MA H1285

Commissioner of Insurance must set minimum hourly labor rates that insurers pay to registered motor vehicle repair shops for insured collision claims

Repair shops establish their minimum rate by submitting 100 sequential customer-paid repair orders or 60 consecutive days of orders (whichever is less), with the average customer-paid hourly rate becoming the minimum insurers must pay

New rates take effect 30 days after declaration, subject to insurer audit; insurers may rebut and propose adjustments within 30 days, with disputes filed with the Commissioner of Insurance

In disputed rate cases, the burden of proof falls on the insurer to show the repair shop's declared rate was inaccurate or unreasonable

Collision repair labor rates set under this process are excluded from insurance cost control programs under Sections 113B and 113H of Chapter 175; implementing regulations required within 90 days of enactment