REGULATORY ANALYSIS
FOR PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO
 THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION RULES OF PROCEDURE
7 CCR 1101-3

1.	Description of classes of persons who will be affected by the proposed rules, including classes that will bear the costs of the proposed rule and classes that will benefit from the proposed rule.

The classes of persons affected by the rule are:  injured workers, insured employers, insurance carriers that write workers’ compensation coverage in Colorado, medical providers and the Colorado operations of employers who self-insure for their workers’ compensation risk in Colorado.

2.	Description of the probable quantitative and qualitative impact of the proposed rule, economic or otherwise, upon the classes affected of persons.

During the 2010 legislative session §8-42-107.2 was amended to provide that physicians who are selected to potentially perform a Division Independent Medical Examination may be required to submit a summary disclosure concerning the physician’s business, financial, employment or advisory relationship with a party to the claim.  Statute also requires the Director to adopt rules to implement the statutory change.  While physicians will be required to submit this information without being paid for the time involved, the rule as proposed should minimize any impact and have no significant impact on the affected persons.  

3.	Probable costs to the agency and other agencies of the implementation and enforcement of the proposed rule and any anticipated effect on state revenues.

There is no cost to the agency, or any other agency, for this rule change.    

4.	Comparison of the probable costs and benefits of the proposed rule to the probable costs and benefits of inaction. 

This proposed rule implements the new statutory subsection without adding costs. Not  taking this action will result in the Division not being in compliance in statute, and will result in implementation of a statutory change without the required guidance in the rule. 

5.	Determination of whether there are less costly or less intrusive methods for achieving the purpose of the proposed rule.

There are no less costly or less intrusive means to achieve the rule’s purpose. 

6.	Description of any alternative methods for achieving the purpose of the proposed rule that were seriously considered by the agency and the reasons they were rejected in favor of the proposed rule.

No alternative method was feasible. 

Copies of the Notice of Public Hearing were provided to the:

Colorado Association of School Boards, 
Colorado Counties, Inc.
Colorado Municipal League
Special District Association of Colorado
Colorado Health and Hospital Association
Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry
Mountain States Employers Council
Colorado Self-Insurers Association