When an aggrieved party wants to appeal a decision of a Workers’ Compensation Judge in PA, the first step is to the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board (WCAB). Until recently, the WCAB was comprised of a total of 15 commissioners, who would travel throughout the State of Pennsylvania, holding oral arguments in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Scranton, Johnstown and Erie.
Unfortunately, due to budget difficulties faced by PA, the total of 15 commissioners on the WCAB has been drastically reduced. Right now, only five commissioners remain. Apparently, there will be another three commissioners named, when they are approved by the PA Senate.
This reduction in staffing is almost certain to have a negative effect on the speed with which WCAB decisions are issued. While we would love to provide a link for more information, there has been no official word on this development from the PA Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (other than to change the listed commissioners to the current total of five).