The bill amends various sections of the General Laws in Chapters 28-29 and 28-33, which govern Workers' Compensation provisions and benefits. It introduces a new section, 28-29-2, which defines key terms related to workers' compensation, including "maximum medical improvement" (MMI) and clarifies the criteria for determining original liability in claims.

In Chapter 28-33, the bill modifies provisions regarding medical services and rehabilitation for injured employees. It mandates that employers provide necessary medical treatment, including hearing aids, and establishes that expense reimbursement requests must be submitted no more frequently than once every thirty days. The bill also addresses the appeals process from memoranda of agreement, specifying that the court has the authority to determine issues related to the injuries sustained by employees, including those caused by or flowing from the original injury.

Additionally, the bill expands benefits for police officers and firefighters injured in the line of duty, presuming that PTSD diagnosed by a licensed mental health professional is a work-related injury. It outlines employer obligations regarding salary payments and medical expenses during an employee's incapacity due to line of duty illness or injury. Overall, the act aims to enhance protections and benefits for injured workers while streamlining the claims process. The act will take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
3297: 28-29-2, 28-35-5, 45-19-1