| Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research |
BILL ANALYSIS |
| Commerce & Labor Committee | |
SSB 6246
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
Brief Description: Authorizing travel expenses for closed industrial insurance claims.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research & Development (originally sponsored by Senator Honeyford).
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/26/08
Staff: Brian Considine (786-7290).
Background:
Industrial insurance is a no-fault state workers' compensation program that provides medical and
partial wage replacement benefits to covered workers who are injured on the job or who develop
an occupational disease. Employers must insure with the state fund administered by the
Department of Labor and Industries (Department) or, if qualified, may self-insure.
Under the Industrial Insurance Act, workers who, in the course of employment, are injured or
suffer disability from an occupational disease receive certain benefits. With limited exceptions,
an injured worker receives benefits until the claim is closed. Claims are generally closed when
the injured worker's doctor or another physician certifies that further treatment will not improve
the condition, the Department has no information showing further treatment is needed, or the
injury was minor and treatment was successful.
The Department or self-insurers, by rule, must reimburse travel costs for health care treatment
related to the claim when the injured worker is required to travel more than 10 miles one way
from his or her home, no other provider of the same type is available closer to the injured
worker's home, and the claim manager has pre-authorized travel.
Mechanical appliances required as permanent equipment after treatment has been completed
must continue to be provided or replaced without regard to the date of injury or the date
treatment was completed.
Summary of Bill:
Injured workers must be reimbursed for reasonable travel expenses when travel is required in
order to repair, replace, or alter a prosthetic, orthotic, or similar permanent mechanical appliance
after closure of the claim.
The reimbursement provisions do not cover travel for the repair or replacement of hearing-aid
devices.
Rules Authority: The bill does not address the rule-making powers of an agency.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on 2/25/08.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.