HOUSE FILE 637

BY  COMMITTEE ON LABOR

(SUCCESSOR TO HF 120)

A BILL FOR

An Act requiring annual increases in fees allowed for copies of certain medical records or reports in workers’ compensation cases, and including effective date provisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

   Section 1.  WORKERS’ COMPENSATION —— COPYING FEES.  The workers’ compensation commissioner shall adopt rules providing for an annual increase in the amount allowed in administrative rules in effect upon enactment of this provision, to be paid to a medical provider or its agent for furnishing duplicates of records or reports. The increase shall be made on an annual basis and equal the percentage increase in the consumer price index published in the federal register by the federal department of labor, bureau of labor statistics, that reflects the percentage increase in the consumer price index for the twelve-month period ending June 30 of each year. The amount of the fees allowed for such duplicates shall be published in the Iowa administrative bulletin each year.
   Sec. 2.  EFFECTIVE UPON ENACTMENT.  This Act, being deemed of immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment.
EXPLANATION
   This bill requires the workers’ compensation commissioner to adopt rules providing for an annual increase in the amount allowed in administrative rules in effect upon enactment of the bill, to be paid to a medical provider or its agent for furnishing duplicates of records or reports. The increase shall be made on an annual basis and equal to the percentage increase in the consumer price index published in the federal register by the federal department of labor, bureau of labor statistics, that reflects the percentage increase in the consumer price index for the 12-month period ending June 30 of each year. The amount of the fees allowed for such duplicates must be published in the Iowa administrative bulletin each year.
   Administrative rule 876 IAC 8.9 contains a schedule of the amount allowed for the actual expense to prepare duplicates which is currently an amount not to exceed $20 for 1 to 20 pages; $20 plus $1 per page for 21 to 30 pages; $30 plus $.50 per page for 31 to 100 pages; $65 plus $.25 per page for 101 to 200 pages; $90 plus $.10 per page for more than 200 pages, and the actual expense of postage.
   The bill takes effect upon enactment.