102.425(3)(a)2.
2. A dispensing fee of $3 per prescription order, which shall be payable for all prescription drugs dispensed under
sub. (2) regardless of the location from which the prescription drug is dispensed, but which shall be payable only to a pharmacist who dispenses the prescription drug.
102.425(3)(a)3.
3. Any state or federal taxes that may be applicable to the prescription drug dispensed.
102.425(3)(b)
(b) In addition to the liability under
par. (a), an employer or insurer is also liable for reimbursement to an injured employee for all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the injured employee in obtaining the prescription drug dispensed.
102.425(3)(c)
(c) A billing statement submitted to an employer or insurer for a prescription drug dispensed under
sub. (2) shall include the national drug code number of the prescription as listed in the national drug code directory maintained by the federal food and drug administration and shall state separately the price of the prescription drug and the dispensing fee.
102.425(4)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (b), a pharmacist or practitioner who dispenses a prescription drug under
sub. (2) to an injured employee may not collect, or bring an action to collect, from the injured employee any charge that is in excess of the liability of the injured employee under
sub. (2) (c) 2. or the liability of the employer or insurer under
sub. (3) (a).
102.425(4)(b)
(b) If an employer or insurer denies or disputes liability for the cost of a drug prescribed to an injured employee under
sub. (2), the pharmacist or practitioner who dispensed the drug may collect, or bring an action to collect, from the injured employee the cost of the prescription drug dispensed, subject to the limitations specified in
sub. (3) (a). If an employer or insurer concedes liability for the cost of a drug prescribed to an injured employee under
sub. (2), but disputes the reasonableness of the amount charged for the prescription drug, the employer or insurer shall provide notice under
sub. (4m) (b) to the pharmacist or practitioner that the reasonableness of the amount charged is in dispute and the pharmacist or practitioner who dispensed the drug may not collect, or bring an action to collect, from the injured employee the cost of the prescription drug dispensed after receiving that notice.
102.425(4m)
(4m) Resolution of prescription drug charge disputes. 102.425(4m)(a)(a) The department has jurisdiction under this subsection and
s. 102.16 (1m) (c) and
s. 102.17 to resolve a dispute between a pharmacist or practitioner and an employer or insurer over the reasonableness of the amount charged for a prescription drug dispensed under
sub. (2) for outpatient use by an injured employee who claims benefits under this chapter.
102.425(4m)(b)
(b) An employer or insurer that disputes the reasonableness of the amount charged for a prescription drug dispensed under
sub. (2) for outpatient use by an injured employee or the department under
sub. (4) (b) or
s. 102.16 (1m) (c) or
102.18 (1) (bg) 3. shall provide, within 30 days after receiving a completed bill for the prescription drug, reasonable written notice to the pharmacist or practitioner that the charge is being disputed. After receiving reasonable written notice under this paragraph or under
sub. (4) (b) or
s. 102.16 (1m) (c) or
102.18 (1) (bg) 1. that a prescription drug charge is being disputed, a pharmacist or practitioner may not collect the disputed charge from, or bring an action for collection of the disputed charge against, the employee who received the prescription drug.
102.425(4m)(c)
(c) A pharmacist or practitioner that receives notice under
par. (b) that the reasonableness of the amount charged for a prescription drug dispensed under
sub. (2) for outpatient use by an injured employee is in dispute shall file the dispute with the department within 6 months after receiving that notice.
102.425(4m)(d)
(d) The department shall deny payment of a prescription drug charge that the department determines under this subsection to be unreasonable. A pharmacist or practitioner and an employer or insurer that are parties to a dispute under this subsection over the reasonableness of a prescription drug charge are bound by the department's determination under this subsection on the reasonableness of the disputed charge, unless that determination is set aside on judicial review as provided in
par. (e).
102.425(4m)(e)
(e) Within 30 days after a determination under this subsection, the department may set aside, reverse, or modify the determination for any reason that the department considers sufficient. Within 60 days after a determination under this subsection, the department may set aside, reverse, or modify the determination on grounds of mistake. A pharmacist, practitioner, employer, or insurer that is aggrieved by a determination of the department under this subsection may seek judicial review of that determination in the same manner that compensation claims are reviewed under
s. 102.23.
