Bills Focus on Medical Treatment, Unpaid Benefits

Hawaii lawmakers introduced bills that would require an investigation of all active workers' compensation claims when a self-insured employer or carrier defaults on a benefit payment, establish a deadline for approving general treatment plans and define "compound drugs" for the purposes of ensuring access for injured workers. HB 2042 would require a full audit of all ongoing claims when a carrier or self-insured employer fails to make a payment ordered in a final decision or judgment within 31 days of becoming due.  The bill includes a statement saying the Legislature find...