The division must require an injured employee to get a single medical exam when the insurance carrier asks, the carrier pays for it, and the treating doctor must report findings to the carrier.
Sec. 408.0042. MEDICAL EXAMINATION BY TREATING DOCTOR TO DEFINE COMPENSABLE INJURY. (a) The division shall require an injured employee to submit to a single medical examination to define the compensable injury on request by the insurance carrier. (b) A medical examination under this section shall be performed by the employee's treating doctor. The insurance carrier shall pay the costs of the examination. (c) After the medical examination is performed, the treating doctor shall submit to the insurance carrier a report that details all injuries and diagnoses related to the compensable injury, on receipt of which the insurance carrier shall: (1) accept all injuries and diagnoses as related to the compensable injury; or (2) dispute the determination of specific injuries and diagnoses. (d) Any treatment for an injury or diagnosis that is not accepted by the insurance carrier under Subsection (c) as compensable at the time of the medical examination under Subsection (a) must be preauthorized before treatment is rendered. If the insurance carrier denies preauthorization because the treatment is for an injury or diagnosis unrelated to the compensable injury, the injured employee or affected health care provider may file an extent of injury dispute. (e) Any treatment for an injury or diagnosis that is accepted by the insurance carrier under Subsection (c) as compensable at the time of the medical examination under Subsection (a) may not be reviewed for compensability, but may be reviewed for medical necessity. (f) The commissioner may adopt rules relating to requirements for a report under this section, including requirements regarding the contents of a report. (g) This section does not limit an injured employee or insurance carrier's ability to request an examination under Section 408.004 or 408.0041, as provided by those sections. Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 265 (H.B. 7), Sec. 3.0805, eff. September 1, 2005.