Worker's Compensation in Indiana to Undergo Changes in July

The recently concluded session of the Indiana General Assembly enacted several changes to Indiana's Worker's Compensation Act that will go into effect on July 1, 2011. Included in these are:
• All members of the Indiana Worker's Compensation Board must now be attorneys licensed to practice in Indiana
• Mediation may be used by the Board as a means of resolving claims
• Employers may be required to provide proof of insurance for worker's compensation and occupational disease claims and can be fined for failing to do so
• Criminal penalties and fines are increased for employer's failure to insure or provide adequate security for worker's compensation and occupational disease liabilities and for violating other worker's compensation or occupational disease-related laws
• There is a two (2) year deadline for the filing of medical provider claims