As we previously communicated, the Ohio Industrial Commission began conducting workers’ compensation hearings by phone as of March 18, 2020 in response to Covid-19. We have learned that the Industrial Commission will be changing the procedure for the hearings effective April 27, 2020. Beginning on that date, the Hearing Officers will no longer be initiating calls to the claim parties. Instead, the parties will be provided with a phone number and access code for the hearings. This information is provided on the Notice of Hearing.
Additionally, the Industrial Commission has decided to add the issue of permanent partial impairment compensation to the issues that are currently being heard via telephonic hearing. The issues that can now proceed to telephonic hearing include the initial allowance of claim, additional allowance, temporary total, termination of temporary total, wage loss, permanent total, and permanent partial.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions you might have about Industrial Commission hearings in Ohio.