Sen. Andrew Chesney

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Provides that, when a bond is required because a party against whom the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission rendered an award for the payment of money seeks judicial review of the award, the bond requirement may be satisfied by posting collateral or guarantee of payment, which may include an insurance policy, a certificate of self-insurance, or funds in an escrow account. Effective immediately.

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Requires a recipient of certain pain management medication to sign a written agreement with the prescribing physician agreeing to comply with the conditions of the prescription. Prohibits additional prescriptions while the recipient is noncompliant. Limits the applicability of the lack of pain management as a consideration in awarding benefits. Provides for the disclosure of violations of the agreement upon request by the employer. Requires a prescribing physician to file quarterly reports to obtain payment. Effective immediately.

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Provides that for purposes of computing compensation for an employee who had a prior compensated injury to the spine, the prior compensation shall be deducted from compensation awarded for a subsequent injury to the same part of the spine. Effective immediately.

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act in relation to permanent partial disability. Provides that if an impairment report exists, it must be considered by the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission in its determination of the level of permanent partial disability. Provides that in determining the level of permanent partial disability, the Commission shall base its determination on the level of impairment reported and shall consider specified factors. Provides that the relevance and weight of factors used in addition to the level of impairment as reported by a physician must be explained in a written order. Provides that an impairment report is not required for the arbitrator or Commission to approve a Settlement Contract Lump Sum Petition.

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Makes changes to the compensation periods for accidental injuries resulting in the loss of or the permanent and complete loss of use of the thumb, fingers, or toes; the amputation of an arm, foot, or leg; the enucleation of an eye; and other injuries to reduce the compensation to the amounts in effect for injuries occurring before February 1, 2006. Effective immediately.

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Provides that, in computing the compensation to be paid to an employee who, before the accident for which the employee claims compensation, had before that time sustained an injury resulting in a permanency award or settlement, the award or settlement shall be deducted from any award made for the subsequent injury. Provides that, if an employee received an award or settlement for a shoulder injury between 2012 and the effective date of the amendatory Act, then the award or settlement shall be converted to the appropriate number of weeks for an arm and the credit taken against any award or settlement shall be taken on the arm. Effective immediately.

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act in relation to custom compound medications. Sets forth conditions for approval of payment. Provides that charges shall be based upon the specific amount of each component drug and its original manufacturer's National Drug Code number and also upon specified criteria. Provides that a provider may prescribe a one-time 7-day supply unless a prescription for more than 7 days is preauthorized by the employer. Effective immediately.

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act concerning injuries sustained by employees during travel. Provides that accidental injuries sustained while traveling to or from work do not arise out of and in the course of employment, except under specified circumstances. Provides that the injury may arise out of and in the course of employment if, at the time of the injury, the employee was performing acts the employer instructed the employee to perform, acts that the employee had a common law or statutory duty to perform while performing duties for his employer, or acts that the employee might be reasonably expected to perform incident to his assigned duties. Effective immediately.

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Provides that an injury arises out of and in the course of employment only if the accident significantly caused or contributed to both the resulting condition and the disability. Provides that an injury does not arise out of and in the course of employment if (1) the hazard or risk was not incidental to employment and was a hazard or risk to which the general public is also exposed, (2) the injury did not occur at a time and place and under circumstances reasonably required by the employment, or (3) the disability resulted from a personal risk. Limits conditions under which repetitive or cumulative trauma is compensable. Provides that gradual deterioration or progressive degeneration of the body caused by aging is not compensable as repetitive or cumulative trauma. Effective immediately.

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Provides that for purposes of awarding compensation for injuries, an injury to the shoulder shall be considered an injury to a part of the arm and an injury to the hip shall be considered an injury to a part of the leg. Effective immediately.