Title 65 — Workforce Safety and Insurance

All original claims for benefits must be filed by the injured employee, or someone on the injured employee's behalf, within one year after the injury or within two years after the death. The date of injury for purposes of this section is the first date that a reasonable person kn…

The organization shall provide such additional coverage, allow such additional time for claims to be filed, and pay such additional compensation and other benefits in excess of the coverage, filing time, and benefits otherwise provided in this title, as may be required by the Fed…

When an employee is involved in an accident while on the job, the employee shall take steps immediately to notify the employer that the accident occurred and what is the general nature of the injury to the employee, if apparent. Notice may be either oral or written. The notice mu…

If an employee fails to notify the employer of an accident and the general nature of the employee's injury, the organization may consider that failure to notify in determining whether the employee's injury is compensable.

The employer shall file a first report of notice of injury with the organization within seven days from the date the employer receives the notice of injury from the employee. Failure of the employer to file a first report of notice of injury is an admission by the employer that t…

Every claim must be made on forms to be furnished by the organization and must contain all the information required by it. Each claim must be signed by the person entitled to compensation or by the person acting on that person's behalf and, except in case of death, must be accomp…

If the original claim for compensation has been made within the time specified in section 65-05-01, the organization at any time, on its own motion or on application, may review the award, and in accordance with the facts found on such review, may end, diminish, or increase the c…

The payment of compensation or other benefits by the organization to an injured employee, or to the injured employee's dependents in case death has ensued, are in lieu of any and all claims for relief whatsoever against the employer of the injured or deceased employee. 65-05-07. …

Repealed by S.L. 1999, ch. 554, § 4.

Repealed by S.L. 2017, ch. 437, § 6.

The organization shall establish guidelines, systems, and procedures for the acceptance of medical bills and supporting documentation by electronic methods. Health care providers shall submit medical bills and supporting documentation to the organization by this electronic method…

1. An injured employee's health care provider shall certify the period of disability and the extent of the injured worker's abilities and restrictions. 2. A health care provider certifying disability shall include in the report filed with the organization: a. The medical basis es…

If, after receiving a claim for benefits, the organization determines that more information is needed to process the claim, but that the information in the file indicates the injured employee is more likely than not entitled to disability benefits, the organization may pay preacc…

1. A presumption may not be established in favor of any health care provider's opinion. The organization shall resolve conflicting medical opinions and in doing so the organization shall consider the following factors: a. The length of the treatment relationship and the frequency…

When an injured employee, or spouse or dependent of an injured employee, is eligible for and is receiving permanent total or temporary total disability benefits under section 65-05-09, and is also eligible for, is receiving, or will receive, benefits under title II of the Social …

If an employee is entitled to permanent total disability benefits and social security retirement benefits under 42 U.S.C. sections 402 and 405, the aggregate wage-loss benefits payable under this title must be determined in accordance with this section. The employee's social secu…

1. An employee who has retired or voluntarily withdrawn from the labor force and who, at that time, was not eligible to receive temporary total disability, temporary partial disability, or permanent total disability benefits or to receive a rehabilitation allowance from the organ…

If an injured employee's benefits cease under subsection 2 of section 65-05-09.3, the organization shall pay to that employee every twenty-eight days a benefit based on the length of time the injured employee received disability benefits during the term of that claim. The organiz…

1. This section applies to an injured employee who has a claim for which: a. A compensable injury was incurred before August 1, 1995; b. The date of first disability or the date of successful reapplication under subsection 1 of section 65-05-08 was after July 31, 1995; and c. The…

1. If the injury causes temporary partial disability resulting in decrease of earning capacity, the disability benefit is sixty-six and two-thirds percent of the difference between the injured employee's average weekly wage and the injured employee's wage-earning capacity after t…

This benefit only applies to claims with a date of first disability or date of successful reapplication occurring after June 30, 1991. For these claims, beginning on the first day of July immediately following the fifth full year of partial disability and every year thereafter, a…

Repealed by S.L. 1995, ch. 624, § 2.

Repealed by S.L. 1995, ch. 624, § 2.

