Section 386-NEW - [Newly enacted section not yet numbered] Cervical and lumbar spinal injuries; treatment plan not requiredDuring the first sixty days after an injury, an employee may obtain the following medical care or services without a treatment plan:
(1) One magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine if the employee's attending physician determines that: (A) The employee has objective indicia of radicular symptoms and the radicular symptoms reasonably could be caused by injury to the cervical spine; or(B) The employee has objective traumatic injury or other neurologic symptoms to the cervical spine shown by an x-ray or computed tomography scan;(2) One magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine if the employee's attending physician determines that: (A) The employee has objective indicia of radicular symptoms and the radicular symptoms reasonably could be caused by injury to the lumbar spine; or(B) The employee has objective traumatic injury or other neurologic symptoms to the lumbar spine shown by an x-ray or computed tomography scan; and(3) One consultation with an orthopedic or neurologic specialist if the employee's attending physician reasonably determines that the opinion or advice of an orthopedic or neurologic specialist should be obtained for the evaluation and treatment of the employee's injury; provided that: (A) The orthopedic or neurologic specialist shall provide written notice of the consultation to the employer within seven days of the consultation; and(B) The orthopedic or neurologic specialist shall provide a written report to the employer within fourteen days of the consultation."Added by L 2024, c 94,§ 2, eff. 7/1/2024.