2022 Legislative Updates

2022 Legislative Update There were several legislative changes this session impacting workers’ compensation claims handling in Colorado. HB22-1354: Protection of Claimant’s Mental Health Records  – Effective: June 9, 2022 This bill involves a significant change in the requirements of handling an injured workers’ mental health records and became effective immediately on June 9, 2022. It…

AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, Third Edition, Revised: What Are You Doing Colorado?

One of the questions I hear frequently about the Colorado workers’ compensation system from risk managers, insurance adjusters, and even some medical professionals is: “Why does Colorado still use the AMA Guides Third Edition, Revised, when calculating impairment?” In other words, why do Division Level II accredited physicians providing impairment ratings to injured workers use…

NEW OVERTIME RULES

The Department of Labor’s (“DOL”) new overtime rules take effect December 1, 2016, and employers should be reviewing and modifying their compensation and payroll practices in response. Here is a link to the new regulations adopted by the Department of Labor: http://webapps.dol.gov/FederalRegister/PdfDisplay.aspx?DocId=28355 As part of this preparation, employers must consider whether and how any changes to…

Investigation of Outstanding Medicaid Liens in Workers’ Compensation Claims

The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, through its Medicaid program, is responsible for collection of outstanding liens for the state.   This department is in charge of disbursement of state funds to indigent citizens in need of medical benefits.  Oftentimes, a claimant will pursue medical benefits through the department if they qualify.   This…

Sexual Orientation Discrimination: EEOC Initiates its Next Title VII Challenge

A new era of discrimination lawsuits is upon employers nationwide.  Last month, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) filed its first lawsuits alleging sexual orientation discrimination under Title VII against employers in Pennsylvania and Maryland.  The lawsuits are the latest step by the Commission to confirm its view that “sex” discrimination under Title VII…

History of Workers’ Compensation, Part III, Emergence of the Modern-Day System

This is the final piece of a three-part series surveying the history of workers’ compensation. Prior to 1911, an individual residing in the United States, regardless of their state residency, who suffered a workplace injury could only recover damages by utilizing traditional tort based law. In other words, an injured worker would need to sue…