Bills Propose Penalty for Unreasonable Denial, Presumption of Compensability After 90 Days

Louisiana lawmakers have introduced bills that would presume that claims are compensable if they haven’t been denied within three months, and to allow employers to seek penalties and attorney fees when they have to recover health care payments after a work comp claim is unreasonably denied. House Bill 769, by Rep. Neil Riser, R-Columbia, would create a civil liability for unreasonable denials of medical treatment. Louisiana law already requires any health insurer that contracts to provide health care benefits for employees to pay for medical care if the workers’ compensation paye...