Louisiana employers are paying more in workers’ compensation benefits per claim than every state in the South and nearly every state in the country. High costs are driven by out-of-control indemnity payments. Data from the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) shows indemnity benefits in Louisiana are nearly double what is paid in other states.
HB 1101 delivers targeted, common-sense reforms to control excessive indemnity costs while preserving protections for injured workers. The bill lowers indemnity benefits by:
- Aligning benefit duration with other states by reducing the length of disability payments and reinforcing workers’ compensation as a temporary safety net.
- Restoring the meaning of “temporary” disability by limiting Temporary Total Disability (TTD) benefits to the earlier of maximum medical improvement or a statutory maximum of three years.
- Strengthening anti-fraud protections by reinforcing statutes that have been weakened over time and ensuring bad actors cannot exploit the system.
- Enhancing return-to-work outcomes by allowing certified vocational rehabilitation professionals to more effectively assist injured workers in returning to employment without unnecessary administrative barriers.
Contact members of the House Labor Committee and urge them to support HB 1101 to bring fairness, accountability and competitiveness back to Louisiana’s workers’ compensation system.