Colorado requires employers to use a Designated Provider list for workers comp medical care. Use the 2026 Colorado calculator to estimate TTD and PPD under DOWC rules and Medical Treatment Guidelines.
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| Category | Colorado (CO) Rule |
|---|---|
| System type | Exclusive remedy, no-fault. Colorado Premises Liability Act applies to employer premises. |
| TTD benefit rate | 66 2/3% of average weekly wage. Set annually by DOWC. Verify current max at colorado.gov/cdle. |
| Waiting period | 3 days. If disability exceeds 14 days, the first 3 days are paid retroactively. |
| PPD method | AMA Guides for impairment rating. DIME process for disputed ratings. |
| Notice to employer | 4 days written for full benefits. |
| Claim filing deadline | 2 years from injury (C.R.S. 8-43-103). |
| Doctor choice | Employee selects from employer's Designated Provider list. Change requires DOWC petition. |
| Settlement type | Full and Final or Compromise settlement. Requires DOWC approval. |
| Unique rule | Designated Provider system restricts initial doctor choice. DIME process gives independent examiner's rating presumptive correctness. Medical Treatment Guidelines standardize care. |
Colorado's workers compensation system is shaped by two features that set it apart: the Designated Provider requirement and the state's Medical Treatment Guidelines. Together, these features mean that Colorado exercises more control over medical treatment in workers comp claims than most states.
The Designated Provider system requires the employer or insurer to provide a list of at least two physicians from which the injured worker must choose for the initial medical visit. The worker cannot simply go to any doctor. Changing providers requires filing a petition with the DOWC. This gives insurers significant influence over early medical treatment and documentation.
Colorado's Medical Treatment Guidelines are evidence-based protocols published by the DOWC that govern the type, frequency, and duration of treatment for common workplace injuries. Treatment outside the guidelines may be denied unless the physician demonstrates medical necessity.
Temporary total disability in Colorado is paid at 66 2/3 percent of average weekly wage, subject to the annual DOWC maximum. The AWW is calculated from the four pay periods immediately before the injury, including regular overtime, tips, and bonuses.
The waiting period is 3 days. If disability lasts more than 2 weeks, the first 3 days are paid retroactively. TTD continues until MMI, return to full-duty work, or the insurer files a Final Admission of Liability. Colorado TTD has a maximum duration of 2 years for most claims, with exceptions for spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries.
Temporary partial disability applies when the worker returns to modified or part-time work at reduced pay, calculated as 66 2/3 percent of the wage differential.
Colorado uses the AMA Guides to calculate permanent disability. After MMI, a physician assigns an impairment rating as a percentage of whole-person impairment. The PPD benefit multiplies the rating by statutory weeks and the TTD rate.
Colorado's most distinctive feature is the DIME (Designated Authorized Independent Medical Examination). If the worker disagrees with the treating physician's rating, they can request a DIME. The DIME physician's rating is presumptively correct and can only be overturned by clear and convincing evidence, a high legal standard.
This gives the independent examiner's rating enormous weight. In many other states, the insurer can simply obtain a competing opinion. In Colorado, the DIME creates a strong presumption, making it one of the most important strategic decisions in a claim.
Colorado settlements can be Full and Final (closing all future rights) or Compromise (resolving disputed issues while leaving some benefits open). Both require DOWC filing.
Before settlement, the insurer must file a Final Admission of Liability. The worker can object within 30 days. Medical benefits can be kept open even after settling indemnity benefits. Attorney fees are typically 20 percent of disputed benefits by statute, lower than the 33 percent common in personal injury cases.
One procedural mechanism unique to Colorado's system is the Final Admission of Liability. When the insurer determines the benefits owed, it files a Final Admission with the DOWC. This document states the TTD rate paid, the PPD rating and benefit, and whether medical benefits remain open. The injured worker has 30 days to object to the Final Admission. If no objection is filed, the Final Admission becomes final and the worker's right to dispute the stated benefits is typically lost.
This creates a strict deadline that does not exist in most states. In a typical workers comp system, benefits are determined through an ongoing process. In Colorado, the Final Admission functions as a proposed resolution that becomes binding unless challenged. Workers who miss the 30-day objection window may lose the right to claim additional benefits beyond what the insurer admitted. This makes timely legal review critical in Colorado.
Colorado also uses Pinnacol Assurance as its state workers compensation fund. Pinnacol is not a state agency but a quasi-public insurer that writes a large share of Colorado workers comp policies, particularly for employers that may have difficulty obtaining coverage in the private market. Pinnacol's practices and claims handling often influence how disputed claims proceed in Colorado.
TTD: 66 2/3% of average weekly wage
Colorado requires the employer or insurer to provide a list of at least two designated providers. The worker must choose from this list for the initial visit. Changing doctors requires a DOWC petition.
TTD is 66 2/3 percent of AWW, subject to the annual DOWC maximum. Waiting period is 3 days, retroactive if disability exceeds 2 weeks.
A DIME is a Designated Authorized Independent Medical Examination. The DIME rating is presumptively correct, overturnable only by clear and convincing evidence.
Written notice within 4 days is required for maximum benefits.
Evidence-based protocols governing treatment type and duration for common injuries. Treatment outside guidelines may be denied.
Yes. Colorado allows settling indemnity while keeping medical open.
2 years from injury under C.R.S. 8-43-103.
No. Consult a licensed attorney in Colorado for legal advice.