Senate Passes Prepaid Card Benefit Payment Bill

The California Senate unanimously voted to pass a bill that would allow workers’ compensation carriers to continue paying indemnity benefits using prepaid card accounts through Jan. 1, 2024. The Senate on Thursday voted 37-0 to send AB 2148, by Assemblywoman Lisa Calderon, D-Whittier, to the governor. The Assembly voted 65-0 to pass the bill May 12. State lawmakers in 2018 allowed carriers to use prepaid card accounts to deliver wage-loss benefits to injured workers through the end of 2022. The 2018 measure also directed the Commission on Health and Safety and Workers’ Compensati...