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12  AN ACT concerning workers compensation; relating to employee choice
13    of medical treatment; amending K.S.A. 1996 Supp. 44-510 and re-
14    pealing the existing section.
15
16  Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
17    Section 1.  K.S.A. 1996 Supp. 44-510 is hereby amended to read as
18  follows: 44-510. Except as otherwise provided therein, medical compen-
19  sation under the workers compensation act shall be as follows:
20    (a)  It shall be the duty of the employer to provide the services of a
21  health care provider, and such medical, surgical and hospital treatment,
22  including nursing, medicines, medical and surgical supplies, ambulance,
23  crutches, and apparatus, and transportation to and from the home of the
24  injured employee to a place outside the community in which such em-
25  ployee resides, and within such community if the director in the director's
26  discretion so orders, including transportation expenses computed in ac-
27  cordance with subsection (a) of K.S.A. 44-515 and amendments thereto,
28  as may be reasonably necessary to cure and relieve the employee from
29  the effects of the injury.
30    However, the employee shall have the right to choose the initial health
31  care provider to provide medical compensation benefits on the employee's
32  behalf. If the services provided by the health care provider initially chosen
33  by the employee are unsatisfactory to the employee, the employee shall
34  be entitled to health care services provided by a health care provider of
35  the employer's choice.
36    (1)  The director shall appoint, subject to the approval of the secretary,
37  a specialist in health services delivery, who shall be referred to as the
38  medical administrator. The medical administrator shall be a person li-
39  censed to practice medicine and surgery in this state and shall be in the
40  unclassified service under the Kansas civil service act. The medical ad-
41  ministrator, subject to the direction of the director, shall have the duty
42  of overseeing the providing of health care services to employees in ac-
43  cordance with the provisions of the workers compensation act, including
HB 2445
                                     

 1  but not limited to:
 2    (A)  Preparing, with the assistance of the advisory panel, the fee
 3  schedule for health care services as set forth in this section;
 4    (B)  developing, with the assistance of the advisory panel, the utili-
 5  zation review program for health care services as set forth in this section;
 6    (C)  developing procedures for appeals and review of disputed
 7  charges or services rendered by health care providers under this section;
 8    (D)  developing a system for collecting and analyzing data on expend-
 9  itures for health care services by each type of provider under the workers
10  compensation act; and
11    (E)  carrying out such other duties as may be delegated or directed
12  by the director or secretary.
13    (2)  The director shall prepare and adopt rules and regulations, which
14  shall be in effect on or before July 1, 1993, and which establish a schedule
15  of maximum fees for medical, surgical, hospital, dental, nursing, voca-
16  tional rehabilitation or any other treatment or services provided or or-
17  dered by health care providers and rendered to employees under the
18  workers compensation act. The schedule shall include provisions and re-
19  view procedures for exceptional cases involving extraordinary medical
20  procedures or circumstances and shall include costs and charges for med-
21  ical records and testimony.
22    (3)  The schedule of maximum fees shall be reasonable, shall promote
23  health care cost containment and efficiency with respect to the workers
24  compensation health care delivery system, and shall be sufficient to en-
25  sure availability of such reasonably necessary treatment, care and atten-
26  dance to each injured employee to cure and relieve the employee from
27  the effects of the injury.
28    (4) (A)  In every case, all fees, transportation costs, charges under this
29  section and all costs and charges for medical records and testimony shall
30  be subject to approval by the director and shall be limited to such as are
31  fair, reasonable and necessary. The schedule of maximum fees shall be
32  reviewed annually by the director to assure that the schedule is current,
33  reasonable and fair.
34    (B)  There is hereby created an advisory panel to assist the director
35  in establishing a schedule of maximum fees as required by this section.
