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LANSING — Citing the importance of workers’ compensation costs to the dynamics of competing in today’s global economy, the Michigan Manufacturers Association (MMA) praised legislative efforts to revise Michigan’s 100-year-old Workers’ Compensation Act.

The proposed revisions would codify current case law to establish stability in workers’ compensation law and modernize the statute to recognize modern medical developments and economic conditions, the organization said in a release.

Officials said HB 5002 should provide companies and injured workers a clearer and more efficient system relying less on interpretations and more on statutory legal principles. “MMA believes the revisions to the Workers’ Compensation Act included in HB 5002 will provide stability and consistency to how the act is interpreted and bring it up to date with current medical and business practices,” stated MMA Human Resource Policy Director Delaney Newberry. “The proposed changes will significantly improve Michigan’s business climate by providing both employers and workers with the reliability and predictability that is absolutely necessary to a fair and efficient system.”

Newberry said because the provisions are left open for interpretation, the current law left the door open to litigation.

“These revisions are about returning workers’ compensation law to back to the guiding principle of certainty of reasonable compensation and medical care for all injured workers without unnecessary litigation,” she stated.

Key revisions include codifying current case law to make the interpretations clear for key terms, establishing a clear delineation between total disability and partial disability, and strengthening work search requirements for individuals able to return to work.

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