State of the States July 25, 2025

National – A federal appellate court upheld an award of benefits under the Black Lung Benefits Act to the widow of a coal miner who worked underground for 39 years. The court affirmed an administrative law judge’s (ALJ) decision that Silk’s death was caused by pneumoconiosis, a lung disease linked to coal dust exposure.   

The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) elected Jeanette Ward, President and CEO of Texas Mutual, to its 2025 Board of Directors, recognizing her leadership and contributions to the workers’ compensation industry. 

The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) and the Scaffold and Access Industry Association (SAIA) have signed a three-year alliance to enhance worker safety nationwide. Announced at the Safety 2025 Conference, the agreement focuses on advancing national safety standards, sharing best practices, and strengthening advocacy to reduce workplace injuries and fatalities.  

Connecticut – HB 7179 was enacted this week. As a reminder, HB 7179 requires pharmaceutical manufacturers and marketing firms to register annually and submit detailed reports on their marketing activities. It also authorizes the distribution of opioid antagonists through secure boxes and vending machines, under agreements with trained healthcare providers and certified pharmacists.

Florida – HB 1281 died in the Insurance & Banking Subcommittee this week. As a reminder, HB 1281 aimed to streamline workers’ compensation processes by revising the duties and responsibilities of the Department of Financial Services (DFS) and the Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

New Hampshire – HB 701 passed the second chamber. HB 701 aims to update New Hampshire’s “Right to Try” law for terminally ill patients by introducing telehealth screening and remote consent options. The bill also provides legal immunity to healthcare providers, pharmaceutical companies, and facilities under certain conditions.

Ohio – The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) reopened its Safety Grants Program for Fiscal Year 2026, offering over $41 million to help employers reduce workplace injuries. The program includes three key grants: the Safety Intervention Grant (SIG), the Firefighter Exposure to Environmental Elements Grant (FEEEG), and the School Safety and Security Grant (SSSG).

West Virginia – HB 2797 passed this week. As a reminder, HB 2797 specifies which medical professionals are authorized to diagnose post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a compensable injury or disease under workers’ compensation. The bill aims to ensure that only qualified and licensed professionals can make such diagnoses, maintaining the integrity of workers’ compensation claims.

Industry Watch 

Butterfly Wings and Workers’ Comp Laws: The Impact of Legislative Changes  

MyMatrixx (July 22) - In his latest piece, Adam Fowler, Director of Regulatory Affairs at MyMatrixx by Evernorth, explores how seemingly small legislative changes can ripple through the workers’ compensation system with significant impact—akin to the "butterfly effect." The article highlights the surge of state-level bills in 2025 affecting fee schedules, presumptive coverage, and pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) regulations. Fowler details how these proposals—like Maryland’s failed pharmacy fee schedule bill and Idaho’s approved cap on physician-dispensed medications—aim to control costs and redefine coverage. He emphasizes the importance of monitoring these developments, as they influence everything from provider reimbursement to access to care for injured workers. To read the full article, click here.   

MediScan Secures $1.4M to Bring “Prescription- Strength AI” Firepower to the Medical-Legal Frontline for $16B Medical Claims Market Healthcare IT News (July 22) - MediScan AI has secured $1.4 million in funding, led by Vertical AI investor Tidal Ventures, to tackle one of healthcare’s most overlooked bottlenecks — the medical evaluation process that determines the outcome of millions of insurance and legal claims annually. In an industry where medical experts are drowning in paperwork and turning away cases, MediScan’s AI platform has already demonstrated the ability to reduce evaluation time from weeks to minutes per case while improving accuracy. Check out the full article here.  

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