1.    During the first thirty days after a work injury, an employee of an employer that has selected a preferred provider under this section may seek medical treatment only from    the preferred provider for the injury. Treatment by a provider other than the preferred provider is not compensable and the organization may not pay for treatment by a provider who is not a preferred provider, unless a referral was made by the preferred provider. A provider who is not a preferred provider may not certify disability or render an opinion about any matter pertaining to the injury, including causation, compensability, impairment, or disability. This section does not apply to emergency care nor to any care the employee reasonably did not know was related to a work injury.

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2.    An employee of an employer that has selected a preferred provider may elect to be treated by a different provider provided the employee makes the election and notifies the employer in writing before the occurrence of an injury.

3.    After thirty days have passed following the injury, the employee may make a written request to the organization to change providers. The employee shall make the request and serve it on the employer and the organization at least thirty days before treatment by the provider. The employee shall state the reasons for the request and the employee’s choice of provider.

4.    If the employer objects to the provider selected by the employee under subsection 2 or 3, the employer may file an objection to the change of provider. The employer shall detail in the objection the grounds for the objection and shall serve the objection on the employee and the organization within five days of service of the request. The employee may serve, within five days of service of the employer’s objection, a written response on the employer and the organization in support of the request for change of provider. Within fifteen days after receipt of the response or of the expiration of the time for filing the response, the organization shall rule on the request. Failure of the organization to rule constitutes approval of the request. Treatment by the employee’s chosen provider is not compensable until the organization approves the request. The preferred provider remains the treating provider until the organization approves the employee’s request to change providers.

5.    An employer that selects a preferred provider shall give notice and post notice as required under this subsection.

a.    An employer shall give written notice of the identity and the terms of the preferred provider program:

(1) To the employer’s employees when the employer makes an initial selection of a preferred provider.

(2) To the employer’s employees when the employer changes the selection of the preferred provider.

(3) To an employee at the time of hire.

(4) To the employer’s employees at least annually after the initial notice.

b.    An employer that has selected a preferred provider shall display notice of the identity of the preferred provider and the terms of the preferred provider program in a conspicuous manner at fixed worksites, and wherever feasible at mobile worksites, and in a sufficient number of places to reasonably inform employees of the identity of the preferred provider and of the terms of the preferred provider program.

c.    Failure to give written notice, to properly post notice, or to reasonably inform employees of the terms of the preferred provider program as required under this subsection invalidates the selection for the employee’s claim.