HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1640

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that Hawaii's existing workers' compensation system has been plagued by delays and denials, and in many of those cases, insurers seem to automatically deny the claim pending investigation.  These investigations may include reviewing reports from an independent medical examiner, interviewing other employees, looking at videotapes, or combing through old medical records for evidence as to whether the workplace injury was related to a pre-existing condition.  While the insurer considers, sometimes for months, how to proceed on a claim, the patient is at times unable to receive compensation.

     The purpose of this Act is to prevent employers from denying a workers' compensation claim without reasonable cause or while the claim is pending investigation and to impose fines and penalties on employers who continue doing so without reasonable cause.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 386, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§386-    Payment by employer; duty to service provider; disagreement with service provider; resolution procedures.  (a)  Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the employer shall pay for all medical services required by the employee for the compensable injury and the process of recovery.  The employer shall not be required to pay for care unrelated to the compensable injury.

     (b)  The employer shall not dispute a claim for services:

     (1)  Without reasonable cause; or

     (2)  While the claim is pending investigation;

provided that a claim shall be presumed compensable when submitted by an employee who is excluded from health care coverage under the Hawaii Prepaid Health Care Act.

     (c)  If an employer disputes a claim for services rendered or a bill received, the employer shall notify the provider of services of that fact within thirty calendar days of receipt of the claim for services or bill.  Failure by the employer to submit timely notice to the provider of services shall render the employer liable for the services provided or bill received until the employer satisfies the notice requirement and except as provided in subsection (d).

     (d)  Any employer who has received a claim for services rendered or a bill from a provider of services shall be liable for the claim or bill and shall, within sixty calendar days of receipt of the claim or bill, pay all charges listed in the claim for services rendered or the bill, except for items for which there is reasonable disagreement.  After expiration of the sixty-calendar-day time period for payment, the provider of services may increase the total outstanding balance owed for undisputed services or charges by one per cent per month.

     (e)  In the event of reasonable disagreement, the employer shall:

     (1)  Pay all undisputed charges;

     (2)  Notify the provider of services of the denial of payment of any disputed charges and the reason for the denial within thirty calendar days of receipt of the bill or claim for services rendered; and

     (3)  Provide a copy of the denial to the employee.

The employer's denial shall include a statement as follows:

"IF THE PROVIDER OF SERVICES DOES NOT AGREE WITH THE EMPLOYER'S STATED REASON FOR DENIAL OF PAYMENT, THE PROVIDER OF SERVICES MAY FILE A BILL DISPUTE REQUEST WITH THE DIRECTOR OF THE HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS.  THE BILL DISPUTE REQUEST SHALL BE CLEARLY IDENTIFIED AS 'BILL DISPUTE REQUEST' IN CAPITAL LETTERS AND IN NO LESS THAN TEN POINT FONT ON THE FRONT OF THE FIRST PAGE OF THE REQUEST AND ON THE FRONT OF THE ENVELOPE IN WHICH THE REQUEST IS SENT.  ANY BILL DISPUTE REQUEST SHALL BE FILED WITHIN THIRTY CALENDAR DAYS AFTER POSTMARK OF THE EMPLOYER'S DENIAL OF PAYMENT.  THE PROVIDER OF SERVICES' FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TIMELY BILL DISPUTE REQUEST SHALL BE CONSIDERED AS ACCEPTANCE OF THE EMPLOYER'S DENIAL OF PAYMENT."

     (f)  Upon receipt of a bill dispute request, the director shall send notice to the parties and the parties shall negotiate to resolve the disputed services or charges during the thirty-one calendar days following the date of the notice from the director.  If the parties fail to enter into an agreement within the thirty-one calendar days, then within fourteen calendar days thereafter, either party may file a request in writing to the director to review the bill dispute request; provided that the requesting party sends notice of the request to the non-requesting party.  Upon receipt of the request for review, the director shall send the parties a second notice requesting each party to file a position statement with the director, including substantiating documentation that describes the services and amounts in dispute and all actions taken to resolve the dispute during the thirty-one calendar day period of negotiation under this subsection.  The director shall review the positions of the parties and render an administrative decision without a hearing.  The director may assess a service fee of up to $1,000 payable to the general fund against one or more parties who the director finds has failed to negotiate in good faith.  Denial of payment without reasonable cause shall be considered a failure to negotiate in good faith.

     (g)  An employee shall be liable for reimbursement of benefits or payments received under this section for any disputed claim that is found to be not compensable, whether received from an employer, insurer, or the special compensation fund.  Reimbursement shall be made to the source from which the compensation was received, and may include recoupment by the insurer of all payments made for medical care, medical services, vocational rehabilitation services, and all other services rendered for payment under this section."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2018.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Workers' Compensation; Compensable Claims; Employer Payment

 

Description:

Prohibits employer disputes of workers' compensation claims without reasonable cause or while the claim is pending investigation.  Establishes negotiation, notice, and review procedures for disputed claims.  Establishes penalty for failure to negotiate in good faith.  Permits service providers to charge interest on late bill payments.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.