2006 Minnesota Statutes

176.194 PROHIBITED PRACTICES.
    Subdivision 1. Application. This section applies to insurers, self-insurers, group
self-insurers, political subdivisions of the state, and the administrator of state employees' claims.
This section also applies to adjusters and third-party administrators who act on behalf of an
insurer, self-insurer, group self-insurer, the assigned risk plan, the Minnesota Insurance Guaranty
Association, a political subdivision, or any other entity.
This section shall be enforceable only by the commissioner of labor and industry. Evidence
of violations under this section shall not be admissible in any civil action.
    Subd. 2. Purpose. This section is not intended to replace existing requirements of this
chapter which govern the same or similar conduct; these requirements and penalties are in
addition to any others provided by this chapter.
    Subd. 3. Prohibited conduct. The following conduct is prohibited:
(1) failing to reply, within 30 calendar days after receipt, to all written communication about
a claim from a claimant that requests a response;
(2) failing, within 45 calendar days after receipt of a written request, to commence benefits
or to advise the claimant of the acceptance or denial of the claim by the insurer;
(3) failing to pay or deny medical bills within 45 days after the receipt of all information
requested from medical providers;
(4) filing a denial of liability for workers' compensation benefits without conducting an
investigation;
(5) failing to regularly pay weekly benefits in a timely manner as prescribed by rules adopted
by the commissioner once weekly benefits have begun. Failure to regularly pay weekly benefits
means failure to pay an employee on more than three occasions in any 12-month period within
three business days of when payment was due;
(6) failing to respond to the department within 30 calendar days after receipt of a written
inquiry from the department about a claim;
(7) failing to pay pursuant to an order of the department, compensation judge, Court of
Appeals, or the Supreme Court, within 45 days from the filing of the order unless the order
is under appeal;
(8) advising a claimant not to obtain the services of an attorney or representing that payment
will be delayed if an attorney is retained by the claimant; or
(9) altering information on a document to be filed with the department without the notice
and consent of any person who previously signed the document and who would be adversely
affected by the alteration.
    Subd. 4. Penalties. The penalties for violations of subdivision 3, clauses (1) through (6)
and (9), are as follows:

		1st through 5th violation of each paragraph		written warning
		6th through 10th violation of each paragraph		$3,000 per violation in excess of five
		11 or more violations of each paragraph		$6,000 per violation in excess of ten

For violations of subdivision 3, clauses (7) and (8), the penalties are:

		1st through 5th violation of each paragraph		$3,000 per violation
		6 or more violations of each paragraph		$6,000 per violation in excess of five

The penalties under this section may be imposed in addition to other penalties under this
chapter that might apply for the same violation. The penalties under this section are assessed by
the commissioner and are payable to the commissioner for deposit in the assigned risk safety
account. A party may object to the penalty and request a formal hearing under section 176.85. If
an entity has more than 30 violations within any 12-month period, in addition to the monetary
penalties provided, the commissioner may refer the matter to the commissioner of commerce
with recommendation for suspension or revocation of the entity's (a) license to write workers'
compensation insurance; (b) license to administer claims on behalf of a self-insured, the assigned
risk plan, or the Minnesota Insurance Guaranty Association; (c) authority to self-insure; or (d)
license to adjust claims. The commissioner of commerce shall follow the procedures specified in
section 176.195.
    Subd. 5. Rules. The commissioner may, by rules adopted in accordance with chapter 14,
specify additional illegal, misleading, deceptive, fraudulent practices or conduct which are subject
to the penalties under this section.
History: 1987 c 332 s 54; 1992 c 510 art 3 s 22,23; 1995 c 231 art 2 s 80; 2001 c 123 s 14;
2002 c 262 s 19,20