Ariz. Admin. Code § R20-5-130 - Claims Office Location and Function; Requirements of Maintaining an Out-of-state Claims Office

A. Except as provided in subsection (B), each carrier that has or is underwriting workers' compensation insurance in Arizona, and each employer and workers' compensation pool that has been granted authority to act as a self-insurer by the Commission, shall maintain a workers' compensation claims office in Arizona. A carrier, self-insured employer, and self-insured workers' compensation pool shall process and pay workers' compensation claims and maintain the workers' compensation claims files described in R20-5-131 in its Arizona office. A carrier, self-insured employer, and self-insured workers' compensation pool shall notify the claims division of the Commission of the address of the Arizona claims office.

B. Except as provided in subsections (C) and (D), a carrier or self-insured employer may request authorization from the Commission to maintain an out-of-state claims office. The Commission shall grant a carrier or self-insured employer authorization to maintain an out-of-state claims office no later than 20 days after the carrier or self-insured employer provides satisfactory evidence of the following:

1. Existence of a toll-free telephone line to the out-of-state claims office;

2. Completion of Commission claims division's training by the individuals responsible for claims processing at the out-of-state office; and

3. Designation of a financial institution located in Arizona that will cash on demand checks issued by the out-of-state claims office.

C. The Commission shall not permit a self-insured workers' compensation pool to maintain a claims office out-of-state.

D. The Commission shall rescind its authorization to maintain an out-of-state claims office if a carrier or self-insured employer no longer meets the requirements of subsection (B) or fails to process and pay claims as required under the Act and this Article.

E. A carrier or self-insured employer maintaining an out-of-state claims office shall print the carrier's or self-insured employer's toll-free telephone number to the out-of-state claims office on all notices of claim status or other determinations issued by the out-of-state claims office. Failure to print the toll-free telephone number on a notice or other determination as required by this subsection does not affect the validity of the notice or determination.

F. For claims processing purposes, a carrier, self-insured employer, or self-insured workers' compensation pool may have more than one designated representative provided the carrier, self-insured employer, or self-insured workers' compensation pool:

1. Notifies the Commission at the time an insurance policy is issued or authorization to self-insure is granted; and

2. Notifies the Commission each time that the insurance policy or authorization to self-insure is renewed.

Notes

Ariz. Admin. Code § R20-5-130

Former Rule 30. Amended effective March 1, 1987, filed February 26, 1987 (Supp. 87-1). R20-5-130 recodified from R4-13-130 (Supp. 95-1). Amended by final rulemaking at 7 A.A.R. 3966 and 7 A.A.R. 4995, effective August 17, 2001 (Supp. 01-3).