Updates to Form C-8.1B

On October 1, 2025, the Workers’ Compensation Board (Board) announced updates to the Notice of Objection to a Payment of a Bill for Treatment Provided (Form C-8.1B) requiring payers to provide a detailed explanation of their objections to bills for medical treatment in boxes 12 and 20 within Section C, Objection Reasons-Legal and Medical Treatment Guidelines.

As noted in the announcement, use of the updated form will be mandatory effective January 5, 2026.

Updated CARC/RARC guidance

The Board has updated the CARC and RARC codes guidance document on the website, specifically “Other Objections” listed in line numbers 19-22 and line 31, to align with revised Form C-8.1B.

An Explanation of Benefit (EOB) is now sufficient for the following objection reasons and payers should not submit Form C-8.1B:

• Injured worker received a Section 32 settlement covering both future indemnity and medical services and the payer subsequently received the medical bill for services post settlement date.
• Injured worker received a third-party settlement covering both future indemnity and medical services and the payer subsequently received the medical bill for services post settlement date.
• The name of the injured worker/claimant is incorrect.

Payers should continue to submit Form C-8.1B utilizing box 3 when the prescription drug bill received by the insurer is for a non-formulary drug that requires prior approval.

When a procedure was performed at an ambulatory surgery center that is not certified by the Department of Health as required by Article 28 of the NYS Public Health Law, the payer should not submit Form C-8.1B. Instead, the payer should submit a Notice of an Insurer's Refusal to Pay All (or a portion) of a Medical Bill Due to Valuation Objection(s) (Form C-8.4), utilizing the first checkbox

More information

If you have any questions, or need more information, please contact officeofgeneralcounsel@wcb.ny.gov.