Colorado’s Division of Workers’ Compensation (DOWC) will hold live “Listening Sessions” to discuss how to implement House Bill 25-1300.

HB 25-1300 radically shifts the balance of power in workers’ comp treatment away from payers and towards injured workers and providers. Effective January 1, 2028, the law:

• Allows injured workers to choose their own treating physicians 
• Requires payers to follow statewide treatment utilization standards.

The DOWC invites stakeholders to attend a series of 90-minute live sessions over Zoom for the purpose of “collaborating” to “determine the best policies and tools for implementation” of HB 25-1300.

Attendees must register in advance and may submit written questions and feedback via email. Details and registration links are below.

Rewriting the Rules for Colorado Comp

HB 25-1300 mandates that in the event of a work-related injury, the worker may choose a Level I or II accredited physician within 70 miles of their home or work (or 100 miles in underserved areas).

The employer must inform the worker of this right seven days after notice of an injury, at which point the worker has seven days to select a physician. If the worker fails to choose a physician within that timeframe, the claims administrator may choose the physician.

Just as crucially, the law requires claims administrators to abide by DOWC treatment utilization standards when determining whether or not to authorize care. The DOWC can step in and override treatment denials if necessary.

It’s a paradigm shift in the system that will require careful preparation before the 2028 effective date. Hence, the DOWC wants stakeholder input.

HB 25-1300 Listening Sessions

Each 90-minute Listening Session will run from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM MT:

Session 1: October 8

This session covers whether in-house clinics may treat injured workers, where the clinic employs a Level 1 or II accredited physician. The DOWC will also review how employers and insurers may provide lists of recommended physicians. Attendees can register here.

Session 2: October 22

The DOWC will share updates on the DOWC provider directory, specify which provider types injured workers may designate as their treating physicians, and explore the provider accreditation process. Attendees can register here.

Session 3: November 5

The DOWC will review timelines for designating and changing physicians and discuss a “premium credit” pursuant to the Division of Insurance's Amended Regulation 5-1-11. The session will conclude with an “open discussion” on how to reduce costs. Attendees can register here.

If you cannot attend any of the live sessions, the DOWC encourages stakeholders to email cdle_dowc_communications@state.co.us with questions or feedback.

We’ll inform readers of any other HB 25-1300 updates here on daisyNews. For questions about workers’ comp billing in Colorado, ask our experts using the pink chat icon on this page or email our team at info@daisybill.com.

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