CO SB197

Injured employees may designate a Level I or Level II accredited physician as their authorized treating physician, with employers or insurers required to provide notice of this right within seven business days of injury.

If an employee declines to designate a physician within seven business days, the employer or insurer may designate only a Level I or Level II accredited physician licensed under the Colorado Medical Practice Act.

Employees may make one treating physician designation any time after injury but before reaching maximum medical improvement, and may subsequently change their designated physician once within ninety days.

In emergency situations, injured employees may be treated at any physician or health-care facility capable of providing necessary care, with normal designation procedures resuming after emergency care ends.

If an authorized physician refuses to provide treatment or discharges an employee for nonmedical reasons, the insurer or self-insured employer must designate a new Level I or Level II accredited physician within fifteen calendar days.