SB 342 – AS INTRODUCED

2014 SESSION

14-2803

01/06

SENATE BILL 342

AN ACT relative to medical examinations for workers’ compensation.

SPONSORS: Sen. Soucy, Dist 18; Rep. Goley, Hills 8; Rep. Wall, Straf 6

COMMITTEE: Commerce

ANALYSIS

This bill clarifies the language relating to medical examinations under the workers’ compensation law.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

14-2803

01/06

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fourteen

AN ACT relative to medical examinations for workers’ compensation.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Workers’ Compensation; Medical Examinations. Amend RSA 281-A:38, II to read as follows:

II. Any health care provider conducting [independent] medical examinations under this chapter shall be certified by the appropriate specialty board as recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties or obtain the approval of the commissioner for those specialties not recognized by such board. The health care provider shall maintain a current practice in that area of specialty. The [independent] medical examination shall take place within a 50-mile radius of the residence of the injured employee, unless, within the discretion of the commissioner, examination outside the 50-mile radius is necessary to obtain the services of a provider who specializes in the evaluation and treatment specific to the nature and extent of the employee’s injury. If an employer or insurance carrier provides written notice to the injured employee regarding its request for [an independent] a medical examination, such notice shall be given 10 days before the examination and shall include the following: “This medical examination is at the request of either the employer or insurance carrier. The examination is not for the purpose of treatment or advice about treatment but for a medical opinion about the employee’s claim.” The injured employee shall not be required to submit to more than 2 [independent] medical examinations per year, unless within the discretion of the commissioner, more than 2 examinations are necessary. An injured employee shall have the right to have a witness present during such examination. In the event that a witness is present, including but not limited to a witness taking notes or observing, on behalf of the injured employee, the witness shall not interfere in the examination in any way. The injured employee shall be required to sign an authorization, as prepared by the commissioner, to the effect that he or she understands that his or her medical history and condition or conditions will be discussed during said examination and that he or she waives any right to privacy that he or she may have under the circumstances of voluntarily allowing a witness to be present on his or her behalf.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2015.