Subdivision 1. Scope. All determinations by the commissioner or compensation judge pursuant to section 176.102, 176.103, 176.135, or 176.136 shall be in accordance with the procedures contained in this section. For medical disputes under sections 176.135 and 176.136, the commissioner shall have jurisdiction to hold an administrative conference and issue decisions and orders under this section if the amount in dispute at the time the medical request is filed is $7,500 or less. The $7,500 limit does not apply if the medical issue to be determined is whether a charge for a service, article, or supply is excessive under section 176.136, subdivision 1, 1a, 1b, or 1c, and corresponding Minnesota Rules.

Subd. 2. Request for conference. Any party may request an administrative conference by filing a request on a form prescribed by the commissioner.

Subd. 3. Conference. The matter shall be scheduled for an administrative conference within 60 days after receipt of the request for a conference, except that an administrative conference on a rehabilitation issue under section 176.102 must be held within 21 days, unless the issue involves only fees for rehabilitation services that have already been provided or there is good cause for holding the conference later than 21 days. If there is a rehabilitation plan in effect, the qualified rehabilitation consultant must continue to provide reasonable services under the plan until the date the conference was initially scheduled to be held. Notice of the conference shall be served on all parties no later than 14 days prior to the conference, unless the commissioner or compensation judge determines that a conference shall not be held. The commissioner or compensation judge may order an administrative conference before the commissioner's designee whether or not a request for conference is filed.

The commissioner or compensation judge may refuse to hold an administrative conference and refer the matter for a settlement or pretrial conference or may certify the matter to the Office of Administrative Hearings for a full hearing before a compensation judge.

Subd. 4. Appearances. All parties shall appear either personally, by telephone, by representative, or by written submission. The commissioner's designee shall determine the issues in dispute based upon the information available at the conference.

Subd. 5. Decision. Unless the matter is referred for other proceedings under subdivision 3, a written decision shall be issued by the commissioner or compensation judge determining all issues considered at the conference or if a conference was not held, based on the written submissions. Disputed issues of fact shall be determined by a preponderance of the evidence. The decision must be issued within 30 days after the close of the conference or if no conference was held, within 60 days after receipt of the request for conference. The decision must include a statement indicating the right to request a de novo hearing before a compensation judge and how to initiate the request.

Subd. 6. Penalty. At a conference, if the insurer does not provide a specific reason for nonpayment of the items in dispute, the commissioner or compensation judge may assess a penalty of $300 payable to the commissioner for deposit in the assigned risk safety account, unless it is determined that the reason for the lack of specificity was the failure of the insurer, upon timely request, to receive information necessary to remedy the lack of specificity. This penalty is in addition to any penalty that may be applicable for nonpayment.

Subd. 7. Request for hearing. (a) Any party aggrieved by the decision of the commissioner or compensation judge may request a formal hearing by filing the request with the commissioner and serving the request on all parties no later than 30 days after the decision. Requests shall be referred to the Office of Administrative Hearings for a de novo hearing before a compensation judge. When a compensation judge issued the administrative decision under subdivision 5, the formal de novo hearing must be held before a compensation judge other than the compensation judge who presided over the administrative conference.

(b) Except where the only issues to be determined pursuant to this section involve liability for past treatment or services that will not affect entitlement to ongoing or future proposed treatment or services under section 176.102 or 176.135, the commissioner shall refer a timely request to the Office of Administrative Hearings within five working days after filing of the request and the hearing at the Office of Administrative Hearings must be held on the first date that all parties are available but not later than 60 days after the Office of Administrative Hearings receives the matter. Following the hearing, the compensation judge must issue the decision within 30 days. The decision of the compensation judge is appealable pursuant to section 176.421.

Subd. 8. Denial of primary liability. The commissioner does not have authority to make determinations relating to medical or rehabilitation benefits when there is a genuine dispute over whether the injury initially arose out of and in the course of employment.

Subd. 9. Subsequent causation issues. If initial liability for an injury has been admitted or established and an issue subsequently arises regarding causation between the employee's condition and the work injury, the commissioner or compensation judge may make the subsequent causation determination subject to de novo hearing by a compensation judge as provided in subdivision 7.

History: 1986 c 444; 1987 c 332 s 25; 1992 c 510 art 3 s 11; 1995 c 231 art 2 s 55; 2000 c 447 s 15; 2002 c 262 s 4; 2005 c 90 s 6; 2011 c 89 s 5-11; 2013 c 70 art 1 s 2; art 2 s 8