Workers' Compensation Proposed and Adopted Rules
Current Rules of Procedure Subscribe to Our Email List
Notices of Rule Hearings & Proposed Rules
Rules 16 and 18 Hearing
A Rule Hearing will be held on August 27, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. MT to discuss proposed changes to Rule 16 and Rule 18. The public is invited to testify during this hearing. Written testimony can also be submitted by email to amy.kingston@state.co.us at any time before the end of the scheduled hearing. Register for the Rules 16 and 18 hearing.
Please note: Rule 18 has been rewritten to meet accessibility standards, address outdated language, and improve overall clarity and readability. In lieu of a redline version, a complete list of proposed changes to Rule 18 is available.
View Word Versions of Proposed Rules 16 and 18 Documents
For questions about accessibility or to request an accommodation, please email cdle_dowc_communications@state.co.us.
Adopted Rules
- Rule 1: General Definitions and Provisions (Effective July 15, 2026)
- Rule 5: Claims Adjusting Requirements (Effective July 15, 2026)
- Rule 18: Medical Fee Schedule (Effective January 1, 2026)
- Rule 18, Exhibit #1 (Effective January 1, 2026)
- Rule 18, Exhibit #2 (Effective January 1, 2026)
- Rule 18, Exhibit #3 (Effective January 1, 2026)
- Rule 18, Exhibit #4 (Effective January 1, 2026)
- Rule 2: Insurance Premium and Payroll Surcharges (Effective July 1, 2025)
- Rule 16: Utilization Standards (Effective July 1, 2025)
- Rule 16, Exhibit #1: Electronic Billing and Payment Companion Guide (Effective January 1, 2026)
- Rule 7: Closure of Claims and Petitions to Reopen (Effective July 1, 2024)
- Rule 11: Division Independent Medical Examination (Effective April 1, 2025)
- Rule 16: Utilization Standards (Effective January 1, 2025)
- Rule 17, Exhibit 4: Medical Treatment Guidelines Shoulder Injury (Effective January 1, 2025)
- Rule 18: Medical Fee Schedule (Effective January 1, 2025)
- Rule 18, Exhibit 1 (Effective January 1, 2025)
- Rule 18, Exhibit 2 (Effective January 1, 2025)
- Rule 18, Exhibit 3 (Effective January 1, 2025)
- Rule 18, Exhibit 4 (Effective January 1, 2025)
- Rule 2-4: Surcharge Rates (Effective July 1, 2022)
- Rule 3-6: Insurance Coverage (Effective August 10, 2022)
- Emergency Rule 5: Claims Adjusting Requirements (Effective August 10, 2022 - December 6, 2022)
- Emergency Rule 5: Claims Adjusting Requirements (Effective December 6, 2022 - March 29, 2023)
- Rule 5: Claims Adjusting Requirements (Effective March 30, 2023)
- Emergency Rule 11: Division Independent Medical Examination (Effective January 1, 2023 - March 1, 2023)
- Rule 11: Division Independent Medical Examination (Effective March 2, 2023)
- Rule 16: Utilization Standards (Effective January 1, 2023)
- Rule 18: Medical Fee Schedule (Effective January 1, 2023)
- Rule 2-4: Surcharge Rate (Effective July 1, 2021)
- Rule 3: Insurance Coverage (Effective January 1, 2022)
- Rule 5: Claims Adjusting Requirements (Effective July 1, 2021)
- Rule 5-6: Claims Adjusting Requirements (Effective September 7, 2021, through December 31, 2021)
- Rule 5-6: Claims Adjusting Requirements (Effective January 1, 2022)
- Rule 6: Modification, Termination, or Suspension of Temporary Disability Benefits (Effective July 1, 2021)
- Rule 7: Closure of Claims and Petitions to Reopen (Effective July 1, 2021)
- Rule 18-7: Medical Fee Schedule (Effective September 7, 2021, through December 31, 2021)
- Rule 18: Medical Fee Schedule (Effective January 1, 2022)
- Exhibit 1 (Effective January 1, 2022)
- Exhibit 2 (Effective January 1, 2022)
- Exhibit 3 (Effective January 1, 2022)
- Clarifications Regarding Rule 18-2(D) and Rule 18-6(A)(4)
- Rule 2: Workers' Compensation Insurance Premium and Payroll Surcharges (Effective July 1, 2020)
- Rule 4: Carrier Compliance (Effective April 30, 2021)
- Rule 16: Utilization Standards (Effective January 1, 2021)
- Rule 18: Medical Fee Schedule (Effective January 1, 2021)
- Rules 18-3 and 18-4: Telemedicine (Effective October 15, 2020)
- Emergency Rules (Effective June 15, 2020, through October 13, 2020)
- Rule 2: Workers' Compensation Insurance Premium and Payroll Surcharges (Effective July 1, 2019)
- Rule 5: Claims Adjusting Requirements (Effective November 30, 2019)
- Rule 8: Authorized Treating Physician (Effective July 15, 2019)
- Rule 9: Division of Workers' Compensation Dispute Resolution (Effective July 15, 2019)
- Rule 11: Division Independent Medical Examination (Effective July 15, 2019)
- Rule 16: Utilization Standards (Effective January 1, 2020)
- Rule 18: Medical Fee Schedule (Effective January 1, 2020)
- 2020 Exhibits to Medical Fee Schedule
- Rule 18-7(H): (Effective April 30, 2020)
- Rule 18: Medical Fee Schedule (Effective April 30, 2020)
- Rule 2: Workers' Compensation Insurance Premium and Payroll Surcharges (Effective July 1, 2018)
- Rule 7-3: Life Expectancy Table (Effective July 1, 2018)
- Rule 11: Division Independent Medical Examination (Effective January 1, 2019)
- Rule 16: Utilization Standards (Effective January 1, 2019)
- Rule 17, Exhibit 2: Traumatic Brain Injury (Effective January 30, 2019)
- Rule 18: Medical Fee Schedule (Effective January 1, 2019)
- 2019 Exhibits to Medical Fee Schedule
- Rule 2-5: Surcharge Rate (Effective July 1, 2017)
- Rule 13: Accreditation of Physicians (Effective January 1, 2018)
- Rule 16: Utilization Standards (Effective January 1, 2018)
- Rule 17, Exhibit 7:Complex Regional Pain Syndrome/Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (Effective November 30, 2017)
- Rule 17, Exhibit 9: Chronic Pain Disorder (Effective November 30, 2017)
- Rule 18: Medical Fee Schedule (Effective January 1, 2018)
- Rule 17 Exhibit 5 Cumulative Trauma Conditions (Effective March 2, 2017)
- Rule 16: Utilization Standards (Effective January 1, 2017)
- Rule 18: Medical Fee Schedule (Effective January 1, 2017)
- 2017 Colorado Workers' Compensation Resource-Based Relative Value Scale Professional Fee Schedule
- Rules 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 (Effective September 14, 2016)
- Rule 2-5: Surcharge Rate (Effective July 1, 2016)
To view additional information about rules in Colorado, please visit the Colorado Secretary of State's website.
Contact Us
Division of Workers' Compensation
707 17th Street, Suite 2300
Denver, CO 80202
303-318-8700
1-888-390-7936 (Toll-Free)