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Mass. General Laws c.152

Workers' compensation

This page links to an unofficial version of each section of G.L. c. 152. Please note that sections that appear missing have been either reserved for future use or repealed.

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§ 1 Definitions
§ 2 Powers and duties of department; investigation of causes of injuries
§ 2A Application of amendments of statute
§ 5 Rules and regulations
§ 6 Notice of injuries; forms; additional reports; statistical summaries
§ 6A Informational brochures; monitoring of benefits; resolution of disputes
§ 6B Disposition of fines
§ 7 Commencement of payments
§ 7A Presumptions; employee unable to testify
§ 7B Admissibility of, or reference to, statement given insurer or self-insurer by claimant or in his behalf
§ 7C Representation of claimants; compensation; denial or suspension of right to practice or appear
§ 7F Record of filing fees, penalties and attorneys' fees
§ 7G Documentation attached to claims
§ 8 Termination or modification of payments
§ 9A Physicians engaged to testify or depose for employee; fees paid by insurer
§ 10 Claims for benefits; complaints requesting modification or discontinuation of benefits; conciliation
§ 10A Assignments of cases; conferences; orders; appeals
§ 10B Arbitration; agreements; proceedings
§ 10C Collective bargaining agreements; binding obligations and procedures
§ 11 Hearings; evidence; continuances
§ 11A Impartial medical examiners
§ 11B Procedure for hearings; depositions; record of proceedings
§ 11C Appeals to reviewing board
§ 11D Earnings reports by employees; recovery of overpayments
§ 12 Enforcement of orders; appeals from decisions of reviewing board; costs; reported questions; copies of judgments
§ 12A Award of costs and attorney's fees
§ 13 Rate of payment by insurers; review of clinical health care providers; health care services board
§ 13A Attorney's fees for employees
§ 14 Actions not based on reasonable grounds; illegal or fraudulent conduct; costs and penalties
§ 14A Employee leasing companies
§ 15 Liability of person other than insured
§ 15A Controversy as to which of two or more insurers is liable
§ 16 Subsequent findings discontinuing compensation; finality
§ 17 Enforcement of orders or decisions
§ 18 Independent and sub-contractors; liability of insurer and others
§ 19 Agreements by parties
§ 20 Hospital records as evidence; medical records and reports open to inspection
§ 20A Copies of reports of medical examinations furnished employees; reports as evidence
§ 20B Medical reports of disabled or deceased physicians as evidence
§ 21 Notice by insured to employees
§ 22 Notice by insured to new employees; notice of cessation of insurance; filing copy
§ 23 Release of claims or demands at common law
§ 24 Waiver of right of action for injuries
§ 25 Insurer's liability on judgment for employee
§ 25A Purchase of insurance; self-insurance; reinsurance; deductibles
§ 25B Applicability of statute relating to insurance and self-insurers; employer bringing employees within statute
§ 25C Failure to provide for payment of compensation; stop work orders; penalties; liens; actions brought by losing bidders; civil actions for violations of chapter
§ 25D Service companies; investigation, adjustment or settlement of claims for self-insurers
§ 25E Self-insurance groups; definitions
§ 25F Certification to act as self-insurance group
§ 25G Application for certificate; requirements; issuance
§ 25H Termination of certificate
§ 25I Examination of affairs, transactions, accounts, records and assets of each group; confidentiality and privilege
§ 25J Boards of trustees
§ 25K Applications for membership; cancellation of members; insolvency or bankruptcy of members
§ 25L Solicitation of membership by licensed agents
§ 25M Misrepresentations or omissions in solicitations of membership
§ 25N Performance reports; statements of financial condition
§ 25O Uniform classification system; premium contributions; application to make own rates; audits
§ 25P Refunds
§ 25Q Premium payment plans; loss reserves; bad debt reserves

Amended by St. 2024, c. 238, § 265, effective November 20, 2024

§ 25R Deficiencies; assessments; liquidation of groups
§ 25S Penalties
§ 25T Cease and desist orders
§ 25U Revocation of certificates of approval
§ 25V Applicability of chapter 176V to groups governed by Secs. 25E to 25U
§ 25W Applicability of chapter 176W to workers’ compensation self-insurance groups governed by Secs. 25E to 25U
§ 26 Injuries arising out of and in course of employment
§ 26A Suicide
§ 26B Concurrent service of two or more employers; joint and several liability of insurers
§ 27 Willful misconduct of employee
§ 27A False representation of physical condition by employee; right to benefits
§ 28 Willful misconduct of employer; defense; reimbursement of insurer; employment of minor; persons with intellectual disabilities; injuries at sheltered workshops

