FIRST REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE BILL NO. 971
91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE SECREST.
Read 1st time March 13, 2001, and 1000 copies ordered printed.
TED WEDEL, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To repeal section 287.655, RSMo 2000, relating to workers' compensation, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to the same subject.
Section A. Section 287.655, RSMo 2000, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 287.655, to read as follows:
287.655. 1. Any injury or claim for compensation before the division shall be dismissed by a written order of dismissal pursuant to the filing of a written request for dismissal with an administrative law judge by an employee or by an employee and the employee's attorney, if represented, without the necessity of notice of hearing otherwise required pursuant to sections 287.450, 287.460 and 287.520, the following subject to review and appeal set forth in subsection 2 of this section.
2. Any claim before the division may be dismissed for failure to prosecute in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the commission, except such notice need not be by certified or registered mail if the person or entity to whom notice is directed is represented by counsel and counsel is also given such notice at counsel's last known address. To dismiss a claim the administrative law judge shall enter an order of dismissal which shall be deemed an award and subject to review and appeal in the same manner as provided for other awards in this chapter.
3. On or after August 28, 2001, subject to the provisions in subsections 1 and 2 of this section, any claim for compensation filed with the division pursuant to this chapter for which no hearing has been conducted for a period of three years after the date of acknowledgment of the claim for compensation by the division shall be automatically dismissed, upon written notification by certified mail notice from the division to the employee, of a hearing date certain for the employee to appear and present his or her case, with prejudice to any further rights of the employee, provided that in the event the employee can demonstrate that he or she is under the active medical care of a qualified physician on a regular basis within six months before the expiration of the three-year period, the three-year period shall not apply, but shall be extended for a period of three years from the last date of such medical care as the administrative law judge shall deem appropriate, provided the employee is under medical care and there is a good and valid reason for keeping such case open. At such time as no such valid reason continues to exist, the case shall be dismissed by the division upon written notification by certified mail notice from the division to the employee of the hearing, at which time the employee's claim shall be automatically dismissed, with prejudice to any further rights the employee might have pursuant to this chapter. The written order of the administrative law judge shall set forth in detail the nature and character of the history of the case and the reason for dismissal.
4. Should any employee fail to keep two consecutive regularly scheduled medical appointments for treatment or
evaluation purposes, the employee, if given at least two weeks prior notice, shall reimburse the physician an
appropriate amount for the physician's time in scheduling the appointment at his or her reasonable cost for same.
This cost may be assessed against the employee with respect to any such appointment. If the employer or its insurer
pays a physician a reasonable amount for such appointment not kept, such employer or its insurer shall be directly
reimbursed, in lieu of said lien, out of the settlement proceeds, or any award of compensation.
Missouri House of Representatives