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Senate bill would limit automatic deference to treating physicians and reimburse travel costs for independent medical exams
Summary
Senate Bill 345 would require workers' compensation courts to weigh medical opinions based on multiple factors rather than giving automatic deference to treating providers, and would require insurers to reimburse reasonable travel and ancillary costs for independent medical examinations (IMEs).
Senator Greg Hertz, sponsor of Senate Bill 345, told the House Business and Labor Committee the bill would require the workers' compensation court to evaluate medical opinions based on all relevant facts — providers' education, experience, specialization and credibility — rather than applying an automatic deference to treating physicians.
"The bill requires the court to actually perform a thoughtful analysis of qualifications, credibility of medical providers rather than applying a rule indiscriminately," Senator Greg Hertz said.
Nut graf: Proponents including self‑insured employers, the state fund and business groups urged the change as a…
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