HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 937

BYRepresentatives Jacobsen, Lux, R. King, Appelwick, Wang and Cole

Establishing time limit for forwarding of claims and documentation by self-insurers.

House Committe on Commerce & Labor

House Staff:Chris Cordes (786-7125)

Majority Report:     The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (9)

     Signed by Representatives Wang, Chair; Cole, Vice Chair; Fisch, Fisher,  R. King, Patrick, Sayan, C. Smith and Walker.

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR FEBRUARY 26, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Employers who are self-insured under Washington's industrial insurance system are required to make reports on their claims under specific circumstances and in accordance with rules adopted by the Department of Labor and Industries.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  If a worker or self-insured employer requests a determination from the department on an industrial insurance claim, the self-insurer is required to forward all medical reports and other specified information to the Department of Labor and Industries, if not previously submitted.  All information on a claim in the possession of the self-insurer must be forwarded within ten days of receiving a request by certified mail from the department.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  The original bill required a self-insured employer to forward all documents received or prepared by the self-insurer on an industrial insurance claim to the department within one working day.

Fiscal Note:    Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     John Winney, Injured Workers Awareness Committee.

House Committee - Testified Against: None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:     The Department of Labor and Industries needs greater authority to compel self-insured employers to produce claim documents when a determination on the claim is pending.

House Committee - Testimony Against: None Presented.