Reforms to workers’ compensation continues to be a pressing issues when it comes to putting together the state budget.

House Republican Minority leader Jim Durkin told members of the City Club of Chicago Monday that reforms to workers compensation can easily be addressed. Durkin acknowledged that certain issues are not negotiable with House Democrats including defining work related injuries as an injury that happens on the job rather than off. However, addressing American Medical Association guidelines could lead to progress.

According to Steve Brown, press secretary for House Speaker Michael Madigan, reforms to workers compensation have been taking place in Springfield. Brown touts House Bill 1257 passed last year but has remained in an Illinois Senate committee since October.

In other State news:

One of the state’s medical societies supports several measures they hope will enhance Illinois Medical Cannabis Pilot Program.

Though they are neutral on the pilot program, Illinois State Medical Society President Dr. Scott Cooper says they support a measure to add medical cannabis to the prescription drug monitoring program, something that could help identify potential drug interactions.

Cooper says ISMS also wants more information given to patients when patients pick up their product.

Both provisions are found in Senate Bill 2378, which was introduced this month and has been assigned to the Senate Executive Committee.