102.425(5)
(5) Nonprescription drug products. The liability of an employer or insurer for the cost of a nonprescription drug product used to treat an injured employee is limited to the usual and customary charge to the general public for the nonprescription drug product.
102.43
102.43
Weekly compensation schedule. If the injury causes disability, an indemnity shall be due as wages commencing the 4th calendar day from the commencement of the day the scheduled work shift began, exclusive of Sundays only, excepting where the employee works on Sunday, after the employee leaves work as the result of the injury, and shall be payable weekly thereafter, during such disability. If the disability exists after 7 calendar days from the date the employee leaves work as a result of the injury and only if it so exists, indemnity shall also be due and payable for the first 3 calendar days, exclusive of Sundays only, excepting where the employee works on Sunday. Said weekly indemnity shall be as follows:
102.43(1)
(1) If the injury causes total disability, two-thirds of the average weekly earnings during such disability.
102.43(2)
(2) If the injury causes partial disability, during the partial disability, such proportion of the weekly indemnity rate for total disability as the actual wage loss of the injured employee bears to the injured employee's average weekly wage at the time of the injury.
102.43(3)
(3) If the disability caused by the injury is at times total and at times partial, the weekly indemnity during each total or partial disability shall be in accordance with
subs. (1) and
(2), respectively.
102.43(4)
(4) If the disability period involves a fractional week, indemnity shall be paid for each day of such week, except Sundays only, at the rate of one-sixth of the weekly indemnity.
102.43(5)(a)(a) Temporary disability, during which compensation shall be payable for loss of earnings, shall include such period as may be reasonably required for training in the use of artificial members and appliances.
102.43(5)(b)
(b) Except as provided in
s. 102.61 (1g), temporary disability shall also include such period as the employee may be receiving instruction under
s. 102.61 (1) or
(1m). Temporary disability on account of receiving instruction under
s. 102.61 (1) or
(1m), and not otherwise resulting from the injury, shall not be in excess of 80 weeks. Such 80-week limitation does not apply to temporary disability benefits under this section, the cost of tuition, fees, books, travel, or maintenance under
s. 102.61 (1), or the cost of private rehabilitation counseling or rehabilitative training under
s. 102.61 (1m) if the department determines that additional training is warranted. The necessity for additional training as authorized by the department for any employee shall be subject to periodic review and reevaluation.
102.43(5)(c)
(c) Compensation for temporary disability on account of receiving instruction under
s. 102.61 (1) or
(1m) shall not be reduced under
sub. (2) on account of any wages earned for the first 24 hours worked by an employee during a week in which the employee is receiving that instruction. If an employee performs more than 24 hours of work during a week in which the employee is receiving that instruction, all wages earned for hours worked in excess of 24 during that week shall be offset against the employee's average weekly wage in calculating compensation for temporary disability under
sub. (2). An employee who is receiving compensation for temporary disability on account of receiving instruction under
s. 102.61 (1) or
(1m) shall report any wages earned during the period in which the employee is receiving that instruction to the insurance carrier or self-insured employer paying that compensation. This paragraph does not apply after April 30, 2014.
102.43(6)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (b), no sick leave benefits provided in connection with other employment or wages received from other employment held by the employee when the injury occurred may be considered in computing actual wage loss from the employer in whose employ the employee sustained injury.
102.43(6)(b)
(b) In the case of an employee whose average weekly earnings are calculated under
s. 102.11 (1) (a), wages received from other employment held by the employee when the injury occurred shall be considered in computing actual wage loss from the employer in whose employ the employee sustained the injury as provided in this paragraph. If an employee's average weekly earnings are calculated under
s. 102.11 (1) (a), wages received from other employment held by the employee when the injury occurred shall be offset against those average weekly earnings and not against the employee's actual earnings in the employment in which the employee was engaged at the time of the injury.