36  The panel shall consist of the commissioner of insurance and seven mem-
37  bers appointed as follows:  (i) One person shall be appointed by the Kansas
38  medical society, (ii) one member shall be appointed by the Kansas asso-
39  ciation of osteopathic medicine, (iii) one member shall be appointed by
40  the Kansas hospital association, (iv) one member shall be appointed by
41  the Kansas chiropractic association, and (v) three members appointed by
42  the secretary. One member appointed by the secretary shall be a repre-
43  sentative of employers recommended to the secretary by the Kansas
HB 2445
                                     

 1  chamber of commerce and industry. One member appointed by the sec-
 2  retary shall be a representative of employees recommended to the sec-
 3  retary by the Kansas AFL-CIO. One member appointed by the secretary
 4  shall be a representative of entities providing vocational rehabilitation
 5  services pursuant to K.S.A. 44-510g and amendments thereto. Each ap-
 6  pointed member shall be appointed for a term of office of two years which
 7  shall commence on July 1 of the year of appointment.
 8    (C)  All fees and other charges paid for such treatment, care and at-
 9  tendance, including treatment, care and attendance provided by any
10  health care provider, hospital or other entity providing health care serv-
11  ices, shall not exceed the amounts prescribed by the schedule of maxi-
12  mum fees established under this section or the amounts authorized pur-
13  suant to the provisions and review procedures prescribed by the schedule
14  for exceptional cases. A health care provider, hospital or other entity pro-
15  viding health care services shall be paid either such health care provider,
16  hospital or other entity's usual charge for the treatment, care and atten-
17  dance or the maximum fees as set forth in the schedule, whichever is less.
18  In reviewing and approving the schedule of maximum fees, the director
19  shall consider the following:
20    (i)  The levels of fees for similar treatment, care and attendance im-
21  posed by other health care programs or third-party payors in the locality
22  in which such treatment or services are rendered;
23    (ii)  the impact upon cost to employers for providing a level of fees
24  for treatment, care and attendance which will ensure the availability of
25  treatment, care and attendance required for injured employees;
26    (iii)  the potential change in workers compensation insurance premi-
27  ums or costs attributable to the level of treatment, care and attendance
28  provided; and
29    (iv)  the financial impact of the schedule of maximum fees upon health
30  care providers and health care facilities and its effect upon their ability
31  to make available to employees such reasonably necessary treatment, care
32  and attendance to each injured employee to cure and relieve the em-
33  ployee from the effects of the injury.
34    (D)  Members of the advisory panel attending meetings of the advi-
35  sory panel, or attending a subcommittee of the advisory panel authorized
36  by the advisory panel, shall be paid subsistence allowances, mileage and
37  other expenses as provided in K.S.A. 75-3223 and amendments thereto.
38    (5)  Any contract or any billing or charge which any health care pro-
39  vider, vocational rehabilitation service provider, hospital, person, or in-
40  stitution enters into with or makes to any patient for services rendered in
41  connection with injuries covered by the workers compensation act or the
42  fee schedule adopted under this section, which is or may be in excess of
43  or not in accordance with such act or fee schedule, is unlawful, void and
HB 2445
                                     

 1  unenforceable as a debt.
 2    (6)  The director shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine all dis-
 3  putes as to such charges and interest due thereon and shall prescribe
 4  procedural rules to be followed by the parties to such disputes. In the
 5  event of any controversy arising under this section, payments shall not be
 6  delayed for any amounts not in dispute or controversy. Acceptance by
 7  any provider of services of a payment amount under this section which is
 8  less than the full amount charged for the services, shall not affect the
 9  right to have a review of the claim for the outstanding or remaining
10  amounts. In the event of a dispute as to such charges, the health care
11  provider, hospital, institution, person or other provider under this section
12  may appear and be represented in the action under the workers com-
13  pensation act.
14    (7)  If the director finds, after utilization review and peer review, that
15  a provider or facility has made excessive charges or provided or ordered
16  unjustified treatment, services, hospitalization or visits, the provider or
17  facility shall not receive payment pursuant to this section from an insur-
18  ance carrier, employer or employee for the excessive fees or unjustified
19  treatment, services, hospitalization or visits and such provider or facility
20  shall repay any fees or charges collected therefor.
