FL S1580

Creates the Workers' Compensation Cost Task Force composed of 17 members including the Chief Financial Officer (as chair), legislators, hospital representatives, business owners, insurance company representatives, and the Insurance Consumer Advocate, with the Department of Financial Services providing administrative support.

Task force shall organize by July 1, 2014, and analyze workers' compensation costs including review of the Three-Member Panel 2013 Biennial Report, with focus on developing recommendations for a new hospital payment methodology that rewards efficiency, quality, and outcomes.

Task force must address factors affecting workers' compensation costs including service volume, accident and claim numbers, fraud, cost per claim, and tort costs, submitting findings and legislative recommendations to the Governor and Legislature by January 15, 2015.

Office of Insurance Regulation, in consultation with the task force, shall prepare a report by September 1, 2014, examining negotiated workers' compensation premium provisions in retrospective rating plans compared to neighboring states and potential savings for Florida employers with multi-state exposure.

Task force expires and subsection is repealed on June 30, 2015; task force members serve without compensation but receive reimbursement for per diem and travel expenses.