RHODE ISLAND
Employee Selects
An injured employee shall have freedom of choice to obtain health care, diagnosis, and treatment from any qualified health care provider initially. The initial health care provider of record may, without prior approval, refer the injured employee to any qualified specialist for independent consultation or assessment, or specified treatment. (R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-33-8 (a)(1))
Change of Provider
The employee can change provider without restriction. (R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-33-8 (a)(1)), RI Department of Labor & Training website:
http://www.dlt.ri.gov/wc/infoInjWorker.htm )
Panels
Not addressed
Panel Provisions
See Direction of Care law.
RHODE ISLAND PPN
Employee Selects
An injured employee shall have freedom of choice to obtain health care, diagnosis, and treatment from any qualified health care provider initially. The initial health care provider of record may, without prior approval, refer the injured employee to any qualified specialist for independent consultation or assessment, or specified treatment. (R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-33-8 (a)(1)
Change of Provider
If the insurer/self-insured employer has a PPN approved and kept on record by the medical advisory board, any change by the employee from the initial health care provider of record shall only be to a health care provider listed in the approved PPN; provided, however, that any contract proffered or maintained which restricts or limits the health care provider's ability to make referrals pursuant to the provisions of this section, restricts the injured employee's first choice of health care provider, substitutes or overrules the treatment protocols maintained by the medical advisory board or attempts to evade or limit the jurisdiction of the workers' compensation court shall be void as against public policy. If the employee seeks to change to a health care provider not in the approved PPN, the employee must obtain the approval of the insurer or self-insured employer. (R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-33-8 (a)(1))
Panels
Not addressed
Panel Provisions
See Direction of Care law.The information on this website constitutes summary information only and does not constitute legal advice. Review of the full text of the referenced statutes and regulations may be necessary. Coventry Health Care Workers' Compensation, Inc. makes no representations or warranties about the accuracy of the information contained on this website.