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General Assembly Proposed Bill No. 6916
January Session, 2019
LCO No. 1678
Referred to Committee on LABOR AND PUBLIC EMPLOYEES
Introduced by:
REP. JOHNSON, 49th Dist.
AN ACT EXPANDING REMEDIES AND POTENTIAL LIABILITY FOR
UNREASONABLY CONTESTED OR DELAYED WORKERS'
COMPENSATION CLAIMS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
That the general statutes be amended to ensure that: (1) Injured 1
workers are treated timely for their injuries so they do not suffer 2
additional mental or physical deterioration because of unnecessary 3
delays in care for their work related injuries, (2) the workers' 4
compensation insurance program provide coverage when a worker 5
has provided proof that the injury occurred at work and medical 6
treatment was ordered by the proper physician and is within the 7
standard of practice for the injury sustained and the total condition of 8
the worker, (3) if the standard of practice is adhered to, then the 9
burden shifts to the insurance company for any additional hearings, (4) 10
payment for care is coordinated between the employer or agent acting 11
on behalf of the employer's insurance company or between the 12
insurance company or agent for the employer and the Medicaid 13
program, (5) delays in care are not part of coordination of benefits 14
between the insurance companies, and (6) if a pattern of hearing delay 15
occurs with any particular insurance company, then the Unfair 16 Proposed Bill No. 6916
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Insurance Practices Act applies to such insurance company. 17
Statement of Purpose:
To (1) prevent injured workers from losing their jobs due to undue
delay in care, (2) limit the number of times doctors and attorneys
attend hearings to ensure injured workers receive timely medical care,
(3) prevent injured workers from going on long-term disability and
losing their jobs, (4) help employers retain well-trained staff, and (5)
prevent shifting the cost of workers' compensation insurance coverage
to the Medicaid program.