Kansas bill would give injured workers provider choice

A bill presented to Kansas lawmakers would give injured workers the choice to pick their health care provider and would eliminate language in the law that states a regulator can designate a provider if the state finds that the care selected by the claimant is inadequate.

S.B. 189, introduced Tuesday, states that “it shall be the duty of the employer to provide pay for the services of a healthcare provider designated by the injured employee and such any medical, surgical and hospital treatment, including nursing, medicines, medical and surgical supplies, ambulance, crutches, apparatus and transportation to and from the home of the injured employee.