleville and Mt. Vernon;
- Arbitrator Jeff Tobin will handle Jacksonville, Quincy, and Springfield;
- Arbitrator Ruth White will handle Bloomington and Mattoon.
The Carlyle and Taylorville hearing sites have been eliminated and cases are being reassigned to nearby hearing sites.
Commissioners Dauphin and Rink will switch panels on January 1, 2009. Commissioner Rink will be assigned to Panel B and Commissioner Dauphin to Panel A.
Fee schedule gaps may be closed: On September 26, 2008, the Commission met and voted to adopt and submit the proposed changes to the fee schedule first voted on at the February 21, 2008 meeting. These changes create fee schedules for the following areas: ambulatory surgical treatment centers; hospital outpatient radiology, pathology and laboratory, physical medicine and rehabilitation services; hospital outpatient surgical facility services; and rehabilitation hospitals. The hated “76%” charge for these services may be ended. To view the proposed rules fees, instructions & guidelines, etc., go to
http://www.iwcc.il.gov/news.htm#fs. Please note the rules are not in effect yet. We will advise when they are implemented.
2009 medical fees will increase by 5.37% Section 8.2(a) of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act provides the rates in the Illinois workers’ compensation medical fee schedule will be increased by 5.37%, which is the increase in the Consumer Price Index-U for the relevant period. This increase will take effect for treatment on or after January 1, 2009.
