Sec. 31-279-9

Obligations of attending physician.

_{Workers' Compensation Administrative Regulation regarding}
Obligations of Attending Physician

Sec. 31-279-9. Obligations of attending physician. Persons who supply professional services to injured employees entitled to medical care by virtue of chapter 568 of the general statutes shall be presumed to agree to the following conditions:

(a) The employer or its insurance carrier will receive an early original report of injury, and such regular subsequent progress reports from the attending physician as may be reasonably required in each case.

(b) No fee will be charged by the attending physician for the completion of any of the forms approved by the board of compensation commissioners or for routine progress reports submitted to the employer or carrier. Where detailed reports are requested or indicated, requiring a significant expenditure of time by the attending physician, a reasonable additional charge for such time will be appropriate.

(c) It shall be the duty of the attending physician, without specific request, to keep the employer or insurance carrier advised of any significant development in the course of his treatment, such as the attainment of maximum medical improvement, a hospital admission, a surgical procedure, a failure to accept indicated treatment or to keep scheduled appointments, or an ability to return to gainful employment.

(d) Upon reasonable notice, an attending physician will make himself available as a witness in hearings before a compensation commissioner, for which appearance he will be entitled to be paid a reasonable fee by the party requesting his attendance, subject to the pertinent provisions of law.

(e) All charges for medical, surgical, hospital and nursing services, except those for expert testimony, shall be solely the responsibility of the employer or carrier, and no claim will be made against the injured employee for all or part of a fee.

(f) It will be considered professionally reprehensible for a physician to refuse to send out his patient’s medical report to a party properly entitled because his medical bill for services rendered has not been paid up to that time.

(g) Violation of these regulations shall constitute sufficient cause for a removal from the approved list of physicians maintained by the board of compensation commissioners.

_{Effective July 9, 1973}