Researcher: LRH Page 1 4/7/25
OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 6409
AN ACT CONCERNING UNDUE DELAY IN WORKERS'
COMPENSATION CLAIMS.
SUMMARY
For an employee receiving workers’ compensation medical benefits,
this bill requires the employer or the employer’s insurer to notify the
employee and the workers’ compensation administrative law judge
(ALJ) before taking certain action to stop or reduce payment for
medication or durable medical equipment prescribed to the employee.
The bill sets requirements for the notice and gives the employee a right
to a hearing on the matter.
By law, when an employee is injured at work, the employer must
provide a medical professional (physician, surgeon, physician assistant,
or advanced practice registered nurse) to attend to the injured
employee. These professionals can prescribe prescription drugs and
rehabilitation services for the employee as they deem reasonable or
necessary and the employer or the employer’s insurance (or any
representative acting on their behalf) must pay for them (CGS § 31-
294d).
The bill specifies that its requirements do not apply to situations
where the employee’s medication or equipment is discontinued by the
employee’s medical professional.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2025
NOTICE TO OBJECT TO, DISCONTINUE, OR REDU CE
PRESCRIPTION MEDICAT IONS OR DURABLE MEDICAL
EQUIPMENT
The bill requires the employer or insurer to notify the employee if
they object to the approval or renewal of, or before discontinuing or
reducing payment for, medications or durable medical equipment 2025HB-06409-R000551-BA.DOCX
Researcher: LRH Page 2 4/7/25
prescribed to the employee.
Under the bill, the notice must specify the (1) reason for the proposed
objection, discontinuation, or reduction and (2) date the proposed action
will start. It must be written or printed and served personally or by
registered or certified mail to the employee’s and workers’
compensation ALJ’s last-known residence or place of business.
Required Notice Information
The bill requires the notice to include the same information as
existing law requires for notices to employees about reducing or
discontinuing other workers’ compensation payments.
The notice must substantially follow a form set in statute, which
requires a heading stating, “IMPORTANT,” followed by the notification
of the employer’s or insurer’s intended action and certain required
information. Specifically, it must inform the employee that a request for
a hearing must be made within 15 days after receiving the notice, or it
will be automatically approved. The notice also must:
1. identify the involved parties (e.g., employee, employee’s
attorney or other representative, employer, and insurer);
2. include information about the injury, including the date it
happened, the city or town where it happened, and its nature;
and
3. include medical documentation for the objection,
discontinuation, or reduction, and the name of the employee’s
attending medical professional.
The form must instruct the employee, if he or she would like to
request a hearing, to do the following: (1) call the Workers’
Compensation Commission District Office where the case is pending,
(2) be prepared with medical and other documentation to support the
objection, and (3) note the date he or she received the notice. 2025HB-06409-R000551-BA.DOCX
Researcher: LRH Page 3 4/7/25
COMMITTEE ACTION
Labor and Public Employees Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 9 Nay 4 (03/20/2025)