S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
3556
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 27, 2015
___________
Introduced by M. of A. WRIGHT -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Labor
AN ACT to amend the workers' compensation law, in relation to applica-
tion of guidelines for medical treatment for injured workers
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivision 5 of section 13-a of the workers' compensation
law, as amended by chapter 6 of the laws of 2007 and as further amended
by section 104 of part A of chapter 62 of the laws of 2011, is amended
to read as follows:
(5) No claim for specialist consultations, surgical operations,
physiotherapeutic or occupational therapy procedures, x-ray examinations
or special diagnostic laboratory tests costing more than one thousand
dollars shall be valid and enforceable, as against such employer, unless
such special services shall have been authorized by the employer or by
the board, or unless such authorization has been unreasonably withheld,
or withheld for a period of more than thirty calendar days from receipt
of a request for authorization, or unless such special services are
required in an emergency, provided, however, that the basis for a denial
of such authorization by the employer must be based on a conflicting
second opinion rendered by a physician authorized by the board. The
board, with the approval of the superintendent of financial services,
shall issue and maintain a list of pre-authorized procedures under this
section. NO GUIDELINE PROVIDING FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT, OR RULES OR
REGULATIONS PERTAINING THERETO, SHALL BE APPLIED BY THE BOARD RETROAC-
TIVELY TO CASES WITH A DATE OF ACCIDENT OR DATE OF DISABLEMENT THAT IS
PRIOR TO THE DATE OF ANY SUCH GUIDELINE, RULE OR REGULATION.
S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04798-01-5