CS/HB 7085 - Workers' Compensation Summary

• Redefines "specificity" requirements for workers' compensation benefit petitions to require detailed statutory classification, time periods, benefit amounts, calculations, and medical justification with physician recommendations.

• Creates new attestation requirement (s. 440.1915) stating claimants must sign a notice before hiring attorneys, informing them they are responsible for their own attorney fees and may owe fees beyond what the employer/carrier pays.

• Establishes good faith dispute resolution requirement: claimants must make documented good faith efforts to resolve disputes before filing petitions, with sanctions possible for failure to comply.

• Extends temporary total disability benefit period from 104 to 130 weeks (104 + up to 26 additional weeks) if employee hasn't reached maximum medical improvement, with changes to how benefits attach and new notification requirements for carriers and treating doctors.

• Modifies attorney fee schedules: extends timeframe for fee attachment to 45 days, allows judges to depart from standard fees under certain circumstances with maximum $150/hour rate, and requires retainer agreements to be filed (not approved) with the Office of Judges of Compensation Claims.