Relating to certain claims for benefits or compensation by a death investigation professional.

Contracts

• Third-Party Administrators (TPAs): Counties must amend TPA service agreements immediately. Insert clauses requiring the TPA to flag DIP claims for "acceleration" and "priority." Ensure indemnification clauses cover administrative penalties resulting from the TPA's failure to expedite these specific claims.
• Medical Examiner Employment: Review contracts to ensure statutory rights to immunizations and physician choice for exposure treatment are acknowledged to prevent contract disputes.

Hiring/Training

• HR Classification: Update HR Information Systems (HRIS) to tag Justices of the Peace, Medical Examiners, and *all* employees of the Medical Examiner's office as "Death Investigation Professionals."
• Claims Adjuster Training: Train adjusters to identify DIPs immediately. They must understand that "ordinary disease of life" denials for these workers may now trigger separate statutory reimbursement obligations for the employer.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

• Exposure Incident Forms: Create a specific "Notice of Exposure" form for DIPs. This document serves as the trigger for the county's financial obligation to reimburse preventative medical treatment under Gov. Code 607.002.
• Immunization Logs: Maintain a compliant log of immunizations offered to and received by DIPs to satisfy Gov. Code 607.004.
• DWC Filings: Carriers must track notices from claimants invoking their status as a DIP to ensure contested case hearings are scheduled on the accelerated docket.

Fees & Costs

• Direct Medical Reimbursement: Counties must budget for direct reimbursement of "preventative medical treatment" for contagious diseases. If the workers' comp carrier denies the claim (e.g., no injury occurred yet), the County is statutorily liable for these costs.
• Administrative Penalties: Carriers face variable administrative penalties under Labor Code 415.021(c-2) if they fail to expedite medical benefits for DIPs.