102.43(6)(c)
(c) Wages received from the employer in whose employ the employee sustained injury or from other employment obtained after the injury occurred shall be considered in computing benefits for temporary disability.
102.43(7)(a)(a) If an employee has a renewed period of temporary disability commencing more than 2 years after the date of injury and, except as provided in
par. (b), the employee returned to work for at least 10 days preceding the renewed period of disability, payment of compensation for the new period of disability shall be made as provided in
par. (c).
102.43(7)(b)
(b) An employee need not return to work at least 10 days preceding a renewed period of temporary disability to obtain benefits under
sub. (5) (b) for rehabilitative training commenced more than 2 years after the date of injury. Benefits for rehabilitative training shall be made as provided in
par. (c).
102.43(7)(c)1.1. If the employee was entitled to maximum weekly benefits at the time of injury, payment for the renewed temporary disability or the rehabilitative training shall be at the maximum rate in effect at the commencement of the new period.
102.43(7)(c)2.
2. If the employee was entitled to less than the maximum rate, the employee shall receive the same proportion of the maximum which is in effect at the time of the commencement of the renewed period or the rehabilitative training as the employee's actual rate at the time of injury bore to the maximum rate in effect at that time.
102.43(7)(c)3.
3. For an employee who is receiving rehabilitative training, a holiday break, semester break or other, similar scheduled interruption in a course of instruction does not commence a new period of rehabilitative training under this paragraph.
102.43(8)
(8) During a compulsory vacation period scheduled in accordance with a collective bargaining agreement:
102.43(8)(a)
(a) Regardless of whether the employee's healing period has ended, no employee at work immediately before the compulsory vacation period may receive a temporary total disability benefit for injury sustained while engaged in employment for that employer.
102.43(8)(b)
(b) An employee receiving temporary partial disability benefits immediately before the compulsory vacation period for injury sustained while engaged in employment for that employer shall continue to receive those benefits.
102.43(9)
(9) Temporary disability, during which compensation shall be payable for loss of earnings, shall include the period during which an employee could return to a restricted type of work during the healing period, unless any of the following apply:
102.43(9)(a)
(a) Suitable employment that is within the physical and mental limitations of the employee is furnished to the employee by the employer or some other employer. For purposes of this paragraph, if the employer or some other employer makes a good faith offer of suitable employment that is within the physical and mental limitations of the employee and if the employee refuses without reasonable cause to accept that offer, the employee is considered to have returned to work as of the date of the offer at the earnings that the employee would have received but for the refusal. In case of a dispute as to the extent of an employee's physical or mental limitations or as to what employment is suitable within those limitations, the employee may file an application under
s. 102.17 and
ss. 102.17 to
102.26 shall apply.
102.43(9)(b)
(b) The employee's employment with the employer has been suspended or terminated due to the employee's alleged commission of a crime, the circumstances of which are substantially related to that employment, and the employee has been charged with the commission of that crime. If the employee is not found guilty of the crime, compensation for temporary disability shall be payable in full.
102.43(9)(c)
(c) The employee's employment with the employer has been suspended or terminated due to the employee's violation of the employer's policy concerning employee drug use during the period when the employee could return to a restricted type of work during the healing period. Compensation for temporary disability may be denied under this paragraph only if prior to the date of injury the employer's policy concerning employee drug use was established in writing and regularly enforced by the employer.
102.43(9)(d)
(d) The employee has been convicted of a crime, is incarcerated, and is not available to return to a restricted type of work during the healing period.
102.43 Annotation
Committee Note, 1971: Employees who have two jobs who have been injured at one of them have in some cases been made totally disabled for work at either job. Sick leave benefits from the other employer has suspended eligibility for compensation or has reduced compensation even though the employee suffered a wage loss. This is considered to be inequitable. Sick leave benefits from the employer where injury occurred are to be considered, however, in determining eligibility for compensation from such employer. [Bill 371-A]
102.43 Annotation
Under ss. 102.42 (9) (a), 102.43 (5), and 102.61, the department may extend temporary disability, travel expense, and maintenance costs beyond 40 weeks if additional training is warranted. Beloit Corp. v. State,
152 Wis. 2d 579,
449 N.W.2d 299 (Ct. App. 1989).
102.43 Annotation
The phrase "if the injury causes disability" is interpreted in light of the "as is" rule that an employee's susceptibility to injury due to a pre-existing condition does not relieve the employer from liability. ITW Deltar v. LIRC,
226 Wis. 2d 11,
593 N.W.2d 908 (Ct. App. 1999),
98-2912.
