Colo. Governor Approves Workers’ Comp Reforms

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper has signed legislation approving state workers’ compensation reforms.

Senate Bill 11-199, sponsored in the House by James Riesberg, D, as well as sponsored in the Senate by Lois Tochtrop, D:

• Requires an employer to admit liability for reasonable and necessary medical benefits in claims in which an authorized treating physician recommends medical benefits after maximum medical improvement if there is no contrary medical opinion in the record.
• Permits parties in connection with case hearings, as long as they have attorney representation, to engage in discovery without need for permission.
• Requires the employer to provide advance payments to claimants, if requested, for estimated costs of attending a medical evaluation requested by the employer or insurer. If the employer pays the estimated examination expenses and the claimant does not attend the exam, the employer or insurer may recover the costs.

The new law takes effect July 1.