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 legal 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 later 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 by insurance carriers, allowing for broader reimbursement scenarios. It also introduces a provision that ensures claimants can receive reasonable fees and costs pending any appeals. The effective date of the act is set for 60 days after its passage. While the Department of Labor does not anticipate significant revenue impacts from this bill, it notes potential indeterminable costs associated with increased claim expenditures due to the changes in reimbursement policies.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 281-A:44