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This letter is to inform claims handling offices about law changes contained in 2025 Wisconsin Act 145 in Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 102, referred to as the Wisconsin Worker's Compensation Act. Changes in compensation rates, covered employees, medical care, dispute resolution procedures, worker's compensation fraud, penalties for uninsured employers, and other changes are summarized here.
Changes to the Wisconsin Worker's Compensation Act are effective April 1, 2026. As a result of these changes, certain rates and benefits were increased. Other changes to the Worker's Compensation Act include:
The maximum weekly rate for permanent partial disability (PPD) increases from $446 to $454 for injuries on and after April 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, and to $462 for injuries occurring on and after January 1, 2027.
Supplemental benefit payments are increased for employees with injuries that occurred before January 1, 2003. Employees with injuries occurring before January 1, 2020 are now eligible for supplemental benefits. All employees receiving supplemental benefits will receive yearly rate increases on January 1. Employees who receive compensation for permanent total disability are now eligible to receive supplemental benefits.
The same worker's compensation coverage for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that was provided to law enforcement officers and full-time firefighters in 2021 Wisconsin Act 29 is provided to all volunteer firefighters, part-time firefighters, emergency medical services practitioners, and emergency medical responders.
Shoulder replacements and reverse shoulder replacements are included on the list of specified traumatic injuries that are not subject to the statute of limitations.
The amount paid for a compromise settlement will not be an advance payment of compensation.
"Stacking" of permanent partial disability (PPD) is prohibited for the same surgical procedure a second or subsequent time to the limbs based on the minimum ratings in s. DWD 80.32 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code. PPD ratings will be based on actual ratings assessed by medical experts.
Advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) and physician assistants (PA) are authorized to give opinions on cause and extent of disability.
Audiologists are authorized to give opinions on diagnosis, necessity of treatment, and cause and extent of disability for hearing loss cases.
Employers' and insurers' case management personnel are authorized to have access to records and participation in discharge planning from inpatient hospitalization when required to ensure appropriate housing and transportation. Employers and case management personnel do not have authority to direct care.
The Worker's Compensation Division (WCD) is required to dismiss a new or pending hearing application without prejudice when there is no justiciable dispute or controversy for an administrative law judge (ALJ) to hold a hearing to resolve.
The statute of limitations is tolled, or paused, when a hearing application is pending, but the statute of limitations will not be extended by the filing of a hearing application. The statute of limitations will continue to run on the date an order is issued approving a compromise settlement.
This change eliminates the requirement for any amount of proceeds of a compromise settlement to be deposited into a restricted bank account.
Orders approving compromise settlements will include dismissal of the pending hearing application subject to the compromise. Cases will be closed when compromise agreements are approved.
Amendments pertaining to dismissing hearing applications when there is no dispute, the statute of limitations, the dismissal of claims, and case closure requirements are made retroactive and apply regardless of the injury date.
The presentation of false or fraudulent applications for worker's compensation insurance coverage, and insurance applications that falsely or fraudulently misclassify employees to lower insurance premiums are added as acts of criminally punishable fraud.
Increased assessment amounts under s. 102.82 (2), Wis. Stats., and increased forfeiture amounts under s. 102.85 (1), Wis. Stats., will be imposed against employers who are found to have repeated violations of being illegally uninsured for worker's compensation liability.
Increased forfeiture amounts under s. 102.85 (2), Wis. Stats., will be imposed for employers providing false information about worker's compensation insurance coverage and failing to notify that insurance coverage was cancelled.
Worker's compensation insurance carriers will be required to file claims for supplemental benefit reimbursement using the updated Insurer Portal.
Expenses for the Uninsured Employer Fund (UEF) to retain an insurance service organization (TPA) are transferred from the WCD's operations fund to the UEF.
Various updates to the identification of "division" or "department", cross-references and grammatical corrections are also included in the new law.
Please inform all claim handlers of these changes.
If you have any questions, please call (608) 266-1340, e-mail wcadmin@dwd.wisconsin.gov or use the Worker's Compensation feedback form on our "Contact Us page. Feedback can be submitted anonymously.
Refer to: 2025 Wisconsin Act 145 for a text of the law changes.
Refer to 2025 Wis. Act 145 Plain Language Summary for a complete summary of the changes.
DWD Contact Information
201 E. Washington Ave
P.O. Box 7946
Madison, WI 53707
(608) 266-3131
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