Sec. 31-279. Notice of availability of compensation. Uniform system for determination of degree of physical impairment. Employer-sponsored plan for medical care and treatment. Indemnification of medical advisory panel members.
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(a)The chairperson of the Workers' Compensation Commission shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, specifying the minimum information to be contained in a notice of the availability of compensation which shall be posted in the workplace by each employer subject to the provisions of this chapter pursuant to subsection
(f)of section 31-284 .
(b)The chairperson of the Workers' Compensation Commission shall, not later than July 1, 1991, adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, to create a uniform system to be used by medical professionals in determining the degree of physical impairment of persons receiving compensation under this chapter.
(1)Any employer or any insurer acting on behalf of an employer, may establish a plan, subject to the approval of the chairperson of the Workers' Compensation Commission under subsection
(d)of this section, for the provision of medical care that the employer provides for treatment of any injury or illness under this chapter. Each plan shall contain such information as the chairperson shall require, including, but not limited to:
(A)A listing of all persons who will provide services under the plan, along with appropriate evidence that each person listed has met any licensing, certification or registration requirement necessary for the person to legally provide the service in this state;
(B)A listing of all pharmacies that will provide services under the plan, to which the employer, any insurer acting on behalf of the employer, or any other entity acting on behalf of the employer or insurer shall make direct payments for any prescription drug prescribed by a physician participating in the plan;
(C)A designation of the times, places and manners in which the services will be provided;
(D)A description of how the quality and quantity of medical care will be managed; and
(E)Such other provisions as the employer and the employees may agree to, subject to the approval of the chairperson.
(2)The election by an employee covered by a plan established under this subsection to obtain medical care and treatment from a provider of medical services who is not listed in the plan shall suspend the employee's right to compensation, subject to the order of the administrative law judge.
(d)Each plan established under subsection
(c)of this section shall be submitted to the chairperson for the chairperson's approval at least one hundred twenty days before the proposed effective date of the plan and each approved plan, along with any proposed changes therein, shall be resubmitted to the chairperson every two years thereafter for reapproval. The chairperson shall approve or disapprove such plans on the basis of standards established by the chairperson in consultation with a medical advisory panel appointed by the chairperson. Such standards shall include, but not be limited to:
(1)The ability of the plan to provide all medical and health care services that may be required under this chapter in a manner that is timely, effective and convenient for the employees;
(2)the inclusion in the plan of all categories of medical service and of an adequate number of providers of each type of medical service in accessible locations to ensure that employees are given an adequate choice of providers;
(3)the provision in the plan for appropriate financial incentives to reduce service costs and utilization without a reduction in the quality of service;
(4)the inclusion in the plan of fee screening, peer review, service utilization review and dispute resolution procedures designed to prevent inappropriate or excessive treatment;
(5)the inclusion in the plan of a procedure by which information on medical and health care service costs and utilization will be reported to the chairperson in order for him to determine the effectiveness of the plan; and
(6)the inclusion in the plan of an administrative process that permits an employee to seek, without limitation, a determination of the necessity or appropriateness of medical and health care services recommended by providers of a medical care plan and the payment for such appropriate, medically necessary health care services.
(e)Any person who serves as a member of the medical advisory panel, appointed by the chairperson of the Workers' Compensation Commission pursuant to subsection
(d)of this section, shall be deemed to be a state officer or employee for purposes of indemnification and defense under section 5-141d .