Judge Asks Sides in Texas Stop-Loss Case to File Briefs

Briefs are due Oct. 5 in the Travis County district court lawsuit over interpretation of the stop-loss provision in the Texas Division of Workers' Compensation hospital fee guideline. Travis County 353rd District Court Judge Margaret Cooper heard two days of arguments and testimony in the lawsuit Sept. 4 and 5. The dispute involves millions of dollars in charges billed by hospitals for treating injured workers under the guideline, which was adopted in 1997 by the former Texas Workers' Compensation Commission. The commission was replaced in 2005 by the Division of Workers' Compensation. ...