BILL NUMBER: S8240
SPONSOR: RAMOS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the workers' compensation law, in relation to removing
parallel processes for authorization of certain providers; and repealing
certain provisions of such law relating thereto
 
PURPOSE OF THE BILL:
The purpose of this bill is to make changes to the statute to ensure
that the processes contained in the law are consistent with the Expanded
Provider Law, particularly the process for authorizing and removing
providers.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
The changes to the Workers' Compensation Law in the bill conform the
processes to the Expanded Provider Law. References to podiatric, chirop-
ractic, and psychology practice committees are removed, and replaced
with appropriate associations.
The processes for authorization and removal of authorized providers that
do not conform to the Expanded Provider Law are repealed, and references
to section 13-d for removal is added. References to medical billing
disputes are also removed from sections 13-k, 13-1, and 13-m, as this
process has been updated in the Expanded Provider Law.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Under current law, there is a uniform process for authorizing and remov-
ing providers, including new provider types, in the Expanded Provider
Law and set out in sections 13-b and 13-d of the Workers' Compensation
Law.
Sections 13-k, 13-1, and 13-m of the Workers' Compensation Law still
contain references to the process prior to the passage of the Expanded
Provider Law. This bill seeks to update these sections of the Workers'
Compensation Law through changes to conform to the Expanded Provider Law
and remove parallel processes and provide consistent, clear guidance.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
This is a new proposal.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
It is anticipated that eliminating the podiatric, chiropractic and
psychology committees would save the Workers' Compensation Board approx-
imately $5,000.00 per year currently budgeted for the various commit-
tees.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
The bill would take effect immediately.