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Conn. Senate passes bill that would address claim delays

Posted On: Jun. 5, 2019 2:08 PM CST

comp claims

A bill that would seek to punish insurers and other payers who are found to unnecessarily delay workers compensation claims processing unanimously passed the Connecticut state Senate on Wednesday.

Only one lawmaker in the state House of Representatives on May 22 voted against H.B. 6916, which would go into effect on Oct. 1.

According to the latest draft of the proposal, “as soon as may be after the conclusion of any hearing, but no later than one hundred twenty days after such conclusion, the commissioner shall send to each party a written copy of the commissioner's findings and award.”

And if no appeal is filed within 20 days, such an award would be considered final and may be enforced as a judgment of the state’s Superior Court, the draft states.

Additional fines of 12% per year plus “reasonable” attorney fees may be ordered in “cases where, through the fault or neglect of the employer or insurer, adjustments of compensation have been unduly delayed, or where through such fault or neglect, payments have been unduly delayed,” the bill states.