Providing injured employees the freedom of choice to designate their healthcare provider and requiring the employer to pay for the services of such healthcare provider with regard to workers compensation.

SB 189 allows injured workers in Kansas to choose their own healthcare provider for workers' compensation treatment, requiring employers to cover the costs of that provider's services. The bill amends state law to establish this choice as standard practice, while maintaining a $800 cap on employer coverage for initial visits without prior approval. This applies to all workers covered under Kansas workers' compensation, giving employees greater control over their medical care decisions.