Workers Compensation - As enacted, adds a requirement that an award of attorneys' fees and costs incurred when an employer unreasonably denies a workers' compensation claim or unreasonably fails to timely initiate any of the benefits associated with the claim must be based on a finding by the workers' compensation judge that the employer's conduct was unreasonable; makes related changes. - Amends TCA Title 50, Chapter 6.

HB 2179 modifies Tennessee workers' compensation rules to protect employees who win third-party lawsuits after employers contested medical aspects of their claims. Specifically, if an employer disputes medical causation, permanency, or injury extent using their own medical opinion (not the employee's C-42 panel physician), they lose the right to recover attorney fees or claim a subrogation lien when the employee recovers from a third party. This change directly affects employers and their workers' compensation insurers who contest medical evaluations. The bill also raises certain benefit percentages from 66⅔% to 75% and clarifies permanent disability benefit rights, but the key provision focuses on removing financial penalties for employers who contest medical opinions.