§2222.  Pilot program; certain provisions

A.  The Louisiana Workforce Commission and the Department of Insurance, conjunctively, may negotiate and enter into such contracts or agreements as may be necessary or appropriate to implement the pilot program herein.

B.  The Louisiana Workforce Commission and the Department of Insurance, conjunctively, may also accept grants and monies from any source as allowed by law and may expend such grants and monies for the purposes of the program.

C.(1)  No provision of the pilot program shall vary the methods for calculating weekly payments for disability compensation required under R.S. 23:1221 et seq.

(2)  No provision of the pilot program shall limit or abrogate the right to a hearing concerning benefits, coverage, or quality of care under state law.  Furthermore, each pilot program shall incorporate within its terms all provisions of the Louisiana Workers' Compensation law including but not limited to the employee's rights with respect to selection of health care providers.

(3)  Except as otherwise provided in Paragraph (2) of this Subsection, all pilot health insurance programs under this Section shall be subject to the provisions of R.S. 23:1121 through 1127.

D.  The Louisiana Workforce Commission and the Department of Insurance, conjunctively, shall issue an interim report and a final report to the speaker of the House of Representatives, the president of the Senate, the members of the respective committees on insurance in the House of Representatives and Senate, and the governor, on its activities, findings, and recommendations about the pilot program in this Part.  The Louisiana Workforce Commission and the Department of Insurance, conjunctively, shall monitor, evaluate, and report the following information regarding physicians, hospitals, facilities, and other medical care providers:

(1)  Cost savings.

(2)  Effectiveness.

(3)  Effect on earning capacity and indemnity payments.

(4)  Complaints from injured workers and providers.

(5)  Concurrent review of quality of care.

(6)  Other pertinent matters.

E.  The information from the pilot program shall be reported in a format to permit comparisons to other similar data or states.

Acts 1993, No. 656, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1097, §1, eff. July 14, 1997; Redesignated from R.S. 22:22 by Acts 2008, No. 415, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2009; Acts 2008, No. 743, §7, eff. July 1, 2008; Acts 2012, No. 271, §1.