SB 1100 Summary

• Amends Arizona's workers' compensation settlement laws to require full and final settlements include written attestations regarding employee understanding of rights, anticipated future medical costs, future indemnity benefits, and Medicare/Medicaid protections.

• Requires carriers, special funds, or self-insured employers to provide employees with detailed information about projected future medical, surgical, and hospital benefits with cost calculations and disclosure of settlement amounts allocated to future benefits.

• Mandates administrative law judges approve full and final settlements for represented employees if all requirements are met; for unrepresented employees, judges must conduct detailed hearings and inquiries into whether the employee understands the rights being settled.

• Establishes a new streamlined process for settling claims involving only "supportive medical maintenance benefits" after temporary disability ends, allowing settlements without full and final settlement protections if requirements are met.

• Prohibits full and final settlements from covering total and permanent disability claims or unrelated claims; requires carriers to notify attending physicians of settlement approvals and maintain responsibility for disputed or uncovered medical treatment.