This bill amends RSA 281-A:44 to establish that claimants who prevail in workers' compensation disputes at the department level are entitled to reimbursement for reasonable attorneys' fees and costs, as approved by the commissioner. The new language specifies that no attorney can charge or collect fees for services rendered at the department level without prior approval from the commissioner. Additionally, the bill clarifies that if an insurance carrier disputes the causal relationship of a medical bill to the claimant's injury and is subsequently ordered to pay or reimburse the bill by the commissioner, the claimant is also entitled to reasonable counsel fees and costs.

The bill removes previous limitations on the payment of counsel fees and costs, allowing for reimbursement in broader circumstances beyond just disputes over medical bills. It also introduces a provision that claimants are entitled to reasonable fees and costs pending appeal, and if a medical bill is accepted less than seven business days before a scheduled hearing, the claimant can still receive reimbursement unless the carrier can justify the delay. The bill is set to take effect 60 days after its passage and does not provide funding or authorize new positions, with the fiscal impact being indeterminable for state and local levels.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 281-A:44