TO MODIFY A PHYSICIAN CHANGE UNDER THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAW THAT RESULTED FROM INITIATED MEASURE 1948, NO. 4.

Senate Bill 288 modifies the process for injured employees to change physicians under Arkansas's Workers' Compensation Law. It establishes different rules based on whether the employee or employer initially selected the doctor, and distinguishes between general physician changes and changes to specialists or certain practitioners like chiropractors. Before a state-certified managed care system is established, employees may petition for a change with a compelling reason or a one-time change if the employer chose the physician. Once a managed care system is in place, the bill allows employers to select the initial primary care physician, and employees have a one-time option to change to a physician within the managed care network or a pre-existing primary care doctor who agrees to comply with the system's rules.