Protz Fix, Uninsured Employer Bill Approved by Committees

With just a few voting days left in the session, two long-awaited bills that would have a significant impact on workers’ compensation costs and benefits appear to be gathering some steam. One is the long-awaited “Protz fix,” also known as HB 1840. On Tuesday, the Senate Labor and Industry Committee removed a provision that would have given insurers credit for benefits already paid, in case those claims are reopened. The hope is that without the nod to insurance carriers, Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, will be more likely to sign the measure. “The bigger question...