Bill > HB1300

This bill addresses significant reforms to Colorado's workers' compensation system, focusing on improving medical care and benefits for injured workers. The bill highlights several systemic issues, including the current system's bias towards insurance companies, limited physician choice for injured workers, and barriers to receiving medical treatment. Key provisions include allowing employees to designate their own treating physician from a list of accredited physicians, requiring employers and insurers to use the state's utilization standards when reviewing medical authorization requests, and providing more flexibility for workers to change physicians. The bill also increases the timeframe for changing physicians from 90 to 120 days and mandates that employers quickly notify injured workers of their right to choose a treating physician. Additionally, the bill aims to hold third-party administrators to the same standards as insurers and requires more transparent reporting about physician changes. The legislative declaration emphasizes that the workers' compensation system has become increasingly difficult for injured workers to navigate since 1991 amendments, and this bill seeks to restore the original intent of providing quick and efficient medical benefits. The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2028, and will apply to workers' compensation claims filed on or after that date.

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https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb25-1300