An act relating to workers' compensation
H.163 is a workers’ compensation bill that makes several changes to Vermont’s claims and benefits process. It would expand the definition of “wages” to include the market value of employer-provided health insurance benefits, which can affect how average weekly wages and compensation rates are calculated. The bill also creates a defined category of “medical case management” and provides that an injured employee is entitled to those services when reasonably supported by a provider recommendation or other evidence that the services would aid recovery.
The bill further requires employers or insurers to pay for translation services when an injured worker does not speak English fluently, so the worker can understand rights and participate in treatment and the claims process. It adds a preauthorization process for medical case management services, including deadlines for insurers to approve, deny, or seek further review, and allows the Department or Commissioner to issue interim or authorizing orders in certain circumstances. Finally, it strengthens payment timeliness rules by requiring weekly benefit payments on a set schedule, allowing direct deposit, and imposing escalating late fees when payments are delayed.
If enacted, H.163 would amend multiple sections of Title 21 governing workers’ compensation, including the definitions section, claims procedure, preauthorization rules, and payment provisions. The bill would likely increase potential compensation amounts for some injured workers by counting health insurance as part of wages, expand access to case management and language access services, and create additional compliance obligations for employers and insurers. It would also increase financial penalties for late benefit payments and formalize direct deposit as an available payment method.
The bill’s structure suggests a pro-worker, access-to-benefits approach, with an emphasis on clearer communication, faster payment, and more support during recovery. Because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, there is no documented public debate or formal vote history in the materials supplied. Based on the text alone, the bill appears designed to improve claim handling and reduce barriers for injured employees.
The most likely points of contention are the added costs and administrative burdens on employers and workers’ compensation insurers. Including health insurance in wages could increase benefit calculations, mandatory translation services would shift language-access costs to employers, and the new medical case management entitlement could expand covered services. Insurers may also object to tighter deadlines, automatic interim relief, and escalating late-payment penalties, while worker advocates would likely support these provisions as necessary protections for injured employees.