Bill Text: NJ A2652 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Bans charging workers' compensation claimants for medical expenses, gives Division of Workers' Compensation sole jurisdiction over work-related medical claims.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-0)
Status: (Passed) 2012-11-19 - Approved P.L.2012, c.67. [A2652 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-A2652-Amended.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman TIMOTHY J. EUSTACE
District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblyman TROY SINGLETON
District 7 (Burlington)
Assemblyman JOSEPH V. EGAN
District 17 (Middlesex and Somerset)
SYNOPSIS
Bans charging workers' compensation claimants for medical expenses, gives Division of Workers' Compensation sole jurisdiction over work-related medical claims.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Assembly Labor Committee on May 14, 2012, with amendments.
An Act concerning medical claims in connection with work-related injuries and illnesses and amending R.S.34:15-15.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. R.S.34:15-15 is 1[amend] amended1 to read as follows:
134:15-15.1 The employer shall furnish to the injured worker such medical, surgical and other treatment, and hospital service as shall be necessary to cure and relieve the worker of the effects of the injury and to restore the functions of the injured member or organ where such restoration is possible; provided, however, that the employer shall not be liable to furnish or pay for physicians' or surgeons' services in excess of $50.00 and in addition to furnish hospital service in excess of $50.00, unless the injured worker or the worker's physician who provides treatment, or any other person on the worker's behalf, shall file a petition with the Division of Workers' Compensation stating the need for physicians' or surgeons' services in excess of $50.00, as aforesaid, and such hospital service or appliances in excess of $50.00, as aforesaid, and the Division of Workers' Compensation after investigating the need of the same and giving the employer an opportunity to be heard, shall determine that such physicians' and surgeons' treatment and hospital services are or were necessary, and that the fees for the same are reasonable and shall make an order requiring the employer to pay for or furnish the same. The mere furnishing of medical treatment or the payment thereof by the employer shall not be construed to be an admission of liability.
If the employer shall refuse
or neglect to comply with the foregoing provisions of this section, the
employee may secure such treatment and services as may be necessary and as may
come within the terms of this section, and the employer shall be liable to pay
therefor; provided, however, that the employer shall not be liable for any
amount expended by the employee or by any third person on the employee's
behalf for any such physicians' treatment and hospital services, unless such
employee or any person on the employee's behalf shall have requested the
employer to furnish the same and the employer shall have refused or neglected
so to do, or unless the nature of the injury required such services, and the
employer or the superintendent or foreman of the employer, having knowledge of
such injury shall have neglected to provide the same, or unless the injury
occurred under such conditions as make impossible the notification of the
employer, or unless the circumstances are so peculiar as shall justify, in the
opinion of the
Division of Workers' Compensation, the expenditures assumed by the employee for
such physicians' treatment and hospital services, apparatus and appliances.
All fees and other charges for such physicians' and surgeons' treatment and hospital treatment shall be reasonable and based upon the usual fees and charges which prevail in the same community for similar physicians', surgeons' and hospital services.
When an injured employee may be partially or wholly relieved of the effects of a permanent injury, by use of an artificial limb or other appliance, which phrase shall also include artificial teeth or glass eye, the Division of Workers' Compensation, acting under competent medical advice, is empowered to determine the character and nature of such limb or appliance, and to require the employer or the employer's insurance carrier to furnish the same.
Fees for treatments or medical services that have been authorized by the employer or its carrier or its third party administrator or determined by the Division of Workers' Compensation to be the responsibility of the employer, its carrier or third party administrator, or have been paid by the employer, its carrier or third party administrator pursuant to the workers' compensation law, R.S.34:15-1 et seq., shall not be charged against or collectible from the injured worker. Exclusive jurisdiction for any disputed medical charge arising from any claim for compensation for a work-related injury or illness shall be vested in the division 1[, which shall provide procedures to resolve the dispute, including procedural requirements for medical providers or any other party to the dispute]1. The treatment of an injured worker or the payment of workers' compensation to an injured worker or dependent of an injured or deceased worker shall not be delayed because of a claim by a medical provider.
(cf: P.L.1979, c.283, s.7)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
