Bill > HB5181

This bill establishes a comprehensive mediation process for workers' compensation claims, mandating mediation for certain types of claims and providing detailed guidelines for the process. Specifically, mediation is required for claims involving employees who have returned to work, medical-only benefits, claims where the claimant is not represented by an attorney, or claims the agency determines are suitable for mediation. Before the mediation conference, the agency must review the insurance carrier's response with the employee and provide a clear explanation of their rights, including potential benefits and potential deductions. The bill specifies that if a claim is not resolved through mediation, claims of $10,000 or less will be referred to the small claims division, while claims over $10,000 will be assigned to a magistrate. The legislation also stipulates that any party's willful failure to comply with the mediation process will prohibit them from proceeding under the workers' compensation act. Additionally, the bill makes minor technical changes to existing language, such as replacing "shall" with "must" and updating gender-specific pronouns to be more neutral. These changes aim to streamline the workers' compensation claims process and provide more clarity and support for employees seeking benefits.

Government Affairs

https://legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2025-HB-5181