FINAL BILL REPORT

SHB 1950

C 231 L 01

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Describing worker rights under industrial insurance.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Representatives Conway, Clements, Wood, Kenney and Miloscia).

House Committee on Commerce & Labor

Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce & Financial Institutions

Background:

A worker who, in the course of employment, is injured or suffers disability from an occupational disease is entitled to benefits under Washington's industrial insurance law.  These benefits include proper and necessary medical and surgical services from a physician of the worker's choice.  The health services that are available to an injured worker also include chiropractic care and evaluation.

When a workplace accident occurs, the worker must report the accident to the employer, and the employer must report the accident to the Department of Labor and Industries if the accident involves treatment, hospitalization, disability, or death.  On receiving the notice, the department must send the worker a notice of his or her rights in nontechnical language.

Summary:

By January 1, 2002, the Department of Labor and Industries must modify certain notices to specify an injured worker's right to receive health services from the physician of the worker=s  choice, including chiropractic services, and must include in the notice a list of the types of providers authorized to provide these services.  These requirements apply to the notice the department sends to an injured worker after the department receives the notice of an accident and the form used to apply for industrial insurance benefits.  Forms containing the modified notices must be in use by the department and self-insured employers by July 1, 2002.

Votes on Final Passage:

House980

Senate460(Senate amended)

House880(House concurred)

Effective:  January 1, 2002