If an employer or insurance carrier pays weekly compensation benefits to an employee, the employer or insurance carrier shall file with the industrial commissioner on forms prescribed by the industrial commissioner a notice of the commencement of the payments. The payments establish conclusively that the employer and insurance carrier have notice of the injury for which benefits are claimed but the payments do not constitute an admission of liability under this chapter or chapter 85, 85A, or 85B.
If an employer or insurance carrier fails to file the notice required by this section, the failure stops the running of the time periods in section 85.26 as of the date of the first payment. If commenced, the payments shall be terminated only when the employee has returned to work, or upon thirty days' notice stating the reason for the termination and advising the employee of the right to file a claim with the industrial commissioner.
This section does not prevent the parties from reaching an agreement for settlement regarding compensation. However, the agreement is valid only if signed by all parties and approved by the industrial commissioner.
If a delay in commencement or termination of benefits occurs without reasonable or probable cause or excuse, the industrial commissioner shall award benefits in addition to those benefits payable under this chapter, or chapter 85, 85A, or 85B, up to fifty percent of the amount of benefits that were unreasonably delayed or denied.
[S13, § 2477-m25; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, § 1436; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, § 86.13; 82 Acts, ch 1161, § 23]
Referred to in § 85.26, 85.34, 85.35, 86.14
Iowa General Assembly
Search: Iowa Code 1997
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