You find a doctor's medical-legal bill in a claims file 62 days after the bill was date stamped received. What should you do?

• A. Do nothing
• B. Voluntarily add 10 percent plus 7 percent interest
• C. File a complaint
• D. Review for errors

Answer: (B)

Late payment penalties and interest apply to California workers’ compensation medical bills when payment isn’t made within 60 days of receipt. The clock starts when the payer date-stamps the bill as received. If the bill is already 62 days past receipt, the statutory penalty of 10% plus 7% annual interest on the unpaid amount kicks in. Therefore, the proper action is to apply (voluntarily) the late-payment penalty and interest to the bill so the provider is compensated for the delay and the payer is reminded of the obligation. This is the direct remedy for a late bill; actions like filing a complaint aren’t needed as the payment remedy is already provided by the statute, and simply reviewing for errors doesn’t address the late payment itself.