Printed from BusinessInsurance.com

State seeks to make comp insurers cover medical marijuana

Posted On: Jan. 15, 2020 2:25 PM CST

med marijuana

New Jersey lawmakers are considering legislation that would require that workers compensation insurers pay for medical marijuana, according to a draft of a bill prefiled Monday.

Assembly 1708 states that “an employer or workers' compensation insurance carrier or private passenger automobile insurance carrier shall provide coverage for costs associated with the medical use of marijuana” if certain provisions are met.

The injured worker, for example, must be authorized to access marijuana for medical use, in accordance with state law, and at “least one other medication or treatment has been attempted and found to be unsuccessful in treating the patient's debilitating medical condition,” a draft of the bill states.

New Jersey lawmakers also introduced on Monday bills that would tweak the state’s comp system:

  • S.B. 281 would provide, from July 1, 2011, forward, an annual cost of living adjustment in the weekly workers compensation benefit rate for any surviving dependents of any public safety worker who died in the line of duty after Dec. 31, 1979, among other changes to benefits payments.
  • Assembly 878 would permit group self-insurance plans to improve workers compensation structure.
  • Assembly 1828 would establish a system for portable benefits — including workers compensation — for workers who provide services to consumers through contracting agents.