A Bill for an Act
Page 1, Line 101Concerning the continuation of the workers' compensation
Page 1, Line 102accreditation of health-care providers program, and,
Page 1, Line 103in connection therewith, implementing the
Page 1, Line 104recommendations contained in the 2024 sunset report
Page 1, Line 105by the department of regulatory agencies and making
Page 1, Line 106an appropriation.
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://leg.colorado.gov/.)
Sunset Process - Senate Business, Labor, and Technology Committee. The bill implements the recommendations of the department of regulatory agencies (department) in its 2024 sunset review of the workers' compensation accreditation of health-care providers program (program), including extending the program for 11 years to September 1, 2036, and authorizing any health-care professional regulated by the division of professions and occupations in the department who provides treatment in the workers' compensation system to obtain level I accreditation from the division of workers' compensation in the department of labor and employment.
Page 2, Line 1Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
Page 2, Line 2SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 8-42-101, amend (3.5)(a)(I)(A), (3.5)(a)(I)(E), (3.5)(c)(I), and (3.6)(r)(I) as follows:
Page 2, Line 38-42-101. Employer must furnish medical aid - approval of
Page 2, Line 4plan - fee schedule - contracting for treatment - no recovery from
Page 2, Line 5employee - medical treatment guidelines - accreditation of physicians
Page 2, Line 6and other medical providers - mental health provider qualifications
Page 2, Line 7- mileage reimbursement - rules - definition - repeal.
Page 2, Line 8(3.5) (a) (I) (A) "Physician" means, for the purposes of the level I and
Page 2, Line 9level II accreditation programs, a physician licensed under the "Colorado
Page 2, Line 10Medical Practice Act", article 240 of title 12. For the purposes of level
Page 2, Line 11I accreditation only and not level II accreditation, "physician" means a
Page 2, Line 12dentist licensed under the "Dental Practice Act", article 220 of title 12; a
Page 2, Line 13podiatrist licensed under article 290 of title 12;
andPage 2, Line 14licensed under article 275 of title 12; a chiropractor licensed under
Page 2, Line 15article 215 of title 12; or any other health-care professional
Page 2, Line 16regulated pursuant to title 12and listed in the utilization
Page 2, Line 17standards established in rules adopted pursuant to subsection
Page 2, Line 18(3.5)(a)(II) of this section who provides treatment in the workers'
Page 2, Line 19compensation system.
Page 3, Line 1(E) Nothing in this subsection (3.5)(a) grants any person other
Page 3, Line 2than a physician licensed under the "Colorado Medical Practice Act",
Page 3, Line 3article 240 of title 12, the authority to determine that no permanent
Page 3, Line 4medical impairment has resulted from the injury pursuant to subsection
Page 3, Line 5(3.6)(b) of this section or that a claimant has attained maximum medical improvement pursuant to section 8-42-107 (8)(b)(I).
Page 3, Line 6(c) (I) This subsection (3.5) is repealed, effective
September 1, 2025Page 3, Line 7(3.6) The two-tier accreditation system shall comprise the following programs:
Page 3, Line 8(r) (I) This subsection (3.6) is repealed, effective
September 1, 2025Page 3, Line 9SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-34-104, repeal (26)(a)(II); and add (37) as follows:
Page 3, Line 1024-34-104. General assembly review of regulatory agencies
Page 3, Line 11and functions for repeal, continuation, or reestablishment - legislative
Page 3, Line 12declaration - repeal. (26) (a) The following agencies, functions, or both, are scheduled for repeal on September 1, 2025:
Page 3, Line 13(II)
The accreditation of health-care providers under the workers'Page 3, Line 14
compensation system in accordance with section 8-42-101 (3.5) and (3.6), C.R.S.;Page 3, Line 15(37) (a) The following agencies, functions, or both, are scheduled for repeal on September 1, 2036:
Page 3, Line 16(I) The accreditation of health-care providers under the
Page 3, Line 17workers' compensation system in accordance with section 8-42-101 (3.5) and (3.6).
Page 3, Line 18(b) This subsection (37) is repealed, effective September 1, 2038.
Page 4, Line 1SECTION 3. Appropriation. (1) For the 2025-26 state fiscal
Page 4, Line 2year, $123,933 is appropriated to the department of labor and employment
Page 4, Line 3for use by the division of workers' compensation. This appropriation is
Page 4, Line 4from the workers' compensation cash fund created in section 8-44-112
Page 4, Line 5(7)(a), C.R.S. To implement this act, the division may use this appropriation as follows:
Page 4, Line 6(a) $108,545 for personal services, which amount is based on an assumption that the division will require an additional 1.6 FTE; and
Page 4, Line 7(b) $15,388 for operating expenses.
Page 4, Line 8SECTION 4. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act
Page 4, Line 9takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the
Page 4, Line 10ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except
Page 4, Line 11that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V
Page 4, Line 12of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this
Page 4, Line 13act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take
Page 4, Line 14effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in
Page 4, Line 15November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.