HB2883 Summary

• Requires injuries to be established by objective medical findings; pain or subjective complaints alone are not compensable without supporting medical evidence.

• Shifts medical provider selection from employee choice to employer choice of physicians and hospitals, with employee able to select a second provider only if employer's choice threatens life, health, or recovery.

• Eliminates rebuttable presumptions for firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics regarding occupational diseases (bloodborne pathogens, lung/respiratory disease, heart disease, cancer, etc.).

• Establishes new medical fee schedule effective January 1, 2012 based on Medicare payment systems at 160% of estimated aggregate fees, replacing previous fee structure.

• Adds restrictions on employee intoxication as defense to compensability, with 0.08% blood alcohol or evidence of drug impairment creating presumption against benefits; requires testing and creates presumption of intoxication if employee refuses testing.