21    (8)  Not later than December 31, 1993, the director shall develop and
22  implement, or contract with a qualified entity to develop and implement,
23  utilization review and peer review procedures relating to the services
24  rendered by providers and facilities, which services are paid for in whole
25  or in part pursuant to the workers compensation act. The director may
26  contract with one or more private foundations or organizations to provide
27  utilization review, as appropriate, of entities providing health care services
28  or vocational rehabilitation services, or both, pursuant to the workers
29  compensation act.
30    (9)  By accepting payment pursuant to this section for treatment or
31  services rendered to an injured employee, a health care provider or health
32  care facility shall be deemed to consent to submitting all necessary records
33  to substantiate the nature and necessity of the service or charge and other
34  information concerning such treatment to utilization review and peer re-
35  view under this section. Such health care provider shall comply with any
36  decision of the director pursuant to subsection (a)(10).
37    (10)  If it is determined by a peer review committee that a provider
38  improperly overutilized or otherwise rendered or ordered unjustified
39  treatment or services or that the fees for such treatment or services were
40  excessive, the director may order the provider to show cause why the
41  provider should not be required to repay the amount which was paid for
42  rendering or ordering such treatment or services and shall provide the
43  provider a hearing thereon if requested. If a hearing is not requested
HB 2445
                                     

 1  within 30 days of receipt of the order and the director decides to proceed
 2  with the matter, a hearing shall be conducted and if a prima facie case is
 3  established a final order shall be issued by the director. If the final order
 4  is adverse to a health care provider, the director shall provide a report to
 5  the licensing board of the health care provider with full documentation
 6  of any such determination, except that no such report shall be provided
 7  until after judicial review if the order is appealed. Any order of the di-
 8  rector under this section shall be subject to review by the board.
 9    (11)  Except as provided by K.S.A. 60-437 and amendments thereto
10  or this section, all reports, information, statements, memoranda, pro-
11  ceedings, findings and records which relate to utilization review or peer
12  review conducted pursuant to this section, including any records of peer
13  review committees, shall be privileged and shall not be subject to discov-
14  ery, subpoena, or other means of legal compulsion for release to any
15  person or entity and shall not be admissible in evidence in any judicial or
16  administrative proceeding, except those proceedings authorized pursuant
17  to this section.
18    (12)  A provider or facility may not improperly charge or overcharge
19  a workers compensation insurer or charge for services which were not
20  provided, for the purpose of obtaining additional payment.
21    (13)  Any violation of the provisions of this section which is willful or
22  which demonstrates a pattern of improperly charging or overcharging
23  workers compensation insurers constitutes grounds for the director to
24  impose a civil fine not to exceed $5,000. Any civil fine imposed under
25  this section shall be subject to review in accordance with the act for
26  judicial review and civil enforcement of agency actions in the district court
27  for Shawnee county. All moneys received for civil fines imposed under
28  this section shall be deposited in the state treasury to the credit of the
29  workers compensation fund.
30    (14)  As used in this subsection (a), unless the context or the specific
31  provisions require otherwise, ``provider'' means any health care provider
32  or vocational rehabilitation service provider, and ``facility'' means any fa-
33  cility providing health care services or vocational rehabilitation services,
34  or both, including any hospital.