A permanent impairment is not intended to be a periodic payment and is not intended to reimburse the employee for specific expenses related to the injury or wage loss. If a compensable injury causes permanent impairment, the organization shall determine a permanent impairment awa…

When a compensable injury combines with a noncompensable injury, disease, or other condition, the organization shall award benefits on an aggravation basis, on the following terms: 1. In cases of a prior injury, disease, or other condition, known in advance of the work injury, wh…

1. The organization may pay benefits under this chapter in the case of the death of an injured employee as the direct result of an injury sustained in the course of the injured employee's employment when: a. If there has been no disability preceding death, the death occurs within…

If death results from an injury under the conditions specified in section 65-05-16, the fund shall pay to the following persons, for the periods specified: 1. To the decedent's spouse or to the guardian of the children of the decedent, an amount equal to the benefit rate for tota…

Repealed by omission from this code.

If the death of an employee with no surviving spouse or dependent children results from an injury within the time specified in section 65-05-16, the organization shall pay a lump sum equal to five percent of the maximum total death benefits specified in subsection 1 of section 65…

1. The organization may establish a scholarship fund. Scholarships may be awarded to: a. The spouse and child of a worker who dies as a result of a compensable work-related injury, if the spouse and child have received benefits under section 65-05-17; b. The spouse and child of a…

If a spouse who receives compensation under the provisions of subsection 1 of section 65-05-17 remarries, there shall be paid to such spouse a lump sum equal to one hundred four weeks' compensation. If, prior to such marriage, such spouse has received a partial lump sum settlemen…

Upon the cessation of compensation payable to a beneficiary under the provisions of this chapter, the compensation of the remaining persons entitled to compensation for the unexpired part of the period during which their compensation is payable, shall be that which such persons w…

Repealed by S.L. 1997, ch. 545, § 6.

Repealed by S.L. 2003, ch. 562, § 13. 65-05-25. Lump sum settlements - Granted in discretion of organization - How computed. 1. If an employee is determined to be permanently and totally disabled, the organization may pay the employee a lump sum equal to the present value of all …

If death benefits are payable under section 65-05-16, the fund shall pay to the facility handling the funeral arrangements of the deceased employee burial expenses not to exceed ten thousand dollars. 65-05-27. Organization without probate proceedings may pay spouse of deceased cl…

Notwithstanding section 65-05-28, any employer subject to this title may select a preferred provider to render medical treatment to employees who sustain compensable injuries. "Preferred provider" means a designated provider or group of providers of medical services, including co…

1. During the first thirty days after a work injury, an employee of an employer that has selected a preferred provider under this section may seek medical treatment only from the preferred provider for the injury. Treatment by a provider other than the preferred provider is not c…

1. Any assignment of a claim for compensation under this title is void. All compensation and claims therefor are exempt from claims of creditors except any of the following: a. A child support obligation ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction. b. A claim by job service Nort…

Repealed by S.L. 1975, ch. 106, § 673.

Information contained in the claim files and records of injured employees is confidential and is not open to public inspection, other than to organization employees or agents in the performance of their official duties. Providing further that: 1. Representatives of a claimant, wh…

1. A person who claims benefits or payment for services under this title or the employer of a person who claims benefits or payments for services is guilty of a class A misdemeanor if the person or employer does any one or more of the following: a. Willfully files a false claim o…

A false statement in an employment application made by an employee bars all benefits under this title if: 1. The employee knowingly and willfully made a false representation as to the employee's physical condition; 2. The employer relied upon the false representation and this rel…

1. A claim for benefits under this title is presumed closed if the organization has not paid any benefit for a period of four years. 2. A claim that is presumed closed may not be reopened for payment of any further benefits unless the presumption is rebutted by clear and convinci…

For purposes of this section, "preferred worker" means a worker who has incurred a compensable injury that resulted in a disability that poses a substantial obstacle to employment. The organization may provide assistance as determined appropriate to preferred workers or employers…

An employer who willfully discharges or willfully threatens to discharge an employee for seeking or making known the intention to seek workforce safety and insurance benefits is liable in a civil action for damages incurred by the employee, including reasonable attorney's fees. D…

In the case of the death of an injured employee who is receiving permanent total disability benefits, or additional benefits payable, if the injured employee was permanently and totally disabled for at least ten years and was married to the surviving spouse for at least ten years…

1. As used in this section, "chronic opioid therapy" is opioid treatment extending beyond ninety days from initiation which is for the treatment of pain resulting from a nonmalignant, compensable condition or therapies for another nonterminal compensable condition. 2. In order to…