§ 28-33-35. Appointment of impartial medical examiner. (a) Any judge of the court may, at any time after an injury, on his or her own motion or on the request or petition of the employer or employee, appoint an impartial medical examiner or a comprehensive independent health care review team to act as a medical examiner, and the reasonable fee of the medical examiner for examinations under this section and/or § 28-33-34.1 shall be paid by the employer.

(b) Impartial medical examiners and/or comprehensive independent health care review teams shall provide guidance and make recommendations with respect to contested or disputed findings of fact concerning health care. Impartial medical examiners and/or comprehensive independent health care review teams may also make findings as to compliance of health care providers with medical care standards and protocols established by the medical advisory board. Unless previously approved by the board, treatment or diagnostic services that are not consistent with the medical care standards and protocols shall not be charged to the employer or employee. The report of the findings of the impartial medical examiner and/or comprehensive independent health care review team may be admissible as an exhibit of the court. The findings of the report shall become final and binding unless either party elects to contest the findings. Notice of the contest must be filed within ten (10) days of receipt of the report required to be provided pursuant to § 28-33-34.1(a). The contesting party shall pay the cost of the court appearance of the author of the report. In the event that the employee is the prevailing party, the employee shall be reimbursed for the entire amount paid by him or her for the court appearance of the author of the report.

History of Section. (P.L. 1912, ch. 831, art. 2, § 21; P.L. 1919, ch. 1795, § 2; G.L. 1923, ch. 92, art. 2, § 21; G.L. 1938, ch. 300, art. 2, § 21; P.L. 1941, ch. 1062, § 1; P.L. 1942, ch. 1194, § 1; P.L. 1949, ch. 2229, § 1; P.L. 1954, ch. 3297, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 28-33-35; P.L. 1985, ch. 365, § 6; P.L. 1986, ch. 154, § 2; P.L. 1986, ch. 507, § 7; P.L. 1990, ch. 332, art. 1, § 3; P.L. 1992, ch. 31, § 5; P.L. 2014, ch. 78, § 5; P.L. 2014, ch. 87, § 5.)