BILL REQ. #:  H-1019.1 

Read first time 01/24/11.   Referred to Committee on Labor & Workforce Development.

     AN ACT Relating to claims management by retrospective rating plan employers and groups; and adding a new section to chapter 51.18 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 51.18 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) In addition to those general powers and rights deemed appropriate by the department, retrospective rating plan employers and groups who administer their plans with an approved claims administrator shall have the authority to assist the department in the processing of claims. However, the department retains the final authority over decisions with respect to any individual claim. The authority of retrospective rating plan employers and groups includes, but is not limited to, the following:
     (a) Authorization to schedule medical examinations and consultations, using only qualified persons from the department's approved examiner list. No more than two independent medical exams for each claim may be scheduled by the claims administrator within any twenty-four month period. An independent medical exam may be scheduled when the claim file includes medical reports indicating that an exam may be necessary for any of the following reasons: Establishing a diagnosis, outlining a program of treatment, evaluating what, if any, conditions are related to the claimed industrial injury or occupational disease, determining whether an industrial injury or occupational disease has aggravated a preexisting condition, establishing an impairment rating when the claim file medical reports indicate that the worker's claim-related condition is at maximum medical improvement, evaluating whether the industrial injury or occupational disease has worsened, or evaluating the worker's mental or physical restrictions as well as the worker's ability to work. The results of any independent medical exam scheduled under this subsection must be sent by the examiner or independent medical examination panel directly to the department for the claimant's claim file. The department shall strictly enforce penalties under RCW 51.32.110 for refusals to submit to medical examinations scheduled by retrospective rating plan employers or groups, obstruction of the same, or other prohibited actions set out in RCW 51.32.110.
     (b) Authorization to schedule vocational assessments using only qualified providers from a qualified provider list developed by the department. Providers may be selected based on department quality or performance indicators and based on industry experience. Any vocational assessment resulting from a referral under this section must be sent by the vocational rehabilitation counselor directly to the department for the claimant's claim file.
     (c) Authorization to close claims as provided by this subsection. If a claim with date of injury or manifestation of occupational disease on or after January 1, 2012: (i) Involves only medical treatment and/or the payment of temporary disability compensation under RCW 51.32.090 for a period of thirty days or less; (ii) at the time medical treatment is concluded, does not involve permanent disability; (iii) is one with respect to which the department has not intervened under subsection (2) of this section; and (iv) concerns an injured worker who has returned to work with the retrospective rating plan employer or group at the worker's previous job or at a job that has at least ninety-five percent of at-injury wages and benefits, the claim may be closed by the retrospective rating plan employer or group, subject to reporting of claims to the department in a manner prescribed by department rules adopted under chapter 34.05 RCW. No later than at the time of closure for such claims, the retrospective rating plan employer or group shall forward to the worker a notification developed by the department describing in nontechnical language the worker's rights under this title.
     (2) If a dispute arises from the handling of any claim under this section, the injured worker, or retrospective rating plan employer or group, may request the department to intervene.
     (3) The department may require the retrospective rating plan employer or group to notify the department prior to exercising any authority authorized by this section. Rules adopted under this section must minimize the department's need to respond and ensure that any delay in response by the department does not impede the timely administration of the claim. Charges incurred by the retrospective rating plan employer or group for independent medical examinations or vocational rehabilitation assessments shall be charged against the claim.
     (4) For the purposes of this section, "approved claims administrator" means a person who meets department qualifications to manage industrial insurance claims for retrospective rating plan employers and groups. Any claims managers employed by the approved claims administrator to manage retrospective rating plan claims must complete training approved or provided by the department as established in rule, and are subject to department audit or review of their claims management process. The director shall take corrective action, subject to appeal to the board of industrial insurance appeals, against a retrospective rating plan employer or group that has received authority to assist the department with processing of claims, if the director determines that a claims manager under its direction is not following proper industrial insurance claims procedures. Corrective actions taken by the director may include:
     (a) Probationary period of time for the claims manager;
     (b) Additional mandatory training for claims management personnel; and
     (c) Monitoring of the activities of the employer or group to determine progress towards compliance.
     The director shall adopt rules defining the corrective actions which may be taken in response to a given condition. If the director determines that compliance has been attained, no further action shall be taken. If compliance has not been attained, the director may take additional corrective action including the removal of the additional authority to assist the department in the processing of claims under this section. The withdrawal of approval revokes the ability of the approved claims administrator to exercise authority under this section, but does not otherwise affect the administrator's status or the retrospective rating plan employer or group's status in the retrospective rating program.
     (5) The department may adopt rules to implement this section.