(a) The employer
shall provide and pay for all the necessary first aid, medical and surgical
services, and all necessary medical, surgical and hospital services thereafter
incurred, limited, however, to that which is reasonably required to cure or
relieve from the effects of the accidental injury. The employer shall also
pay for treatment, instruction and training necessary for the physical, mental
and vocational rehabilitation of the employee, including all
maintenance costs and expenses incidental thereto.
If as a result of the
injury the employee is unable to be self-sufficient the employer shall further
pay for such maintenance or institutional care as shall be required.
The employee may at
any time elect to secure his own physician, surgeon and hospital services at
the employer's expense, or,
Upon agreement between
the employer and the employees, or the employees' exclusive representative,
and subject to the approval of the Industrial Commission, the employer
shall maintain a list of physicians, to be known as a Panel of Physicians, who
are accessible to the employees. The employer shall post this
list in a place or places easily accessible to his employees. The employee
shall have the right to make an alternative choice of physician from
such Panel if he is not satisfied with the physician first selected. If, due
to the nature of the injury or its occurrence away from the employer's
place of business, the employee is unable to make a selection from the Panel,
the selection process from the Panel shall not apply. The physician
selected from the Panel may arrange for any consultation, referral or other
specialized medical services outside the Panel at the employer's expense.
Provided that, in the event the Commission shall find that a doctor selected
by the employee is rendering improper or inadequate care, the
Commission may order the employee to select another doctor certified or
qualified in the medical field for which treatment is required. If the
employee refuses to make such change the Commission may relieve the employer
of his obligation to pay the doctor's charges from the date of refusal
to the date of compliance.
