Commissioner's Bulletin # B-0010-20

The record

Jurisdiction

Texas; Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation · Texas

Level

Sector regulator

Authority

Tex. Labor Code § 402.00111; § 408.0272(b)(2)

Issued

2020-03-25 Mar. 25, 2020

Effective

2020-03-25

End

Exam suspension lifted June 4, 2020 (B-0030-20); 90-day pharmacy requirement and billing tolling lifted effective March 1, 2021 (B-0004-21, Ex. 020) (read as 2020-06-04)

In force

Mar. 25, 2020 to June 4, 2020

Quarters

2020 Q22020 Q32020 Q42021 Q1

2020 Q22020 Q32020 Q42021 Q12021 Q22021 Q3

Limitation types

Health care ordersOther

Addressees

• all Texas workers' compensation system participants (carriers, employers, health care providers, injured employees)

Functions reached

• IN workers' compensation carriers (claims, pharmacy authorization, examinations)
• CB employers and injured employees in every industry
• PR designated-doctor and required medical examinations suspended (industry 02 examiners)

Collection

State insurance and banking regulators AGY-ST-INSURANCE-BANKING

Operative words

This bulletin shall be in effect for the duration of the governor's COVID-19 declaration, or until further notice from DWC. Workers' compensation insurance carrier operations: Workers' compensation insurance carriers must continue or begin: providing timely claims adjusting services; processing and delivering indemnity benefits and medical payments in a timely manner; and authorizing payments to pharmacies up to a 90-day supply for any prescription medication... Suspension of exams:... Any RME, DD, or referral exams ordered and scheduled on or before the date of this bulletin are now suspended and should not occur until further notice from DWC. Tolling of medical billing deadlines: Failure to submit a timely medical bill will be deemed an exception due to a catastrophic event under Labor Code Section 408.0272(b)(2).

Enforcement