law20066

Chapter 066

2020 -- S 2915
Enacted 07/22/2020

A N A C T

RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- WORKERS' COMPENSATION

Introduced By: Senator Frank A. Ciccone

Date Introduced: June 18, 2020

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 28-53-7 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-53 entitled "Rhode Island

Uninsured Protection Fund" is hereby amended to read as follows:

28-53-7. Payments to employees of uninsured employers.

(a) Where it is determined that the employee was injured in the course of employment

while working for an employer who fails to maintain a policy of workers' compensation insurance

as required by § 28-36-1 et seq., in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, the uninsured

protection fund is authorized to pay the benefits to which the injured employee would be entitled

pursuant to chapters 29 to 38 of this title subject to the limitations set forth herein.

(b) The workers' compensation court shall hear all petitions for payment from the fund

pursuant to § 28-30-1 et seq.; provided, however, that any petition for the commencement of

compensation benefits filed against the uninsured protection fund shall be accompanied or preceded

by a separate petition for the commencement of compensation benefits timely filed against the

uninsured unless the petition to be filed against the uninsured employer is otherwise enjoined or

prevented by law and the employer shall be named as parties to any petition seeking payment of

benefits from the fund.

fund, the fund shall pay benefits for incapacity as provided pursuant to chapters 29 to 38 of this

title except that the employee shall not be entitled to receive benefits for medical expenses pursuant

to the provisions of § 28-33-5 or loss of function and disfigurement pursuant to the provisions of §

28-33-19 from the uninsured protection fund. Nothing herein shall affect an employee's right to

otherwise recover such benefits for medical expenses, loss of function, and disfigurement from an

uninsured employer.

(d) The fund shall pay costs, counsel, and witness fees, as provided in § 28-35-32, to any

employee who successfully prosecutes any petitions for payment; petitions to amend a pretrial

order; and all other employee petitions; and to employees who successfully defend, in whole or in

part, proceedings seeking to reduce or terminate any and all payments; provided, however, that the

attorney's fees awarded to counsel who represent the employee in petitions for lump-sum

commutation filed pursuant to § 28-33-25, or in the settlement of disputed cases pursuant to § 28-

33-25.1, shall be limited to the maximum amount paid to counsel who serve as court-appointed

attorneys in workers' compensation proceedings as established by rule or order of the Rhode Island

supreme court. Any payment ordered by the court or due under this section shall not be subject to

liens set forth in § 28-33-27(b), nor shall such payments be assignable or subject to assignment in

any way.

(e) In the event that the uninsured employer makes payment of any monies to the employee

to compensate the employee in any way for the alleged work injury lost wages or medical expenses,

the fund shall may be entitled to a credit for all such monies received by, or on behalf of, the

employee, including, but not limited to, monies paid to the employee by any other party for the

employee's lost wages against any future benefits payable directly to the employee. The fund shall

be entitled to full reimbursement from the uninsured employer for any and all payments made by

the fund to the employee, as well as all costs, counsel, and witness fees paid out by the fund in

connection with any claim and/or petition, plus any and all costs and attorney's fees associated with

collection and reimbursement of the fund.

(f) This section shall apply to injuries that occur on or after September 1, 2019.

SECTION 2. Section 28-33-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-33 entitled "Workers'

Compensation - Benefits" is hereby amended to read as follows:

28-33-8. Employee's choice of physician, dentist, or hospital -- Payment of charges --

Physician reporting schedule.

(a)(1) An injured employee shall initially have freedom of choice to obtain health care,

diagnosis, and treatment from any qualified health care provider. The initial health care provider of

record may, without prior approval, refer the injured employee to any qualified specialist for

independent consultation or assessment, or specified treatment. If the insurer or self-insured

employer has a preferred-provider network approved and kept on record by the medical advisory

board, any change by the employee from the initial health care provider of record shall only be to

a health care provider listed in the approved preferred-provider network; provided, however, that

any contract proffered or maintained that restricts or limits the health care provider's ability to make

referrals pursuant to the provisions of this section; restricts the injured employee's first choice of

health care provider; substitutes or overrules the treatment protocols maintained by the medical

advisory board; or attempts to evade or limit the jurisdiction of the workers' compensation court

shall be void as against public policy. If the employee seeks to change to a health care provider not

in the approved preferred-provider network, the employee must obtain the approval of the insurer

or self-insured employer. Nothing contained in this section shall prevent the treatment, care, or

rehabilitation of an employee by more than one physician, dentist, or hospital. The employee's first

visit to any facility providing emergency care or to a physician or medical facility under contract

with or agreement with the employer or insurer to provide priority care, shall not constitute the

employee's initial choice to obtain health care, diagnosis, or treatment.

