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SF 456

A bill for an act relating to the choice of doctor to treat injured employees under workers’ compensation laws and including effective date and applicability provisions.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Tony Bisignano and 8 co-sponsors

SF 456 allows injured workers and employers to choose an alternate care provider, with dispute resolution and optional second medical opinions for permanent disability.

Subcommittee: Driscoll, Schultz, and Townsend.
#injuries #laborandemployment #medicalcare #workers'compensation
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Bill Summary · SF 456

Summary of SF 456

A bill relating to the choice of doctor to treat injured employees under workers’ compensation laws, with provisions on alternative care, medical opinions, and permanent disability evaluations. Applies to injuries occurring on or after January 1, 2026.

Purpose and intent

SF 456 aims to clarify and formalize how injured employees and employers select medical care under workers’ compensation. It introduces a process for choosing an alternate care provider when the treating arrangement is not optimal, and it establishes procedures for resolving disputes over care and disputed permanent-disability evaluations. The bill also provides employees and employers with mechanisms to obtain additional medical opinions to ensure appropriate assessment of injury severity and disability.

Key provisions

  • Alternate care when appropriate

    • Parties may agree to an alternate care provider reasonably suited to treat the injury.

  • Dispute resolution if no agreement

    • If the employee and employer cannot agree on alternate care, the dissatisfied party may apply to the workers’ compensation commissioner.
    • The bill provides procedures for proceedings on such applications.

  • Medical opinion on permanent disability

    • When an employee has chosen care and it is medically indicated that no significant improvement from the injury is anticipated, the employee may obtain a medical opinion regarding the extent of the employee’s permanent disability.

  • Employer right to obtain a second medical opinion

    • If the employer believes the employee’s evaluation of permanent disability is too high, the employer may obtain another medical opinion from a physician of the employer’s choosing.

  • Effective date and applicability

    • The bill takes effect and applies to injuries occurring on or after January 1, 2026.

Who is affected

  • Injured employees under workers’ compensation
  • Employers and employers’ insurers
  • Treating physicians and alternate-care providers
  • The state workers’ compensation commissioner (as the adjudicatory authority)

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Initiation: Parties may first attempt mutual agreement on alternate care.
  • Dispute process: If agreement cannot be reached, a party may file an application with the commissioner; procedures for proceedings are provided (details not included in the summary snippet).
  • PD evaluation: Procedures for obtaining and challenging permanent-disability opinions are triggered when no significant improvement is expected.
  • Second opinions: Employers may request an additional PD opinion from their chosen physician.
  • Effective date: Applies to injuries sustained on or after January 1, 2026.

Legislative status and sponsors

  • Subcommittee: Driscoll, Schultz, and Townsend.
  • Introduced: February 26, 2025; referred to Workforce.
  • Sponsors (primary): Blake, Winckler, Zimmer, Wahls, Townsend, Bisignano, Dotzler, Trone Garriott, Donahue.

Note: This summary reflects the introduced text and stated provisions. If enacted, the bill would modify the processes for choosing medical care and evaluating permanent disability under workers’ compensation for post-2025 injuries.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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