Yesterday Commissioner Betts of the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Comensation, announced enforcement actions for August/September 2007. The Commissioner's orders assessed administrative penalties totallng $684,877, of which $475,00 was assessed against Liberty Mutual and its subsidiaries.

The Commissioner claims that Liberty Mutual failed to timely pay for medical services, failed to confirm medical benefits coverrage, failed to timely process claims, failed to pay awarded benefits, wrongfully denied preauthorized medical services, and more.

The orders are subject to appeal to a state district court within 30 days.

To read the orders, see http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/news/2007/news2007137.html

For further information on administrative penalties, see Texas Workers' Compensation Handbook, Ch. 17, Administraitve Penalties and Sanctions (LexisNexis Matthew Bender). To order this book, click here.

For the statutes and rules on Texas workers' compensation, see Texas Workers' Compensation Laws and Rules Annotated with CD-ROM (LexisNexis). To order this book, click here.