Bill aims to penalize insurers who delay care to first responders

Lawmakers in Texas will consider a bill that would penalize payers more than two times the cost of a claim plus possible attorney’s fees if they delay benefits to first responders.

Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbuck, on Thursday introduced H.B. 1521, which would allow the state insurance commissioner to “assess an administrative penalty against a political subdivision that self-insures either individually or collectively that commits an administrative violation in connection with a workers’ compensation claim” filed by a peace officer or firefighter.

The bill also states that the penalty “shall not be less than two times the total amount of benefits payable in connection with the employee’s claim.”

Rep. Burrows told a KCBD 11 news reporter on Thursday that “the current workers compensation system for firefighters and police officers in Texas is plagued by delays and abuse.”

“Private insurers have largely been replaced by cities that are either self-insured or in a risk pool. This has resulted in widespread denials and delays by the cities when it comes to nearly any on-duty-related injury or illness,” he told the NBC affiliate.