§ 17. Physician Advisory Committee
Oklahoma Statutes AnnotatedTitle 85A. Workers’ Compensation
85A Okl.St.Ann. § 17
§ 17. Physician Advisory Committee
2. The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall appoint three members, one of whom shall be licensed in this state as a doctor of medicine and orthopedic surgery, one of whom shall be licensed in this state either as a doctor of medicine or a doctor of osteopathy and a neurosurgeon, and one of whom shall be licensed in this state as a podiatric physician; and
3. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint three members, one of whom shall be licensed in this state as an osteopathic physician, one of whom shall be licensed in this state either as a doctor of medicine or a doctor of osteopathy and shall be engaged in the practice of occupational medicine, and one of whom shall be licensed in this state as a chiropractic physician.
Any member serving on the effective date of this section shall serve the remainder of his or her term. Thereafter, each position will be filled by the appointing official for a term of three (3) years. Members shall be subject to reappointment, with any new appointee to serve out the remainder of the unexpired term of the Committee member so replaced.
1. Assist and advise the Workers' Compensation Commission regarding utilization review as it relates to the medical practice and treatment of work-related injuries. Such utilization review shall include a review of reasonable and necessary medical treatment; abusive practices; needless treatments, testing, or procedures; or a pattern of billing in excess of or in violation of the Schedule of Medical Fees. The Physician Advisory Committee shall review and make findings and recommendations to the Commission with respect to charges of inappropriate or unnecessary treatment or procedures, abusive practices, or excessive billing disclosed through utilization review;
2. Assist the Commission in reviewing medical practices of health care providers, including evaluations of permanent disability provided by health care providers. The Committee shall review and make findings and recommendations to the Commission with respect to charges of abusive practices by health care providers providing medical services or evaluations of permanent partial disability through the workers' compensation system;
6. Review utilization on cases or of providers when requested by any employer, injured employee or insurer. The Committee may issue a public or private censure to any provider for utilization which is excessive or inadequate, or recommend the Commission order treatment within the treatment guidelines;
C. The Commission shall recognize the latest edition of the Official Disability Guidelines as the primary standard of reference, at the time of treatment, in determining the frequency and extent of services presumed to be medically necessary and appropriate for compensable injuries under this act, or in resolving such matters in the event a dispute arises.
E. Meetings of the Physician Advisory Committee shall be called by the Commission but held at least quarterly. The presence of a majority of the members shall constitute a quorum. No action shall be taken by the Physician Advisory Committee without the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the members.
H. Any health care provider acting in good faith and within the scope of the provider's duties as a member of the Physician Advisory Committee shall be immune from civil liability for making any report or other information available to the judges of the Commission or to the Commission or for assisting in the origination, investigation, or preparation of the report or other information so provided.
Credits
Laws 2013, c. 208, § 17, eff. Feb. 1, 2014.
85A Okl. St. Ann. § 17, OK ST T. 85A § 17
Current with emergency effective legislation through Chapter 3 of the Second Regular Session of the 59th Legislature (2024). Some sections may be more current, see credits for details.
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