Legislative Efforts

The effect of government on a self-insured employer's workers' compensation program is the primary concern of ASIA.

It is ASIA's mission to represent and speak for the interests of our members while closely watching the making of laws and rules in Arizona.

ASIA employs a year-round lobbyist prepared to address issues which arise at a moment's notice that may negatively impact members. ASIA's Government Affairs Committee is comprised of representatives of some of the largest employers in Arizona.

ASIA'S SUCCESS

 

2025

  • ASIA’s SB1551 was signed by the Governor on 4/18/2025. This bill: 
    • Allowed dental services to be included in the State Fee Schedule
    • Increased the monthly dependent allowance from $25 per month to $100 per month (this is added to compensation benefits if they have a dependent)
    • Allowed the use of email for State forms to injured workers
    • Changed the definition of ‘interested party’ to include a third-party administration or authorized representative. This was significant to ASIA members- the Industrial Commission was resistant to allow TPA’s to handle specific functions on behalf of self-insured employers.
  • The Industrial Commission has established a new process for a specific form (Employers Report).This process would have involved SI employers to manually submit each individual form to their website- this would have involved a significant amount of time and possibly require hiring of staff. Members of ASIA met with the Industrial Commission in January and worked with them to develop an electronic transfer file process to avoid the staff intensive manual process.
  • ASIA was successful in modifying HB2222 to exclude workers’ compensation from the legislation. Although this bill failed, it would have required self-insured public entities to report settlements above $500,000 to the Governor and the Legislature and settlements above $1,000,000 to be approved by the Governor and Legislature. This bill is expected to return next year.
2024

  •  

    ASIA negotiated amendments on legislation permitting the use of MDMA treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder for first responders to ensure appropriate guidelines were in place to protect injured workers' health and safety and prevent abuses within the workers' compensation system.

  • ASIA supported the continuation of the Industrial Commission of Arizona from 2024 through 2033.
  • ASIA participated in the Industrial Commission of Arizona's rulemaking process in the fall of 2024, providing feedback and comments on the Commission's changes and proposing changes providing clarification in rules for self-insured employers.
2023
  • ASIA advocated for and supported efforts to establish a fraud division within the Industrial Commission of Arizona, focused specifically on workers’ compensation fraud. 
  • ASIA supported efforts in 2022 to modernize the injury reporting process for injuries that do not require medical treatment and revisions to the experience modification process to address medical-only loss.
  • ASIA engaged in efforts to increase transparency in the Industrial Commission of Arizona’s physician and pharmaceutical fee schedule.
  • ASIA advocated for and supported efforts to revise licensing requirements for workers’ compensation adjustors to remove testing requirements unrelated to workers’ compensation.
2022
  • ASIA advocated for and supported efforts to establish a fraud division within the Industrial Commission of Arizona, focused specifically on workers’ compensation fraud.

  • ASIA supported efforts in 2022 to modernize the injury reporting process for injuries that do not require medical treatment and revisions to the experience modification process to address medical-only loss.

  • ASIA engaged in efforts to increase transparency in the Industrial Commission of Arizona’s physician and pharmaceutical fee schedule.

  • ASIA advocated for and supported efforts to revise licensing requirements for workers’ compensation adjustors to remove testing requirements unrelated to workers’ compensation. 

Learn more about ASIA and join us at an upcoming meeting.