102.43 Annotation
The "as is" rule applies to delays in treatment of a work-related injury caused by a pre-existing condition. It was reasonable to find that a woman was entitled to benefits for the period she was unable to undergo surgery to repair a work-related injury due to the threat that anesthesia would cause harm to her pre-existing pregnancy. ITW Deltar v. LIRC,
226 Wis. 2d 11,
593 N.W.2d 908 (Ct. App. 1999),
98-2912.
102.44
102.44
Maximum limitations. Section 102.43 shall be subject to the following limitations:
102.44(1)(ag)(ag) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, every employee who is receiving compensation under this chapter for permanent total disability or continuous temporary total disability more than 24 months after the date of injury resulting from an injury that occurred prior to January 1, 2001, shall receive supplemental benefits that shall be payable in the first instance by the employer or the employer's insurance carrier, or in the case of benefits payable to an employee under
s. 102.66, shall be paid by the department out of the fund created under
s. 102.65. Those supplemental benefits shall be paid only for weeks of disability occurring after January 1, 2003, and shall continue during the period of such total disability subsequent to that date.
102.44(1)(am)
(am) If the employee is receiving the maximum weekly benefits in effect at the time of the injury, the supplemental benefit for a week of disability occurring after May 1, 2010, shall be an amount that, when added to the regular benefit established for the case, shall equal $582.
102.44(1)(b)
(b) If the employee is receiving a weekly benefit that is less than the maximum benefit that was in effect on the date of the injury, the supplemental benefit for a week of disability occurring after May 1, 2010, shall be an amount sufficient to bring the total weekly benefits to the same proportion of $582 as the employee's weekly benefit bears to the maximum in effect on the date of injury.
102.44(1)(c)
(c) Subject to any certificate filed under
s. 102.65 (4), an employer or insurance carrier paying the supplemental benefits required under this subsection shall be entitled to reimbursement for each such case from the fund established by
s. 102.65, commencing one year after the date of the first payment of those benefits and annually thereafter while those payments continue. To receive reimbursement under this paragraph, an employer or insurance carrier must file a claim for that reimbursement with the department by no later than 12 months after the end of the year in which the supplemental benefits were paid and the claim must be approved by the department.
102.44(2)
(2) In case of permanent total disability aggregate indemnity shall be weekly indemnity for the period that the employee may live. Total impairment for industrial use of both eyes, or the loss of both arms at or near the shoulder, or of both legs at or near the hip, or of one arm at the shoulder and one leg at the hip, constitutes permanent total disability. This enumeration is not exclusive, but in other cases the department shall find the facts.
102.44(3)
(3) For permanent partial disability not covered by
ss. 102.52 to
102.56, the aggregate number of weeks of indemnity shall bear such relation to 1,000 weeks as the nature of the injury bears to one causing permanent total disability and shall be payable at the rate of two-thirds of the average weekly earnings of the employee, the earnings to be computed as provided in
s. 102.11. The weekly indemnity shall be in addition to compensation for the healing period and shall be for the period that the employee may live, not to exceed 1,000 weeks.
102.44(4)
(4) Where the permanent disability is covered by
ss. 102.52,
102.53, and
102.55, such sections shall govern; provided, that in no case shall the percentage of permanent total disability be taken as more than 100 percent.
102.44(5)
(5) In cases where it is determined that periodic benefits granted by the federal social security act are paid to the employee because of disability, the benefits payable under this chapter shall be reduced as follows:
102.44(5)(a)
(a) For each dollar that the total monthly benefits payable under this chapter, excluding attorney fees and costs, plus the monthly benefits payable under the social security act for disability exceed 80% of the employee's average current earnings as determined by the social security administration, the benefits payable under this chapter shall be reduced by the same amount so that the total benefits payable shall not exceed 80% of the employee's average current earnings. However, no total benefit payable under this chapter and under the federal social security act may be reduced to an amount less than the benefit payable under this chapter.