(2) In addition to the treatment of qualified health care providers, the employee shall have

the freedom to obtain a rehabilitation evaluation by a rehabilitation counselor certified by the

director pursuant to § 28-33-41 in cases where the employee has received compensation for a period

of more than three (3) months, and the employer shall pay the reasonable fees incurred by the

rehabilitation counselor for the initial assessment.

(b) Within three (3) days of an initial visit following an injury, the health care provider

shall provide to the insurer or self-insured employer, and the employee and his or her attorney, a

notification of compensable injury form to be approved by the administrator of the medical

advisory board. Within three (3) days of the injured employee's release or discharge, return to work,

and/or recovery from an injury covered by chapters 29 -- 38 of this title, the health care provider

shall provide a notice of release to the insurer or self-insured employer, and the employee and his

or her attorney, on a form approved by the division. A twenty thirty dollar ($20.00) ($30.00) fee

may be charged by the health care provider to the insurer or self-insured employer for the

notification of compensable injury forms or notice of release forms or for affidavits filed pursuant

to subsection (c) of this section, but only if filed in a timely manner. No claim for care or treatment

by a physician, dentist, or hospital chosen by an employee shall be valid and enforceable as against

his or her employer, the employer's insurer, or the employee, unless the physician, dentist, or

hospital gives written notice of the employee's choice to the employer/insurance carrier within

fifteen (15) days after the beginning of the services or treatment. The health care provider shall, in

writing, submit to the employer or insurance carrier an itemized bill and report for the services or

treatment and a final itemized bill for all unpaid services or treatment within three (3) months after

the conclusion of the treatment. The employee shall not be personally liable to pay any physician,

dentist, or hospital bills in cases where the physician, dentist, or hospital has forfeited the right to

be paid by the employer or insurance carrier because of noncompliance with this section.

(c)(1) At six (6) ten (10) weeks from the date of injury, then every twelve (12) ten (10)

weeks thereafter until maximum medical improvement, any qualified physician or other health care

professional providing medical care or treatment to any person for an injury covered by chapters

29 -- 38 of this title shall file an itemized bill and an affidavit with the insurer, the employee and

his or her attorney, and the medical advisory board. A ten percent (10%) discount may be taken on

the itemized bill affidavits not filed in a timely manner and received by the insurer one week or

more late. The affidavit shall be on a form designed and provided by the administrator of the

medical advisory board and shall state:

(i) The type of medical treatment provided to date, including type and frequency of

treatment(s);

(ii) Anticipated further treatment, including type, frequency, and duration of treatment(s),

whether or not maximum medical improvement has been reached, and the anticipated date of

discharge;

(iii) Whether the employee can return to the former position of employment, or is capable

of other work, specifying work restrictions and work capabilities of the employee;

(2) The affidavit shall be admissible as an exhibit of the workers' compensation court with

or without the appearance of the affiant.

(d) "Itemized bill", as referred to in this section, means a completed statement of charges,

on a form CMS HCFA 1500, UB 92/94 or other form suitable to the insurer, that includes, but is

not limited to, an enumeration of specific types of care provided; facilities or equipment used;

services rendered; and appliances or medicines prescribed, for purposes of identifying the treatment

given the employee with respect to his or her injury.

(e)(1) The treating physician shall furnish to the employee, or to his or her legal

representative, a copy of his or her medical report within ten (10) days of the examination date.

(2) The treating physician shall notify the employer, and the employee and his or her

attorney, immediately when an employee is able to return to full or modified work.

(3) There shall be no charge for a health record when that health record is necessary to

support any appeal or claim under the Workers' Compensation Act § 23-17-19.1(16). The treating

physician shall furnish to the employee, or to his or her legal representative, a medical report, within

ten (10) days of the request, stating the diagnosis, disability, loss of use, end result and/or causal

relationship of the employee's condition associated with the work-related-injury. The physician

shall be entitled to charge for these services only as enunciated in the State state of Rhode Island

workers’ compensation medical fee schedule.

(f)(1) Compensation for medical expenses and other services under §§ 28-33-5, 28-33-7,

or 28-33-8 this section is due and payable within twenty-one (21) days from the date a request is

made for payment of these expenses by the provider of the medical services. In the event payment

is not made within twenty-one (21) days from the date a request is made for payment, the provider

of medical services may add, and the insurer or self-insurer shall pay, interest at the per annum rate

as provided in § 9-21-10 on the amount due. The employee or the medical provider may file a

petition with the administrator of the workers' compensation court which petition shall follow the

procedure as authorized in chapter 35 of this title.

(2) The twenty-one day (21) period in subdivision subsection (f) (1) of this subsection

section and in § 28-35-12 shall begin on the date the insurer receives a request with appropriate

documentation required to determine whether the claim is compensable and the payment requested

is due.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC005419

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