Employer Can't Use Agreement With Worker to Avoid Process for Resolving Fee Disputes

The Commonwealth Court ruled that an employer cannot avoid the procedures for challenging a provider’s invoice by entering an agreement that purports to relieve the employer of liability. Case: Armour Pharmacy v. Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Fee Review Hearing Office, No. 1613 C.D. 2017, 08/07/2018, published. Facts and procedural history: Mark Kraayenbrink suffered a back injury in 1999 while working for Cabinet Transport. Kraayenbrink filed a workers’ compensation claim, which he settled in 2000. The terms of the settlement included a requirement that Cabinet provide f...