Amended by St. 2026, c. 102, § 279, effective February 7, 2027

§ 29 Required period of incapacitation; personnel actions
§ 30 Adequate and reasonable health care services; preferred health care provider
§ 30A Medical reports
§ 30E Development of voluntary agreements
§ 30F Identification of cases in which vocational rehabilitation services may be required
§ 30G Meetings with injured employees requiring vocational rehabilitation services
§ 30H Applications for vocational rehabilitation services
§ 30I Availability of new jobs and job training programs
§ 31 Death; compensation for dependents; hearings
§ 32 Persons presumed dependent on employee; division of benefits and payments for children of former marriage; parent surviving dependent parent; dependency determined by facts; division of benefits
§ 33 Burial expenses
§ 34 Total incapacity; compensation
§ 34A Permanent and total incapacity; compensation
§ 34B Review date; supplemental benefits to Sec. 31 or 34A
§ 35 Partial incapacity; compensation
§ 35A Added compensation for dependents; payment; presumed dependents; dependency determined by facts
§ 35B Return to work; subsequent injury; rate of compensation
§ 35C Date of eligibility; benefits applicable; adjustments
§ 35D Computation of weekly wage
§ 35E Persons eligible for old age benefits or pension; entitlement to benefits under Sec. 34 or 35
§ 36 Specific injuries
§ 36A Death before full payment of compensation for specified injuries; brain damage
§ 36B Unemployment compensation benefits; eligibility
§ 37 Compensation for disability subsequent to physical impairment; reimbursement
§ 37A Compensation for disabled war veteran; reimbursement
§ 38 Consideration of employee's savings, insurance and other benefits
§ 39 Payment of compensation payable in case of death; payment of expenses and for legal services
§ 40 Guardian or next friend exercising employee's rights
§ 41 Notice of proceedings for compensation; limitation of actions
§ 42 Notice in general
§ 43 Service of notice
§ 44 Inaccuracies in, and want of, notice
§ 45 Examination by physician; filing copy of report; refusing or obstructing examination; reimbursement of travel expenses and wages
§ 46 Waiver of rights to compensation; arbitration
§ 46A Reimbursement for accident and health insurance benefits paid on compensable injuries; lien of insurers, et al., against award; child support claims
§ 47 Assignments; attachments; liability for debts

Amended by St.2022, c.144, § 71, effective March 1, 2023

§ 48 Lump sum agreements
§ 49 Claim in general
§ 50 Interest on unpaid claims
§ 51 Natural increase considered in determining weekly wages
§ 51A Decision in compensation case; law in effect
§ 52B Priority of premiums and interest charges over other claims
§ 52C Rating organizations in general; subscribers; co-operative activities; rates; freedom of contract; examination of records; confidentiality and privilege
§ 52D Appeal from action or decision of rating organization; rating information
§ 52E Violation of statutes; failure to comply with commissioner's orders; suspension and revocation of licenses
§ 52F Hearing on order or decision of commissioner; suspension or postponement of action; review; stay of order or decision
§ 52G Partial invalidity of statute
§ 53 Mutual companies; distribution of risks into groups
§ 53A Classification of risks and premiums; distribution of premiums among employers
§ 54A Necessity of insurance contract insuring payment of compensation
§ 55 Approval of policy by commissioner; review; issuance of policy in violation of statute
§ 55A Mid-term notice of cancellation
§ 56 Joint and several policies
§ 57 Deposits of value of outstanding claims under contracts
§ 58 Computation of value of claims
§ 59 Holding deposits in trust; payment of claims; transfer to trustee; accounts; refunds; return of balance
§ 60 Effect of appointment of receiver on order, deposit or payments; deposit by receiver
§ 60A Review, suspension and reduction of order requiring deposit
§ 60B Liability for expenses for custody and disbursement of deposit; determination; deduction from deposit
§ 60C Failure to comply with order requiring deposit; certificate authorizing resumption of issuance of policies
§ 60D Forfeiture for failure to comply with order requiring deposit; issuance of policy while in default; enforcement of order, fine or forfeiture
§ 61 Bond for foreign company; other security
§ 62 Deposits by foreign companies; payment of obligations
§ 63 Insurance company information requested by department; rating organizations; notices furnished by companies
§ 64 Insurer's regulations for prevention of injuries; review; inspector's access to premises
§ 65 Special Fund; Trust Fund; assessment base; assessment rates; payments; reports; audits
§ 65A Designation of insurer to issue policy; equitable distribution of risks; servicing carriers; service fees
§ 65B Cancellation or termination of policy; review
§ 65C Equitable distribution of losses; reinsurance pools; necessity of membership; plan of operation; cost containment programs
§ 65D Issuance of policy to employer assigned to another insurer
§ 65G ''Losses incurred'' defined; determination of amounts to be paid
§ 65H Adjustment of payments
§ 65I Primary liability to pay benefits
§ 65J Inspection of risks; rules
§ 65K Appeal on ground premium is unreasonable or discriminatory; effect of determined rates
§ 65L Failure of insurer to comply with statutes, order or rule; revocation or suspension of licenses; injunction
§ 65M Review of orders or rulings; time; suspension and stay of order or rulings
§ 65O Employer's choice of insurance agent or broker; commission fees; service fees
§ 66 Actions for injuries sustained by employees; limitations; defenses
§ 67 Application to insureds and employers having right of election, of statutes relating to defenses to actions
§ 68 Applicability of statutes relating to employers' liabilities
§ 69 Commonwealth, counties, cities, towns and districts in general; members of a police or fire force in work under a contract
§ 69B Vouchers; examinations and investigations; reports
§ 70 Procedure and jurisdiction; compensation paid by commonwealth and its subdivisions
§ 71 Liability of county, city, town or district for employee's injuries
§ 72 Employee claiming or waiving rights against county, city, town or district
§ 73 Election to receive compensation or pension; retirement boards; prosecuting claims; attorney; notice to boards; special pensions
§ 73A Employment of partially disabled employee; temporary employment to fill vacancy
§ 74 Application of statutes to all public employees; inmates of institutions; employees of boards or commissions and welfare districts
§ 74A Employee of one governmental unit or electric company aiding another unit or company; reimbursement of compensation
§ 75 Agents designated to furnish benefits and carry out statutes
§ 75A Preferences for hiring
§ 75B Qualified handicapped persons; discrimination against employees exercising rights under this chapter; disclosure of data
§ 86 Public employees; certified copy of order, decision, or agreement mailed to public employee retirement administration commission, etc.

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