MN HF158

Reinsurance association members shall be reimbursed for COVID-19 workers' compensation claims with dates of injury from April 8, 2020, to May 1, 2021, with losses aggregated toward the member's retention limit.

Losses already reimbursed from the federal CARES Act coronavirus relief fund or other government or third-party sources are excluded from reimbursement by the Workers' Compensation Reinsurance Association.

Employers may deduct additional COVID-19 paid leave from temporary total or temporary partial disability benefits, provided the employee's net payment remains at least equal to what they would have received in disability benefits alone.

Additional COVID-19 paid leave cannot reduce or adversely affect an employee's regular paid leave program, and employers must make appropriate payroll and tax adjustments and report liability determinations within specified timeframes.

The deadline for the commissioner to recommend improvements to CAMPUS and the Office of Administrative Hearings case management system to the Workers' Compensation Advisory Council is extended from January 11, 2021, to January 17, 2022.