102.44(5)(b)
(b) No reduction under this section shall be made because of an increase granted by the social security administration as a cost of living adjustment.
102.44(5)(c)
(c) Failure of the employee, except for excusable neglect, to report social security disability payments within 30 days after written request shall allow the employer or insurance carrier to reduce weekly compensation benefits payable under this chapter by 75%. Compensation benefits otherwise payable shall be reimbursed to the employee after reporting.
102.44(5)(d)
(d) The employer or insurance carrier making such reduction shall report to the department the reduction and as requested by the department, furnish to the department satisfactory proof of the basis for the reduction.
102.44(5)(e)
(e) The reduction prescribed by this section shall be allowed only as to payments made on or after July 1, 1980, and shall be computed on the basis of payments made for temporary total, temporary partial, permanent total and permanent partial disability.
102.44(5)(f)
(f) No reduction shall take into account payments made under the social security act to dependents of an employee.
102.44(5)(g)
(g) No reduction under this subsection shall be made on temporary disability benefits payable during a period in which an injured employee is receiving vocational rehabilitation services under
s. 102.61 (1) or
(1m).
102.44(6)(a)(a) Where an injured employee claiming compensation for disability under
sub. (2) or
(3) has returned to work for the employer for whom he or she worked at the time of the injury, the permanent disability award shall be based upon the physical limitations resulting from the injury without regard to loss of earning capacity unless the actual wage loss in comparison with earnings at the time of injury equals or exceeds 15%.
102.44(6)(b)
(b) If, during the period set forth in
s. 102.17 (4) the employment relationship is terminated by the employer at the time of the injury, or by the employee because his or her physical or mental limitations prevent his or her continuing in such employment, or if during such period a wage loss of 15% or more occurs the department may reopen any award and make a redetermination taking into account loss of earning capacity.
102.44(6)(c)
(c) The determination of wage loss shall not take into account any period during which benefits are payable for temporary disability.
102.44(6)(d)
(d) The determination of wage loss shall not take into account any period during which benefits are paid under
ch. 108.
102.44(6)(e)
(e) For the purpose of determining wage loss, payment of benefits for permanent partial disability shall not be considered payment of wages.
102.44(6)(f)
(f) Wage loss shall be determined on wages, as defined in
s. 102.11. Percentage of wage loss shall be calculated on the basis of actual average wages over a period of at least 13 weeks.
102.44(6)(g)
(g) For purposes of this subsection, if the employer in good faith makes an offer of employment which is refused by the employee without reasonable cause, the employee is considered to have returned to work with the earnings the employee would have received had it not been for the refusal.
102.44(6)(h)
(h) In all cases of permanent partial disability not covered by
ss. 102.52 to
102.56, whether or not the employee has returned to work, the permanent partial disability shall not be less than that imposed by the physical limitations.
102.44 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also ss.
DWD 80.32,
80.34, and
80.50, Wis. adm. code.
102.44 Annotation
Committee Note, 1971: Employees who are totally disabled receive compensation at the wage level and the compensation rate in effect as of the date of their injury. This is an average of approximately $45.90 per week for the employees who are injured previous to February 1, 1970. The intent is to provide for payment of supplemental benefits; for example, an employee who was injured in October 1951 and earning wages in excess of the maximum of $52.86 is receiving $37 a week for total disability. This employee will receive supplemental benefits of $42 a week to bring the total up to $79, which was the maximum February 1, 1970. An employee injured in October 1951 with a wage of $26.43 has been receiving $18.50 per week for total disability. This is 50% of the maximum in effect in October 1951. Such employee will receive supplemental benefits of $21 a week to bring the total up to $39.50, which is 50% of the maximum in effect February 1, 1970. It is not intended that any death benefit payment be affected by this section. [Bill 371-A]
102.44 Annotation
The department must disregard total loss of earning capacity in the case of a relative scheduled injury. Mednicoff v. DILHR,
