Subcommittee OKs Bill to Address Attorney Fee Issue, Other Cost Drivers

The House Insurance & Banking Subcommittee on Tuesday approved a bill that would allow judges of compensation claims to award claimants’ attorneys hourly fees that depart from the statutory schedule. Proposed Committee Bill IBS 17-01 would allow a departure from statutory fees if they are less than 40% or greater than 125% of the hourly rate customarily charged in the local community. The allowed rate would be capped at $250 an hour. The bill includes many other reforms and is estimated by the National Council on Compensation Insurance to decrease overall system costs by 5% or...