35    (b)  Any health care provider, nurse, physical therapist, any entity pro-
36  viding medical, physical or vocational rehabilitation services or providing
37  reeducation or training pursuant to K.S.A. 44-510g and amendments
38  thereto, medical supply establishment, surgical supply establishment, am-
39  bulance service or hospital who accept the terms of the workers compen-
40  sation act by providing services or material thereunder shall be bound by
41  the fees approved by the director and no injured employee or dependent
42  of a deceased employee shall be liable for any charges above the amounts
43  approved by the director. If the employer has knowledge of the injury
HB 2445
                                     

 1  and refuses or neglects to reasonably provide the services of a health care
 2  provider required by this section, the employee may provide the same
 3  for such employee, and the employer shall be liable for such expenses
 4  subject to the regulations adopted by the director. No action shall be filed
 5  in any court by a health care provider or other provider of services under
 6  this section for the payment of an amount for medical services or materials
 7  provided under the workers compensation act and no other action to
 8  obtain or attempt to obtain or collect such payment shall be taken by a
 9  health care provider or other provider of services under this section, in-
10  cluding employing any collection service, until after final adjudication of
11  any claim for compensation for which an application for hearing is filed
12  with the director under K.S.A. 44-534 and amendments thereto. In the
13  case of any such action filed in a court prior to the date an application is
14  filed under K.S.A. 44-534 and amendments thereto, no judgment may be
15  entered in any such cause and the action shall be stayed until after the
16  final adjudication of the claim. In the case of an action stayed hereunder,
17  any award of compensation shall require any amounts payable for medical
18  services or materials to be paid directly to the provider thereof plus an
19  amount of interest at the rate provided by statute for judgments. No
20  period of time under any statute of limitation, which applies to a cause
21  of action barred under this subsection, shall commence or continue to
22  run until final adjudication of the claim under the workers compensation
23  act.
24    (c) (1)  If the director finds, upon application of an injured employee,
25  that the services of the health care provider furnished as provided in
26  subsection (a) and rendered on behalf of the injured employee are not
27  satisfactory, the director may authorize the appointment of some other
28  health care provider. In any such case, the employer shall submit the
29  names of three health care providers that are not associated in practice
30  together. The injured employee may select one from the list who shall
31  be the authorized treating health care provider. If the injured employee
32  is unable to obtain satisfactory services from any of the health care pro-
33  viders submitted by the employer under this subsection (c)(1), either
34  party or both parties may request the director to select a treating health
35  care provider.
36    (2)  Without application or approval, an employee may consult a
37  health care provider of the employee's choice for the purpose of exami-
38  nation, diagnosis or treatment, but the employer shall only be liable for
39  the fees and charges of such health care provider up to a total amount of
40  $500. The amount allowed for such examination, diagnosis or treatment
41  shall not be used to obtain a functional impairment rating. Any medical
42  opinion obtained in violation of this prohibition shall not be admissible
43  in any claim proceedings under the workers compensation act.
HB 2445
                                     

 1    (d) (c)  An injured employee whose injury or disability has been es-
 2  tablished under the workers compensation act may rely, if done in good
 3  faith, solely or partially on treatment by prayer or spiritual means in ac-
 4  cordance with the tenets of practice of a church or religious denomination
 5  without suffering a loss of benefits subject to the following conditions:
 6    (1)  The employer or the employer's insurance carrier agrees thereto
 7  in writing either before or after the injury;
 8    (2)  the employee submits to all physical examinations required by the
 9  workers compensation act;
10    (3)  the cost of such treatment shall be paid by the employee unless
11  the employer or insurance carrier agrees to make such payment;
12    (4)  the injured employee shall be entitled only to benefits that would
13  reasonably have been expected had such employee undergone medical
14  or surgical treatment; and
15    (5)  the employer or insurance carrier that made an agreement under
16  paragraph (1) or (3) of this subsection may withdraw from the agreement
17  on 10 days' written notice.
18    (e) (d)  In any employment to which the workers compensation act
19  applies, the employer shall be liable to each employee who is employed
20  as a duly authorized law enforcement officer, ambulance attendant, mo-
21  bile intensive care technician or firefighter, including any person who is
22  serving on a volunteer basis in such capacity, for all reasonable and nec-
23  essary preventive medical care and treatment for hepatitis to which such
24  employee is exposed under circumstances arising out of and in the course
25  of employment.
26    (f) (e)  No person shall be subject to civil liability for libel, slander or
27  any other relevant tort cause of action by virtue of performing utilization
28  review or peer review under contract with the director pursuant to sub-
29  section (a)(7).
30    Sec. 2.  K.S.A. 1996 Supp. 44-510 is hereby repealed.
31    Sec. 3.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
32  publication in the statute book.