54 Wis. 2d 7,
194 N.W.2d 670 (1972).
102.44 Annotation
The "odd-lot" doctrine is a part of Wisconsin law. It provides that if a claimant makes a prima facie case that he or she was injured in an industrial accident and, because of injury, age, education, and capacity, is unable to secure continuing gainful employment, the burden of showing that the claimant is employable shifts to the employer. Balczewski v. DILHR,
76 Wis. 2d 487,
251 N.W.2d 794 (1977).
102.44 Annotation
Sub. (6) (a) includes only wage loss suffered at the employment where the injury occurred and does not include wage loss from a second job. Ruff v. LIRC,
159 Wis. 2d 239,
464 N.W.2d 56 (Ct. App. 1990).
102.44 Annotation
LIRC exceeded its authority when it ordered temporary total disability payments for an indefinite future period. Such payments are not authorized for the period after a medical condition has stabilized and before the employee undergoes surgery. GTC Auto Parts v. LIRC,
184 Wis. 2d 450,
516 N.W.2d 313 (Ct. App. 1993).
102.44 Annotation
Sub. (4) requires apportionment between scheduled and unscheduled injuries when both contribute to permanent total disability. Loss of earning capacity may not be awarded for scheduled injuries. Langhus v. LIRC,
206 Wis. 2d 494,
557 N.W.2d 450 (Ct. App. 1996),
96-0622.
102.44 Annotation
In order for sub. (6) (b) to apply, the physical limitations must be from an unscheduled injury. Mireles v. LIRC,
226 Wis. 2d 53,
593 N.W.2d 859 (Ct. App. 1999),
98-1607.
102.44 Annotation
Sub. (2) governs the permanent total disability indemnity. "Other cases" of disability under sub. (2) may include a combination of scheduled and unscheduled injuries. Mireles v. LIRC,
2000 WI 96,
237 Wis. 2d 69,
613 N.W.2d 875,
98-1607.
102.44 Annotation
Sub. (6) (b) allows the department to reopen an award to account for loss of earning capacity from an unscheduled injury, even if a scheduled injury causes the termination of employment. Mireles v. LIRC,
2000 WI 96,
237 Wis. 2d 69,
613 N.W.2d 875,
98-1607.
102.44 Annotation
Sub. (2) allows the awarding of permanent total disability that results from a combination of scheduled and unscheduled injuries, provided that the applicant establishes that a clear, ascertainable portion of the disability is attributable to the unscheduled injury or injuries. Secura Insurance v. LIRC,
2000 WI App 237,
239 Wis. 2d 315,
620 N.W.2d 626,
00-0303.
102.44 Annotation
A claimant is not required to present evidence of a job search as part of prima facie case of odd-lot unemployability, provided the claimant shows that because of the injury and other Balczewski factors such as age, education, capacity, and training, he or she is unable to secure continuing, gainful employment. If the claimant is within the odd-lot category, it falls to the employer to rebut the prima facie case by demonstrating that the claimant is employable and that jobs exist for him or her. Beecher v. LIRC,
2004 WI 88,
273 Wis. 2d 136,
682 N.W.2d 29,
02-1582.
102.44 Annotation
The burden that shifts from the claimant to the employer under Balczewski is a burden of persuasion, but only as to the sub-issue of whether a job exists that the claimant can do. The burden of persuasion on the other aspects of the claimant's case for permanent total disability benefits remains, as always, with the claimant. Beecher v. LIRC,
2004 WI 88,
273 Wis. 2d 136,
682 N.W.2d 29,
02-1582.
102.44 Annotation
The social security offset under sub. (5) may be used to reduce temporary disability benefits paid under s. 102.43 (5) during the period that the worker is engaged in a vocational rehabilitation program as described in s. 102.61. Michels Pipeline Construction v. LIRC,
2008 WI App 55,
309 Wis. 2d 470,
750 N.W.2d 485,
07-0607.
