Comp bill calls for notification of discontinued prescriptions

Connecticut lawmakers are pushing for workers compensation insurers and employers to provide timely notification of discontinued prescriptions for injured workers, under a proposal introduced Thursday.

S.B. 222, which was sent to the Joint Labor and Public Employees Committee, states that “before discontinuing payment for prescriptions which a physician has deemed reasonable or necessary under this section, the employer, or any insurer acting on behalf of the employer, shall notify the commissioner and the employee, by certified mail, of the proposed discontinuance of such payments.”

The bill states that such a “notice shall specify the reason for the proposed discontinuance and the date such proposed discontinuance or reduction will commence.”

The bill outlines what would be required in such a letter, including details of how to appeal the decision. If an employee proves the discontinuance was wrong the employer would be required to reimburse for missed prescriptions, along with interest, and would be ordered to pay legal costs associated with the appeal.

If enacted the provisions would go into effect Oct. 1.