§ 28-33-34.1. Schedule of medical review.
(a) On or about twenty-six (26) weeks from the date of a compensable injury, any person obtaining incapacity benefits may be examined and his or her diagnosis and treatment reviewed by a comprehensive independent healthcare review team or an impartial medical examiner. The comprehensive independent healthcare review team or impartial medical examiner shall be selected through a mechanism to be established by the administrator of the medical advisory board. The results of the examination and review shall be provided to the employee and the insurer or self-insured employer within fourteen (14) days of the examination and a copy shall be filed with the medical advisory board. The comprehensive independent healthcare review team and/or impartial medical examiner shall review the treating physician’s findings and diagnosis and make its own findings of the extent and nature of the claimed disability; the degree of functional impairment and/or disability; the expectation of further medical improvement; any further medical care, treatment, and/or rehabilitation services that may be required to reach maximum medical improvement; type(s) of work that can be performed within existing physical capacity; the degree of disability expected at maximum medical improvement; whether the employee can return to the former position of employment; and compliance of the treating physician with protocols and standards of medical care established by the medical advisory board. The report may be subsequently admissible as a court exhibit. A party may be permitted to cross-examine the author(s) of the report with leave of the court.
(b) On or about thirteen (13) weeks after any examination under this section or § 28-33-35, a comprehensive independent healthcare review team or impartial medical examiner shall perform a similar review. The same comprehensive independent healthcare review team or impartial medical examiner may not perform more than two (2) consecutive reviews on a particular employee.
(c) Failure to appear for examination under this section shall be grounds for suspension or termination of benefits unless justified by good cause. Residence outside the state does not, by itself, constitute good cause for failure to appear.
History of Section.P.L. 1992, ch. 31, § 8; P.L. 2010, ch. 95, § 2; P.L. 2010, ch. 121, § 2; P.L. 2014, ch. 78, § 5; P.L. 2014, ch. 87, § 5.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations
Chapter 28-33 - Workers’ Compensation — Benefits
Section 28-33-1. - Employees entitled to compensation.
Section 28-33-1.1. - [Repealed.]
Section 28-33-2. - Injuries occasioned by willful intent or intoxication.
Section 28-33-2.1. - Injuries occasioned by employer-sponsored social or athletic activities.
Section 28-33-3. - [Repealed.]
Section 28-33-4. - Commencement of compensation.
Section 28-33-5. - Medical services provided by employer.
Section 28-33-6. - Failure to provide or accept medical services.
Section 28-33-7. - Health service provider reimbursement.
Section 28-33-8.1. - Managed care programs.
Section 28-33-9. - Order declaring employer liable for medical services.
Section 28-33-10. - “Dental, hospital, and medical services” defined.
Section 28-33-11. - Notice of hearings — Time of decision.
Section 28-33-12. - Death benefits payable to dependents.
Section 28-33-13. - Persons presumed wholly dependent.
Section 28-33-14. - Determination of dependency — Division of payments among dependents.
Section 28-33-15. - Relationship and dependency required.
Section 28-33-16. - Burial expenses.
Section 28-33-17.1. - Employees not entitled to compensation.
Section 28-33-17.3. - Fraud and abuse.
Section 28-33-18. - Weekly compensation for partial incapacity.
Section 28-33-18.1. - Employees not entitled to compensation for total incapacity.
Section 28-33-18.2. - Suitable alternative employment.
Section 28-33-18.3. - Continuation of benefits — Partial incapacity.
Section 28-33-19. - Additional compensation for specific injuries.
Section 28-33-20. - Computation of earnings.
Section 28-33-21. - Savings or other insurance not to be considered.
Section 28-33-22. - Minors employed in violation of law.
Section 28-33-23. - Persons to whom compensation payable in event of death.
Section 28-33-24. - Cessation of payments on death of employee.
Section 28-33-25. - Settlement for lump sum or structured-type payment.
Section 28-33-25.1. - Settlement of disputed cases.
Section 28-33-26. - Waivers of compensation void.
Section 28-33-27. - Immunity of claims from assignment or liability for debt.
Section 28-33-28. - Priority of claim over debts of employer.
Section 28-33-29. - Exercise of rights or privileges by guardian, conservator, or next friend.
Section 28-33-30. - Time for notice of injury to employer.
Section 28-33-31. - Contents of notice to employer.
Section 28-33-32. - Manner of serving notice.
Section 28-33-33. - Inaccuracies in notice — Want of notice as defense.
Section 28-33-34. - Physical examination by employer’s physician — Report.
Section 28-33-34.1. - Schedule of medical review.
Section 28-33-35. - Appointment of impartial medical examiner.
Section 28-33-36. - Payment of medical examiner’s fees.
Section 28-33-37. - Examination by impartial examiner — Reports.
Section 28-33-38. - Refusal to submit to examination.
Section 28-33-39. - Transportation costs for medical examination.
Section 28-33-40. - [Repealed.]
Section 28-33-41. - Rehabilitation of injured persons.
Section 28-33-41.1. - Review of rehabilitative program upon request or petition by employer.
Section 28-33-42. - [Repealed.]
Section 28-33-43. - Employer liability for property damage.
Section 28-33-44. - Continuation of health insurance benefits.
Section 28-33-45. - Coordination of benefits — Retirement benefits.