591                                    LAWS OF MARYLAND

shall use to measure permanent impairments when preparing
medical evaluations for reports to the Commission; requiring
the regulations to include certain medically recognized
criteria; requiring physicians to use certain medical guides
when measuring permanent impairment in preparing medical
evaluations for reports to the Commission on the medical
condition of claimants; providing for the submission of
certain medical information under certain circumstances;
providing that the allowable fees and other charges for
medical treatment and services established by the Workmen's
Compensation Commission shall be reviewed by the Workmen's
Compensation Commission at least once every two years for
completeness and reasonableness and that the guidelines be
revised accordingly; requiring the Commission to adopt
certain regulations regarding the exercise of certain powers
by the chairman of the Commission; authorizing the chairman
to refer to an appropriate medical peer panel disciplinary
commission or board for review and findings cases of the
providing of excessive treatment or, services, medicine, or
appliances by physicians or health care providers and
providing penalties for providing excessive treatment or,
services, medicine, or appliances; providing a cost of
living adjustment, not to exceed a certain percentage in any
year, in cases of permanent total disability; amending the
rate of payment of temporary total disability benefits in
reopened cases to reflect the average weekly wage of the
State of Maryland during the year of reopening under certain
circumstances; amending the rates of compensation for
permanent partial disability and providing the Commission
with authority to increase a disability under certain
circumstances; excluding certain public safety employees from
certain provisions of this Act; providing that certain
penalties shall be assessed against an insurer or
self-insurer upon a finding by the Workmen's Compensation
Commission that any compensation payment awarded has not
been paid within certain times without good cause; providing
that within a certain time after a claim for compensation
for injuries has been filed with the Workmen's Compensation
Commission the employer or insurer shall commence payment of
temporary total disability benefits or shall file issues
contesting the compensability of the claim; providing that
certain compensation may not be recouped repealing a certain
unconstitutional provision of law; providing that the
payment of temporary total disability benefits before an
award by the Workmen's Compensation Commission may not be
considered a waiver of the employer's or insurer's rights to
contest the claim at a later date; providing certain
penalties for failing to pay temporary total disability
benefits or to file issues to a claim for temporary total
disability benefits without good cause; requiring the
Commission to consider certain factors in assessing a
penalty or fine; providing that certain amendments made by
this Act shall take effect on a certain date; providing that

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