An Oregon bill would add chiropractors to the list of medical providers qualified to be treating physicians in workers’ compensation claims.
Oregon lawmakers on Thursday introduced House Bill 3150, which would also amend current law by removing limits on the duration of medical care and the number of visits and certain areas of practice for chiropractors who serve as attending physicians in cases involving injured workers.
The bill also authorizes injured workers to receive compensable medical treatment from a primary care physician or chiropractor who is not a member of a managed care organization but maintains an employee’s medical records and has a documented history of treating the individual.
The measure would give managed care organizations the ability to authorize chiropractors to provide medical services and approve temporary disability benefits for longer periods.
Meanwhile, Oregon lawmakers filed a separate bill, SB 41
8, earlier this month that would require employers to adopt policies that offer injured workers paid time off during scheduled shifts to attend medical appointments related to compensable injuries or occupational disease claims.The measure prevents employers from forcing injured workers to use paid personal leave, sick leave, vacation or other earned paid time off to attend to their meetings.
Under the measure, employers would be required to implement the new leave policies by Dec. 31.
That bill was referred to the Senate Labor and Economic Affairs Committee on January 14.
Both bills were filed as emergency legislation that is scheduled to take effect immediately after passage.
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