Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill authorizing retrospective rating plan employers and groups to schedule medical exams for workers' compensation claims.

Highlights:

• Authorizes qualified retrospective rating plan employers and groups (RRPE’s) to schedule independent medical exams, consultations, and rehabilitation assessments related to workers’ compensation claims, whereas current law requires injured workers to submit to medical exams at the request of the Department of Labor and Industries (Sec. 1).

• Requires RRPE’s to schedule independent medical exams, consultations, and rehabilitation assessments with qualified providers and examiners who have been approved by the Department of Labor and Industries (Sec. 1).

• Requires RRPE's to inform the injured worker in writing that the worker may request intervention by the Department of Labor and Industries if a dispute arises with the handling of a claim by the RRPE (Sec. 1).

• Requires mandated performance audits of claims management systems to include evaluations of the scheduling authority granted to RRPE's (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text