Opinion ID: 2383758
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: 1994 Vol. 5 Cumulative Supplement

Text: 28-33-41. Rehabilitation of injured persons  Panel of rehabilitation advisors  Reports required.  (a)(1) The department and the workers' compensation court shall expedite the rehabilitation of and the return to remunerative employment of all disabled employees injured subject to chapters 29-38 inclusive of this title. Rehabilitation means the prompt provision of appropriate services necessary to restore an occupationally injured or diseased employee to his or her optimum physical, mental, vocational and economic usefulness. This may require medical, vocational, and/or reemployment services to restore an occupationally disabled employee as nearly as possible to his or her pre-injury status. As a procedure, rehabilitation may include three (3) overlapping and interrelated components: (A) Medical restorative services  medical treatment and related services needed to restore the occupationally disabled employee to a state of health as near as possible to that which existed prior to the occupational injury or disease. Such services may include, but are not limited to, the following: medical, surgical, hospital, nursing services, attendant care, chiropractic care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medicines, prostheses, orthoses, other physical rehabilitation services, including psychosocial services, and reasonable travel expenses incurred in procuring such services. (i) Treatment by spiritual means.  (1) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require an employee who in good faith relies on or is treated by prayer or spiritual means by a duly accredited practitioner of a well recognized church to undergo any medical or surgical treatment, and weekly compensation benefits may not be suspended or terminated on the grounds that such employee refuses to accept recommended medical or surgical benefits. Such employee shall submit to all physical examinations as required by this title, chapters 29-38, inclusive. (2) However, a private employer, insurer, self-insurer, or group self-insurer, may pay or reimburse an employee for any costs associated with treatment by prayer or spiritual means. (B) Vocational restorative services  vocational services needed to return the disabled employee to his or her pre-injury employment or, if that is not possible, to a state of employability in suitable alternative employment. Such services may include, but are not limited to, the following: psychological and vocational evaluations, counseling and training. (C) Reemployment services  services used to return the occupationally disabled employee to suitable, remunerative employment as adjudged by his or her functional and vocational ability at that time. (a)(2) To this end, there is hereby created a panel of workers' compensation medical advisors consisting of physicians, psychologists, ergonomists, and physical and vocational rehabilitation specialists who shall be appointed by the director as herein provided. Upon request, members of the panel shall advise the director in matters pertaining to rehabilitation of injured workers whose condition is reported to the director as provided herein. (b)(1) Any employer or any injured employee with total disability or permanent partial disability to whom the insurance carrier or certificated employer has paid compensation for a period of three (3) months or more, and to whom compensation is still being paid, or his or her employer or insurer may submit a proposal for a rehabilitation program to the director for approval. (2) Action shall be taken as in the judgment of the director shall seem practicable and likely to speed the recovery and rehabilitation of injured workers; provided, however, that rehabilitative services shall be appropriate to the needs and capabilities of injured workers. (3) Prior to the approval of any rehabilitation program by the director, the insurance carrier or self-insured employer and the injured worker must be notified of the contents of the proposed program and provided an opportunity to respond to it. (c) Compensation payments shall not be diminished or terminated while the employee is participating in a rehabilitation program approved by the director, or while a proposal for approval of a rehabilitation plan has been filed with the department of labor prior to the date on which an employer's petition to reduce or terminate benefits has been filed, while such plan is pending approval by the director.