Section 4616.3 Of Article 2.3. Medical Provider Networks From California Labor Code >> Division 4. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 2.3.
4616.3
. (a) If the injured employee notifies the employer of the
injury or files a claim for workers' compensation with the employer,
the employer shall arrange an initial medical evaluation and begin
treatment as required by Section 4600.
(b) The employer shall notify the employee of the existence of the
medical provider network established pursuant to this article, the
employee's right to change treating physicians within the network
after the first visit, and the method by which the list of
participating providers may be accessed by the employee. The employer'
s failure to provide notice as required by this subdivision or
failure to post the notice as required by Section 3550 shall not be a
basis for the employee to treat outside the network unless it is
shown that the failure to provide notice resulted in a denial of
medical care.
(c) If an injured employee disputes either the diagnosis or the
treatment prescribed by the treating physician, the employee may seek
the opinion of another physician in the medical provider network. If
the injured employee disputes the diagnosis or treatment prescribed
by the second physician, the employee may seek the opinion of a third
physician in the medical provider network.
(d) (1) Selection by the injured employee of a treating physician
and any subsequent physicians shall be based on the physician's
specialty or recognized expertise in treating the particular injury
or condition in question.
(2) Treatment by a specialist who is not a member of the medical
provider network may be permitted on a case-by-case basis if the
medical provider network does not contain a physician who can provide
the approved treatment and the treatment is approved by the employer
or the insurer.