Bill > HB480

This bill aims to improve the workers' compensation system by streamlining the process for functional capacity examinations (FCEs), which assess an injured worker's physical abilities and work restrictions. The bill allows an attending physician to request an FCE without first obtaining permission from the employer, when the employee has reached medical stabilization and cannot return to their usual employment. The examination can be performed by a qualified health care provider, which now explicitly includes licensed occupational and physical therapists. The attending physician must submit the details of the examining provider in writing to the employer at least seven days before the referral, and the provider must submit the FCE report to the physician and employer within 14 days of the examination. The employer will be responsible for paying the fees for these examinations. The bill defines a functional capacity examination as a set of tests to identify an employee's physical skills, functional capabilities, and work tolerances, and a functional capacity examination report as a document providing recommendations about the employee's ability to return to work, potentially with restrictions or accommodations. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2050, and is designed to reduce unnecessary delays in the workers' compensation process, improve administrative efficiency, and support injured workers' recovery and return to work.

Budget and Finance, Business and Industry, Labor and Employment

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=480&year=2026