Bill Would Give Workers Unlimited Choice of Treating Provider

Friday, April 2, 2021 | 0

Injured workers in Colorado would be able to select any doctor certified to treat in the state’s workers’ compensation system, under a recently introduced bill.

Current law requires employers or carriers to provide injured workers with a list of at least four medical providers they can select to provide treatment.

Senate Bill 197, introduced March 24 by Sen. Robert Rodriguez, D-Denver, would allow an injured worker to designate any Level I or Level II accredited physician as the treating doctor.

Employers could designate a treating physician if a worker is unable to make a selection or declines to do so. However, the subsequent designation of a different treating physician by the injured worker would render the employer-designated treating physician as “unauthorized.”

“I think I just want to make sure the workers have protection and good advice and aren’t just forced into something because someone wants to save costs on health care,” Rodriguez told the Denver Business Journal. “I’m not looking to break the system. I just want to make sure it’s fair.”

The newspaper reports that employer and insurer representatives said the bill could increase system costs and delay return to work.

SB 197 was referred to the Senate Committee on Business, Labor and Technology, where it awaits a hearing.