HB5546 Summary: Workers' Compensation Amendments

• Redefines "accident" and "injury" to require that the accident be the primary factor causing both the medical condition and disability, establishing higher causation standards for compensability.

• Establishes rebuttable presumptions that certain occupational diseases (bloodborne pathogens, respiratory diseases, heart conditions, cancer, etc.) suffered by firefighters, paramedics, and EMTs do not arise from employment unless the accident is the primary factor in causing the condition.

• Modifies intoxication defense by allowing employees to overcome the rebuttable presumption of intoxication as the proximate cause by proving intoxication was not the sole proximate cause (rather than not the "sole proximate cause or proximate cause").

• Abolishes certain notice and election provisions related to preferred provider programs and simplifies preferred provider program requirements under Section 8.1a.

• Limits prescription fees to the manufacturer's Average Wholesale Price plus a $4.18 dispensing fee for prescriptions filled outside licensed pharmacies.