Requesting The Department Of Labor And Industrial Relations To Continue To Recognize And Accept The Right Of A Provider Of Service To Assign The Right To Participate In A Workers' Compensation Billing Dispute To A Billing Company.
The proposed measure has implications for the administration of workers' compensation in Hawaii, as it seeks to ensure that billing companies can represent providers in disputes regarding payments. By reinforcing the established practices upheld by the DLIR since 2012, HR158 aims to prevent potential backlogs in billing disputes which could arise if employers and insurance carriers refuse to recognize the legitimacy of billing companies in these processes. This could ultimately impact injured workers' access to necessary medical treatments, essential for their recovery and return to work.
House Resolution 158 (HR158), introduced during the 2023 legislative session in Hawaii, addresses a crucial aspect of workers' compensation law related to billing disputes. The resolution requests the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) to affirm the right of service providers to assign their rights in workers' compensation billing disputes to billing companies. This is particularly relevant for billing disputes involving prescription medication claims, which are a significant factor in the overall workers' compensation process for injured employees.
However, the resolution is not without contention. Opponents have attempted to undermine the ability of providers to assign their billing dispute rights to third parties, framing their arguments around legal interpretations of existing laws that suggest such assignments may be prohibited. The ongoing appeal of decisions made by the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations has added complexity to the landscape, making the resolution's push for clarity and affirmation of providers' rights increasingly important. If not addressed, these challenges could restrict the operational capacity of billing companies and impede the provision of essential medical care for injured workers.