HB 25-1300: Workers' Compensation Benefits Proof of Entitlement - Colorado

Revised (04/29/2025) → PA2 (04/25/2025) · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to shift from a 'Revised' version to a 'Preamble' version, indicating it is an unofficial draft with committee amendments not yet adopted. The substantive text was significantly rewritten to emphasize employer obligations to educate injured workers about the claims process and to address issues with third-party administrators who may delay or deny care more frequently than traditional insurers.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to explicitly include third-party administrators alongside traditional insurers, requiring them to be held to the same standards as insurers regarding medical care authorization.

REQUIREMENT

Added new language (Section II) requiring employers to educate injured workers on how to file claims and seek treatment through the workers' compensation system.

Modified Section IV to clarify that the Division of Workers' Compensation lacks clear authority to rule on employer or insurer violations of utilization standards.

ELIGIBILITY

Added new Section V addressing third-party administrators, noting they are often out-of-state and delay/deny care more frequently than insurers, and should be held to the same standards.

TECHNICAL

Changed the document header from 'Revised' to 'Preamble' and updated the date from April 29, 2025 to April 25, 2025, indicating this is an earlier draft version with pending amendments.

Rerevised (04/30/2025) → Revised (04/29/2025) · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill text was updated from a Rerevised version to a Revised version, reflecting amendments adopted during the second reading in the Senate. The primary change is the addition of Senate sponsors Kipp and the removal of several other sponsors (Exum, Jodeh, Sullivan, Wallace, Weissman, Winter F.), indicating a shift in the bill's sponsorship composition. The document also shows a change in the reading status from '3rd Reading Unamended' to 'Revised', suggesting the bill has moved through a different stage of the legislative process.

TECHNICAL

Removed Senate sponsors Exum, Jodeh, Sullivan, Wallace, Weissman, and Winter F. from the bill's sponsorship list.

Added Senate sponsor Kipp to the bill's sponsorship list.

Updated the document header from 'REREVISED' to 'REVISED' and changed the reading status from '3rd Reading Unamended' to 'Revised', indicating a procedural update in the bill's legislative history.

PA1 (03/28/2025) → Rerevised (04/30/2025) · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill text was reorganized and reformatted between versions, with the House Sponsorship list expanded to include additional legislators and the Senate Sponsorship list also expanded. The bill's substantive content regarding workers' compensation claim procedures, utilization standards, and benefit caps appears unchanged in the provided excerpt, though the text was restructured with new section numbering and formatting updates.

TECHNICAL

Expanded House Sponsorship list to include Bacon, Brown, Froelich, Garcia, Jackson, Lieder, Lindsay, Mabrey, Marshall, Titone, Woodrow, and Zokaie

Expanded Senate Sponsorship list to include Exum, Jodeh, Sullivan, Wallace, Weissman, and Winter F.

Reformatted document header and version labels from 'PREAMENDED' to 'REREVISED' with updated amendment status descriptions

Reorganized bill text structure with new section numbering and repositioned explanatory notes about amendment markings

Final Act (05/15/2025) → PA1 (03/28/2025) · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill text was reformatted from a final act version to a preliminary committee amendment version, with substantive content changes including removal of the 'Final Act' signature language and addition of committee markup indicating pending amendments. The core legislative declaration content remains substantially similar, though some subsections were renumbered and reorganized during the committee review process.

Scope change

No substantive change to the bill's scope or applicability; changes are primarily formatting and procedural markup indicating the bill is in committee review rather than final passage.

TECHNICAL

Removed final act signature language and certification statements indicating the bill was ready for Governor's signature

Added committee markup headers and formatting indicating this is a preliminary version with amendments not yet adopted on second reading

Reorganized legislative declaration subsections and renumbered sections during committee review process

Added bill summary section explaining the bill's purpose regarding burden of proof shifts and physician selection mechanisms

Signed Act (06/04/2025) → Final Act (05/15/2025) · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill text was reformatted and corrected between the signed and final versions, with minor corrections to the sponsor names (e.g., 'Wiliford' to 'Willford', '13acon' to 'Bacon') and the addition of a note indicating the bill is ready for signature. The substantive legislative content, including the bill title, sponsors, and the beginning of Section 1, remains unchanged in meaning.

TECHNICAL

Corrected sponsor name typos from 'Wiliford' to 'Willford' and '13acon' to 'Bacon' in the list of representatives.

Added a note indicating the bill is prepared for signatures and directing readers to check legislative status for Governor's action.

Reformatted the bill header and section text to align with standard final act formatting conventions.

Reengrossed (04/14/2025) → Signed Act (06/04/2025) · 5 edits · Jun 4, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was reengrossed with expanded sponsorships and substantive amendments to the legislative declaration section. The most significant change is the addition of new findings (X through XI) that address third-party administrator accountability, permanent impairment benefit delays, and the state's role in securing coverage. These additions strengthen the argument for reforming the workers' compensation system by highlighting specific inequities faced by injured workers.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on workers' compensation claims, but the legislative declaration now includes more specific policy justifications regarding third-party administrators and benefit payment delays.

REQUIREMENT

Added findings (X) and (XI) addressing third-party administrator accountability and the state's responsibility to contract with Pinnacol for coverage

Added finding (XII) regarding permanent impairment benefit delays and the requirement for full payment without discount charges

Added finding (XIII) about permanent total disability benefits being nearly obsolete due to the 'unable to earn any wage' standard

TECHNICAL

Expanded sponsor list to include additional representatives and senators

Reformatted bill header and removed original bill summary section

Engrossed (04/03/2025) → Reengrossed (04/14/2025) · 3 edits · Apr 30, 2025

MINOR

The bill was reengrossed to include additional co-sponsors and updated the reading status to reflect amendments adopted in the House of Introduction. This change formalizes the legislative process and expands the bill's sponsorship to include more representatives.

TECHNICAL

Added five new co-sponsors (Bacon, Brown, Froelich, Garcia, Jackson, Lieder, Lindsay, Mabrey, Marshall, Titone, Woodrow, Zokaie) to the House sponsorship list.

Updated the document header from 'ENGROSSED' to 'REENGROSSED' and revised the amendment adoption note to reflect House of Introduction amendments.

Added a 3rd Reading Unamended stamp dated April 14, 2025, indicating the bill's current legislative status.

Introduced (03/12/2025) → Engrossed (04/03/2025) · 4 edits · Apr 30, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was reengrossed with significant substantive amendments that restructure the legislative declaration section. The original text removed detailed findings about burden of proof shifting and specific problems with the current system, while adding new provisions about employer education responsibilities and third-party administrator oversight.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include requirements for employer education about the workers' compensation system and to address issues with third-party administrators who handle claims.

SCOPE

Removed the original legislative declaration findings that described the burden of proof shifting for medical benefits and detailed problems with employer control over physician selection.

Modified the title of the bill to remove references to shifting the burden of proof and requiring use of utilization standards, focusing instead on employer education and third-party administrator oversight.

REQUIREMENT

Added new requirement that employers must educate injured workers about how to file claims and seek treatment through the workers' compensation system.

ENFORCEMENT

Added provisions addressing third-party administrators who handle workers' compensation claims, requiring them to be held to the same standards as insurance providers.

Workers' Compensation Benefits Proof of Entitlement

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