§ 19-b. Treatment by physicians in employ of board. No doctor, physician or surgeon in the employ of the board shall solicit or treat any claimant under this chapter, or own or operate any clinic, giving baking and massage, physio-therapy, or other treatment to such claimants. Such doctors, physicians and surgeons shall not recommend that a claimant be treated by any particular physician or surgeon, or receive baking and massage, physio-therapy or other treatment from any particular person, clinic or hospital. Any such physician or surgeon may recommend the necessary treatment needed and the board shall direct the employer or carrier to provide such treatment, but the board shall not designate a particular physician, surgeon, clinic or hospital to provide the treatment. The employer or carrier shall furnish the prescribed treatment and upon their failure so to do within five days after the direction is made, the claimant may secure the same at the expense of the employer or carrier. Any physician or surgeon so employed by the board who violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

The foregoing provisions of this section prohibiting physicians or surgeons in the employ of the board from recommending that a claimant be treated by any particular physician or surgeon shall not be applicable to recommendations for specialist care of their patients who are or may be claimants under article nine of this chapter.