Justices: Work Comp Board Can't Suspend Benefits

The Workers' Compensation Board does not have the authority to suspend a claimant's benefits for missing physical therapy sessions, the Oregon Supreme Court ruled. The high court held that the power to suspend benefits for failure to participate in the recovery process was explicitly given to the director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services. "Finally, because the Legislature did not provide suspension authority to the board in ORS 656.278 (1999), any rule permitting the board to suspend temporary disability benefits in that context is not 'reasonably required' in the pe...