Del. workers compensation panel meets

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) -- A state panel looking at soaring workers compensation rates in Delaware is considering a two-year freeze on inflation-based fee increases for medical providers.

The proposal is one of several the panel was to consider at its meeting Friday in Wilmington.

The task force also is looking at permitting payment of total disability benefits to injured workers for 90 days even if they perform light duty in the workplace. Task force members want to ensure that an employee's return to the workplace does not prejudice his or her workers compensation claim.

Another proposal is to replace a statutory formula for reimbursement of ambulatory surgical centers with a fee schedule-based reimbursement.

The panel was established to address a 26 percent increase in average workers compensation rates over the past two years.