§23-5-5a. Refusal of modification; notice; objection; effective July 1, 2022.

(a) If in any case it appears to the Insurance Commissioner, other private insurance carriers, and self-insured employers, whichever is applicable, that the application filed pursuant to §23-5-4 of this code fails to disclose some fact or facts which were not previously considered in former findings, and which would entitle the employer to any modification of the previous award, the Insurance Commissioner, other private insurance carriers, and self-insured employers, whichever is applicable, shall, within 60 days from the receipt of the application, notify the claimant and employer that the application fails to establish a just cause for modification of the award. The notice shall be in writing stating the reasons for denial and the time allowed for objection to the decision of the Insurance Commissioner, other private insurance carriers, and self-insured employers, whichever is applicable. The employer may, within 30 days after receipt of the notice, object in writing to the decision. Unless the objection is filed within the 30-day period, no objection shall be allowed. This time limitation is a condition of the right to objection and hence jurisdictional. Upon receipt of the objection, the Workers’ Compensation Board of Review shall afford the employer an evidentiary hearing as provided in §23-5-9 of this code.

(b) This section becomes effective on July 1, 2022.