44-510k. Post-award medical benefits; application; notice; attorney fees; termination or modification of benefits. (a) (1) At any time after the entry of an award for compensation wherein future medical benefits were awarded, the employee, employer or insurance carrier may make application for a hearing, in such form as the director may require for the furnishing, termination or modification of medical treatment. Such post-award hearing shall be held by the assigned administrative law judge, in any county designated by the administrative law judge, and the judge shall conduct the hearing as provided in K.S.A. 44-523, and amendments thereto.
(2) The administrative law judge can (A) make an award for further medical care if the administrative law judge finds that it is more probably true than not that the injury which was the subject of the underlying award is the prevailing factor in the need for further medical care and that the care requested is necessary to cure or relieve the effects of such injury, or (B) terminate or modify an award of current or future medical care if the administrative law judge finds that no further medical care is required, the injury which was the subject of the underlying award is not the prevailing factor in the need for further medical care, or that the care requested is not necessary to cure or relieve the effects of such injury.
(3) If the claimant has not received medical treatment, as defined in subsection (e) of K.S.A. 44-510h, and amendments thereto, from an authorized health care provider within two years from the date of the award or two years from the date the claimant last received medical treatment from an authorized health care provider, the employer shall be permitted to make application under this section for permanent termination of future medical benefits. In such case, there shall be a presumption that no further medical care is needed as a result of the underlying injury. The presumption may be overcome by competent medical evidence.
(4) No post-award benefits shall be ordered, modified or terminated without giving all parties to the award the opportunity to present evidence, including taking testimony on any disputed matters. A finding with regard to a disputed issue shall be subject to a full review by the board under subsection (b) of K.S.A. 44-551, and amendments thereto. Any action of the board pursuant to post-award orders shall be subject to review under K.S.A. 44-556, and amendments thereto.
(b) Any application for hearing made pursuant to this section shall receive priority setting by the administrative law judge, only superseded by preliminary hearings pursuant to K.S.A. 44-534a, and amendments thereto. The parties shall meet and confer prior to the hearing pursuant to this section, but a prehearing settlement conference shall not be necessary. The administrative law judge shall have authority to award medical treatment relating back to the entry of the underlying award, but in no event shall such medical treatment relate back more than six months following the filing of such application for post-award medical treatment. Reviews taken under this section shall receive priority settings before the board, only superseded by reviews for preliminary hearings. A decision shall be rendered by the board within 30 days from the time the review hereunder is submitted.
(c) The administrative law judge may award attorney fees and costs on the claimant's behalf consistent with subsection (g) of K.S.A. 44-536, and amendments thereto. As used in this subsection, "costs" include, but are not limited to, witness fees, mileage allowances, any costs associated with reproduction of documents that become a part of the hearing record, the expense of making a record of the hearing and such other charges as are by statute authorized to be taxed as costs.
History: L. 2000, ch. 160, § 4; L. 2002, ch. 122, § 6; L. 2011, ch. 55, § 12; May 15.
Structure Kansas Statutes
Chapter 44 - Labor And Industries
Article 5 - Workers Compensation
44-501b Legislative intent; employer obligation, burden of proof; liability.
44-501c Public service benefits protection act.
44-502 Reservation of penalties.
44-503a Multiple employment; apportionment of liability.
44-503c Employment status of an owner-operator of a motor vehicle; definitions.
44-505b County as self-insurer; establishment of reserve fund; retransfers.
44-505c Local political and taxing subdivision; payment of workmen's compensation coverage.
44-505f City as self-insurer; establishment of reserve fund; retransfers.
44-506 Application of act to certain businesses or employments, lands and premises.
44-509 Incapacitated workman or dependent; exercise of rights; limitation of actions.
44-510c Compensation for permanent total and temporary total disabilities.
44-510d Compensation for certain permanent partial disabilities; computation thereof; schedule.
44-510f Employer's maximum liability for disability compensation; credit for unearned wages.
44-510j Medical benefits; fee disputes; utilization and peer review.
44-510l Warning notice to injured employee.
44-511 Definitions; average weekly wage; volunteers; state's average weekly wage.
44-512 Time and manner of compensation payments.
44-512b Failure to pay compensation prior to award without just cause; interest, penalty.
44-513a Minors entitled to compensation; payment.
44-513b Same; act supplemental.
44-514 Payments not assignable; exception, orders for support.
44-516 Medical examination by neutral health care provider.
44-518 Refusal of medical examination; effect.
44-519 Certificate of health care provider as evidence.
44-525 Form of findings and awards; effective date.
44-526 Filing agreements, awards, etc.
44-528 Review and modification of awards; reinstatement; cancellation; effective date.
44-529 Judgment on agreement or awards.
44-530 Staying proceedings upon an award.
44-531 Redemption of liability; lump-sum payment of award; exception.
44-534 Proceedings; time limitations; electronic filing system authorized.
44-535 When the right to compensation accrues.
44-536a Signing of pleadings, motions and other documents; liability for frivolous filings.
44-542a Election by individual employer, partner or self-employed person.
44-543 Election by certain employees.
44-545 Defenses available in certain cases.
44-550 Records of proceedings, documents; custody and preservation.
44-550b Records open to public inspection, exceptions.
44-552 Record of hearing; certified shorthand reporter; transcript; costs.
44-555 Reporter's fees, assessment.
44-556a Transfer of appeals due to constitutional defect.
44-559 Insurance against liability; form and contents of policy.
44-562 Reports to insurance commissioner; inspection.
44-566 Workers compensation fund to facilitate employment of handicapped workers; definitions.
44-569a Same; employer or insurance carrier reimbursed from fund, when.
44-572 Same; review; modification or cancellation of awards.
44-573 Rules and regulations; filing.
44-574 Construing and citing workers compensation laws; severability.
44-578 Same; administrative rules and regulations.
44-579 Same; copies of accident reports to secretary of administration.
44-580 Same; construction of 44-575 to 44-580.
44-581 Group-funded workers compensation pools; requirements.
44-582 Same; certificate of authority; application; commissioner's review of surplus funds.
44-583 Same; irrevocable consent; service of process on commissioner of insurance.
44-584 Same; certificate of authority, renewal, suspension, revocation; examinations.
44-585 Same; premiums; contributions; deposit of premiums; refunds.
44-586 Same; premiums; use; investments.
44-588 Same; premium tax; payment.
44-589 Same; assessments; subject to article 24 of chapter 40 of Kansas Statutes Annotated.
44-590 Same; new members; application; termination.
44-591 Same; board of trustees; duties.
44-592 Same; licensing of persons soliciting workers compensation insurance.
44-593 Reorganization of pool agreement under 12-2216 et seq.
44-594 Same; confidentiality of certain financial information.
44-5,102 Same; distribution upon notice of injury; preparation and dissemination.
44-5,117 Mediation conferences.
44-5,121 Same; cause of action to recover economic losses.
44-5,123 Same; immunity from civil liability for reporting information in good faith.
44-5,124 Assistant attorney general; appointment within division of workers compensation; duties.