Lawmakers Kill Reform Bill Targeting Medical Costs

Alabama state lawmakers killed a reform bill that would have cut medical reimbursements, increased permanent partial disability benefits and raised attorney fees, because of opposition from medical providers.Senate Bill 453, by Sen. Del Marsh, R-Anniston, failed to get enough votes to clear the Alabama Senate Business and Labor Committee. A legislative staffer for the committee told WorkCompCentral on Tuesday that the bill is no longer active for the current session.The bill would have increased the payment period for nonscheduled permanent partial disability awards from 300 weeks to 400 weeks...