Tennessee Governor Signs Into Law State Workers’ Compensation Overhaul

RALEIGH, N.C.—Tennessee’s workers’ compensation system will be substantially overhauled under a measure (S.B. 200) recently signed into law by Gov. Bill Haslam (R).

Under the new law, assigned Public Act No. 2013-289, an administrative procedure will replace the current judicial oversight of the claims process. The law creates a new state agency to handle disputed cases, whose head will be appointed by the governor.

Among other changes, the new law places additional restrictions on the types of compensable injuries, changes the procedure for calculating compensation, establishes medical treatment guidelines, and creates an ombudsman program to provide workers and ...