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New SAWWs effective 7/1/2020 for New Hampshire, Maine & Vermont; Reminder on MA DIA email submissions for Forms 105 and 113

| Jun 30, 2020

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Department of Labor

State Average Weekly Wage

effective July 1, 2020

The Department of Labor in the State of New Hampshire has announced new maximum and minimum weekly compensation rates effective July 1, 2020

The new maximum weekly compensation rate will be one thousand six hundred eighty-six dollars ($1,686.00). In order for an injured employee to receive the maximum benefit, the employee must have an average weekly wage as determined by RSA 281-A: 15, in the amount of $2,810.00 or more.

The new minimum weekly compensation rate will be three hundred thirty-seven dollars and twenty cents ($337.20) effective July 1, 2020. Minimum weekly compensation is 30% of the State’s Average Weekly Wage for injuries after 2/8/94.

The full announcement may be found here
..

MAINE

Workers’ Compensation Board

State Average Weekly Wage

effective July 1, 2020

The Workers’ Compensation Board in the State of Maine has announced new maximum and minimum weekly compensation rates effective July 1, 2020

The new State Average Weekly Wage (SAWW) as of July 1, 2020 is $889.34. The SAWW is the basis for calculating maximum benefits, annual adjustments and impairment awards.

The multiplier as of July 1, 2020 is 1.03799. This multiplier is obtained by dividing the new SAWW by the preceding year’s average weekly wage. There is no annual adjustment for injuries occurring on or after January 1, 1993. There is no adjustment for injuries occurring on or after November 20, 1987 during periods of partial incapacity.

The full announcement may be found here
.

VERMONT

Department of Labor

State Average Weekly Wage

effective July 1, 2020

The Department of Labor in the State of Vermont has announced new maximum and minimum weekly compensation rates effective July 1, 2020

The new maximum rate is $1,403 and the minimum rate is $468 (not including dependent’s benefits) for the year beginning July 1, 2020.

The full schedule may be found here
. .

MASSACHUSETTS

DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS

Effective July 1, 2020, the Massachusetts DIA will no longer accept either
Forms 105 (Agreement to Extend 180 Day Payment-Without-Prejudice)
or
Forms 113 (Agreement to Pay Compensation)

via US Mail. These forms can only be submitted via email commencing July 1, 2020.

All Forms 105 must be emailed to:

[email protected]

All Forms 113 must be emailed to:

[email protected]

Please include the DIA board number in the upper right corner of these forms before submitting.

Forms 105 or Forms 113
not
submitted via email will neither be reviewed nor considered for approval.

A full copy of the alert can be found
here
.

Massachusetts Attorney General’s office reaches settlement with Injured Workers Pharmacy (IWP) regarding opioid prescriptions in workers’ compensation cases

The Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General has agreed to an $11 million settlement with Injured Workers Pharmacy (IWP) in Andover MA regarding their alleged participation in procuring and shipping thousands of illegitimate opioid painkiller prescriptions to workers’ compensation recipients around the country.

A few noteworthy articles include:

An unsigned copy of the Consent Judgment filed in Suffolk Superior Court may be found
here
.

WE ARE FULLY PREPARED TO REVIEW

OR DISCUSS ANY ISSUES INVOLVING

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

DURING THIS CRISIS.

FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US VIA

TELEPHONE, CELL PHONE OR EMAIL.