ICA Says COVID Claims Not Subject to Summary Denial

Workers’ compensation carriers and self-insured employers may not categorically deny COVID-19 claims, the Industrial Commission of Arizona said in an advisory policy statement. All claims must be reviewed and investigated in good faith, and COVID-19 denials, like other denials, must be well-grounded in fact, the commission said. Unreasonably delaying the payment of benefits or authorization for medical benefits constitutes bad faith, according to the “substantive policy statement” issued Thursday.  Unreasonably issuing a notice of claim status without adequate supporti...