Bill > HB2179

This bill amends Tennessee law concerning workers' compensation, specifically focusing on situations where an employer contests an employee's work injury. It introduces provisions that, under certain circumstances, would prevent an employer or their workers' compensation insurance carrier from recovering attorney fees or asserting a subrogation lien (a right to step into the employee's shoes to recover money from a third party) if the employee successfully recovers from a third party. This waiver of recovery rights would occur if the employer had previously contested the medical cause, permanency, or extent of the employee's work injury using a medical opinion that did not come from the employee's designated physician from a C-42 panel. The bill also makes other changes related to workers' compensation, including allowing courts to award reasonable attorney fees and costs to employees when employers unreasonably deny claims or delay benefits, with specific provisions for expedited hearings and a sunset clause for these new rules.