All Things Texas Workers' Compensation

Facebook Linkedin

Code: 

Labor Code

Title: 

Title 5. Workers’ Compensation

Section: 

504.057

Name: 

Expedited Provision of Medical Benefits for Certain Injuries Sustained by Certain Death Investigation Professionals in Course and Scope of Employment

Eff. Date: 

September 1, 2025

No Rule Reference

§504.057
Expedited Provision of Medical Benefits for Certain Injuries Sustained by Certain Death Investigation Professionals in Course and Scope of Employment

(a) In this section, “death investigation professional” means:

(1) a justice of the peace;

(2) a death investigator employed under Article 49.23, Code of Criminal Procedure; or

(3) a medical examiner or an employee of the medical examiner’s office employed under Section 3, Article 49.25, Code of Criminal Procedure.

(b) This section applies only to a death investigation professional who sustains a serious bodily injury, as defined by Section 1.07, Penal Code, in the course and scope of employment.

(c) The county, division, and insurance carrier shall accelerate and give priority to an injured death investigation professional’s claim for medical benefits, including all health care required to cure or relieve the effects naturally resulting from a compensable injury described by Subsection (b).

(d) The division shall accelerate, under rules adopted by the commissioner of workers’ compensation, a contested case hearing requested by or an appeal submitted by a death investigation professional regarding the denial of a claim for medical benefits, including all health care required to cure or relieve the effects naturally resulting from a compensable injury described by Subsection (b). The death investigation professional shall provide notice to the division and independent review organization that the contested case or appeal involves a death investigation professional.

(e) Except as otherwise provided by this section, a death investigation professional is entitled to review of a medical dispute in the manner provided by Section 504.054.

Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., ch. ___, § __, eff. Sept. 1, 2025.