Colorado bill would modify comp disability impairment ratings

Colorado lawmakers on Monday passed legislation that would modify impairment rating limits in workers compensation and conditions for requesting an independent medical examiner.

H.B. 1050, which passed in a 49-14 vote, would change the whole person impairment rating for injured workers from 25% to 19% for the purposes of determining the maximum amount of combined temporary disability and permanent partial disability payments an injured worker may receive.

The legislation would also modify the conditions that must be met by an employer or insurer to request an independent medical examiner and clarify the scope of authority of administrative law judges and the orders that are subject to review or appeal. It would also prohibit an employer or insurer from withdrawing an admission of liability when two or more years have passed since the date the issue of compensability was filed, except in cases of fraud.

The bill also clarifies that offsets to disability benefits under the federal Old-age, Survivors and Disability Insurance Amendments Act only apply if the payments were not already being received.

The legislation has been moved to the Senate and assigned to the Committee on Business, Labor & Technology.