Revision: June 1, 2016, midnight
\t \t\tSB 203-FN - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES
03/12/2015 0705s
7Jan2016... 2543h
7Jan2016... 2570h
06/01/2016 2026CofC
2015 SESSION
\t15-0910
\t01/05
SENATE BILL\t\t203-FN
AN ACT\trelative to review of eligibility for workers’ compensation.
SPONSORS:\tSen. Soucy, Dist 18
COMMITTEE:\tCommerce
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
\tThis bill allows an injured worker whose treatment is purposely postponed for medical treatment beyond the fourth anniversary of the date of denial or last payment of compensation to petition the commissioner of labor, within a certain time frame, to review such denial or award of compensation.
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Explanation:\tMatter added to current law appears in bold italics.
\t\tMatter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
\t\tMatter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
03/12/2015 0705s
7Jan2016... 2543h
7Jan2016... 2570h
06/01/2016 2026CofC
\t15-0910
\t01/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fifteen
AN ACT\trelative to review of eligibility for workers’ compensation.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
\t1 New Paragraph; Workers’ Compensation; Review of Eligibility for Compensation. Amend RSA 281-A:48 by inserting after paragraph I the following new paragraph:
\t\tI-a. Any party at interest with regard to an injury occurring after January 1, 2016, where medical treatment for that injury is purposefully and intentionally postponed for medical reasons beyond the fourth anniversary of the date of denial or the last payment of compensation, may petition the commissioner to review such denial or award of compensation made pursuant to RSA 281-A:40 by filing a petition with the commissioner no later than 180 days after the date of the postponed treatment. A written acknowledgment by the employee and notification to the workers’ compensation carrier shall be included in the worker’s medical record including the medical reason for postponing the medical procedure. Any award or denial of indemnity payments made under this paragraph shall not extend the time frame under paragraph I.
\t2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 90 days after its passage.
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLBAO
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t15-0910
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAmended 03/30/15
SB 203-FN FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT\trelative to review of eligibility for workers’ compensation.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Department of Labor states this bill, as amended by the Senate (Amendment #2015-0705s), may increase state, county and local expenditures by an indeterminable amount in FY 2016 and each year thereafter. There is no fiscal impact on state, county and local revenue.
METHODOLOGY:
The Department of Labor states this bill modifies the basis of the four-year time restriction for reviewing an injury to determine eligibility for workers’ compensation from the date of denial or last payment of compensation to the last date of medical treatment. The Department is not able to determine the increase, if any, on state, county and local expenditures as it does not have information on how many injured workers may benefit as a result of the bill’s passage.