N.Y. aims to expedite comp claims disputes

NEW YORK--New York Insurance Superintendent Eric Dinallo on Monday unveiled draft regulations that would shorten the time necessary to resolve disputed workers compensation claims to 30 days.

Currently, it can take more than 200 days to resolve a claim from the point of dispute, the superintendent said in a letter to the New York State Workers' Compensation Board. It is up to the WCB to adopt Mr. Dinallo's recommended regulations, a spokesman for the superintendent said.

New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer directed Mr. Dinallo to find improvements for resolving disputed claims as part of the governor's workers comp reform program.

Among other things, the draft regulations would require employers, claimants and treating physicians to submit forms with additional information to help insurers quickly determine whether to dispute a claim.

Insurers would have to submit "fact-specific" arguments detailing their reasons for disputing claims, and claimants would have to expedite submissions of prima facie medical evidence reports.