HB 1998 — An Act amending the act of June 2, 1915 (P.L.736, No.338), known as the Workers' Compensation Act, in liability and compensation, further providing for schedule of compensation; and, in Uninsured Employers Guaranty Fund, further providing for claims.

PRINTER'S NO.   2532

                      THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                          HOUSE BILL
                          No. 1998
                                                 Session of
                                                   2025

     INTRODUCED BY REICHARD, PICKETT, GAYDOS, ROWE, GREINER, FRITZ,
        D'ORSIE AND KEPHART, OCTOBER 28, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND INDUSTRY, OCTOBER 28, 2025


                                      AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of June 2, 1915 (P.L.736, No.338), entitled "An
 2      act defining the liability of an employer to pay damages for
 3      injuries received by an employe in the course of employment;
 4      establishing an elective schedule of compensation; providing
 5      procedure for the determination of liability and compensation
 6      thereunder; and prescribing penalties," in liability and
 7      compensation, further providing for schedule of compensation;
 8      and, in Uninsured Employers Guaranty Fund, further providing
 9      for claims.
10      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
11   hereby enacts as follows:
12      Section 1.     Sections 306(f.1)(1)(i) and 1603(e)(2) and (4) of
13   the act of June 2, 1915 (P.L.736, No.338), known as the Workers'
14   Compensation Act, are amended to read:
15      Section 306.     The following schedule of compensation is
16   hereby established:
17      * * *
18      (f.1)   (1)    (i)   The employer shall provide payment in
19   accordance with this section for reasonable surgical and medical
20   services, services rendered by physicians or other health care
21   providers, including an additional opinion when invasive surgery
 1   may be necessary, medicines and supplies, as and when needed.
 2   Provided an employer establishes a list of at least six
 3   designated health care providers, no more than four of whom may
 4   be a coordinated care organization and no fewer than three of
 5   whom shall be physicians, the employe shall be required to visit
 6   one of the physicians or other health care providers so
 7   designated and shall continue to visit the same or another
 8   designated physician or health care provider [for a period of
 9   ninety (90) days from the date of the first visit]: Provided,
10   however, That the employer shall not include on the list a
11   physician or other health care provider who is employed, owned
12   or controlled by the employer or the employer's insurer unless
13   employment, ownership or control is disclosed on the list.
14   Should invasive surgery for an employe be prescribed by a
15   physician or other health care provider so designated by the
16   employer, the employe shall be permitted to receive an
17   additional opinion from any health care provider of the
18   employe's own choice. If the additional opinion differs from the
19   opinion provided by the physician or health care provider so
20   designated by the employer, the employe shall determine which
21   course of treatment to follow: Provided, That the second opinion
22   provides a specific and detailed course of treatment. If the
23   employe chooses to follow the procedures designated in the
24   second opinion, such procedures shall be performed by one of the
25   physicians or other health care providers so designated by the
26   employer [for a period of ninety (90) days from the date of the
27   visit to the physician or other health care provider of the
28   employe's own choice]. Should the employe not comply with the
29   foregoing, the employer will be relieved from liability for the
30   payment for the services rendered [during such applicable

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 1   period]. It shall be the duty of the employer to provide a
 2   clearly written notification of the employe's rights and duties
 3   under this section to the employe. The employer shall further
 4   ensure that the employe has been informed and that he
 5   understands these rights and duties. This duty shall be
 6   evidenced only by the employe's written acknowledgment of having
 7   been informed and having understood his rights and duties. Any
 8   failure of the employer to provide and evidence such
 9   notification shall relieve the employe from any notification
10   duty owed, notwithstanding any provision of this act to the
11   contrary, and the employer shall remain liable for all rendered
12   treatment. [Subsequent treatment may be provided by any health
13   care provider of the employe's own choice. Any employe who, next
14   following termination of the applicable period, is provided
15   treatment from a nondesignated health care provider shall notify
16   the employer within five (5) days of the first visit to said
17   health care provider. Failure to so notify the employer will
18   relieve the employer from liability for the payment for the
19   services rendered prior to appropriate notice if such services
20   are determined pursuant to paragraph (6) to have been
21   unreasonable or unnecessary.]
22      * * *
23   Section 1603.    Claims.
24      * * *
25      (e)   List of providers.--
26            * * *
27            (2)   If the fund establishes a list under paragraph (1),
28      the fund shall be responsible only to reimburse expenses of
29      medical treatments, services and accommodations rendered by
30      the physicians or other health care providers that are

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 1      designated on the list [for the period provided in section
 2      306(f.1)(1) from the date of the employee's notice to the
 3      fund under subsection (b)].
 4          * * *
 5          (4)   If the employee receives medical treatments,
 6      services or accommodations from a health care provider that
 7      is not designated on the list, the fund shall be relieved of
 8      liability for the payment of medical treatments, services or
 9      accommodations rendered [during the period provided in
10      section 306(f.1)(1) from the date of the employee's notice to
11      the fund under subsection (b)].
12      Section 2.   The amendment of sections 306(f.1)(1)(i) and
13   1603(e)(2) and (4) of the act shall apply to claims for which
14   the date of injury is on or after the effective date of this
15   section.
16      Section 3.   This act shall take effect in 120 days.




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