SB374: relative to the compensation of physician practices or other entities for providing medical information for workers' compensation purposes.

SB 374 – AS INTRODUCED

2010 SESSION

10-2774

01/04

SENATE BILL 374

AN ACT relative to the compensation of physician practices or other entities for providing medical information for workers’ compensation purposes.

SPONSORS: Sen. Cilley, Dist 6; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Rep. Weed, Ches 3; Rep. J. Knowles, Hills 27; Rep. Bishop, Rock 2

COMMITTEE: Commerce, Labor and Consumer Protection

ANALYSIS

This bill requires workers’ compensation carriers or other persons or entities requesting medical information pertaining to a workers’ compensation case to provide reasonable compensation to the person or entity providing the information.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

10-2774

01/04

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Ten

AN ACT relative to the compensation of physician practices or other entities for providing medical information for workers’ compensation purposes.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Workers’ Compensation; Compensation for Medical Information. Amend RSA 281-A:23, V(a) to read as follows:

(a) The act of the worker in applying for workers’ compensation benefits constitutes authorization to any physician, hospital, chiropractor, or other medical vendor to supply all relevant information regarding the worker’s occupational injury or illness to the insurer, the insurer’s representative, the worker’s employer, the worker’s representative, the worker’s employer’s representative, and the department. Medical information relevant to a claim includes a past history of complaints of, or treatment of, a condition similar to that presented in the claim. Any person who supplies information in accordance with this subparagraph and with rules adopted by the commissioner shall be immune from any liability, civil or criminal, that might otherwise be incurred for such action. The physician may require evidence from the workers’ representative in his or her representative capacity. This authorization shall be valid for the duration of the work-related injury or illness. The person or entity requiring relevant medical information pursuant to this subparagraph shall provide reasonable compensation to the physician, hospital, chiropractor, or other medical vendor providing such information.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.