HB 175 Summary

• Expands the Data Collection Committee to monitor carrier-specific medical costs quarterly and authorizes the Insurance Commissioner to examine carriers not sufficiently scrutinizing medical payments.

• Implements a two-year inflation freeze on workers' compensation medical fees from July 1, 2013 through January 1, 2016, and reduces allowed inflation increases for hospitals and other providers.

• Adds cost control provisions for pharmaceuticals (including mandatory discounts and preferred drug lists), drug testing, and anesthesia services by September 1, 2013.

• Requires employers to provide injured workers' doctors with lists of available modified-duty job opportunities within 14 days of issuing an agreement for total disability, and makes compliance a condition for receiving workplace safety credits.

• Creates a 45-day statute of limitations for appealing utilization review decisions and establishes a "ratepayer advocate" funded by insurers to represent Delaware businesses' interests in rate-setting proceedings before the Department of Insurance.