Effective as of April 10, 2017 the 2017-2018 executive budget (Part NNN of Chapter 59, Laws of 2017) was passed by the New York State Senate. Included are workers’ compensation reforms meant to create savings for employers while providing better protection for injured workers. Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) The 2017-2018 Executive Budget amends Workers’ Compensation Law (WCL) § 15(3)(w) in order to provide credit for periods of temporary disability extending past the 130 weeks ( 2.5 years) from the date of injury. This amendment applies to accidents resulting in injury or disability dating after April 9, 2017. Permanent Impairment Guidelines As of January 1, 2018 the Chair of the Workers’ Compensation Board will adopt new Permanent Impairment Guidelines. Incorporated into these guidelines are advances in medicine which will give better healing results to injured workers for use during evaluations and determinations for scheduled loss use awards. First Responder Stress Claims Those who are classified as First Responders (police officers, firefighters, EMTs, Paramedics, certified emergency medical providers, emergency dispatchers) who encounter high-level stress due to their line of work will not be barred from compensable work-related stress claims. The above are only a few of the amendments made to the 2017-2018 executive budget, for further information please visit our legal resources . At Erwin, McCane & Daly, your case is a serious commitment and we are dedicated to staying informed of the laws which impact your workers’ compensation case. Allow us the opportunity to represent you in your workers’ compensation case, contact our office today.
Workers’ Compensation Reform Changes You Need to Know for 2017
