(P.L.350, No.57), is amended and the section is amended by
adding a subsection to read:
Section 420. (a) The board, the department or a workers'
compensation judge, if it or he deem it necessary, may, of its
or his own motion, either before, during, or after any hearing,
make or cause to be made an investigation of the facts set forth
in the petition or answer or facts pertinent in any injury under
this act. The board, department or workers' compensation judge
may appoint one or more impartial physicians or surgeons to
examine the injuries of the plaintiff and report thereon, or may
employ the services of such other experts as shall appear
necessary to ascertain the facts. The workers' compensation
judge when necessary or appropriate or upon request of a party
in order to rule on requests for review filed under section
306(f.1), or under other provisions of this act, may ask for an
opinion from peer review about the necessity or [frequency]
appropriateness of treatment under section 306(f.1). The peer
review report or the peer report of any physician, surgeon, or
expert appointed by the department or by a workers' compensation
judge, including the report of a peer review organization, shall
be filed with the board or workers' compensation judge, as the
case may be, and shall be a part of the record and open to
inspection as such. The workers' compensation judge shall
consider the report as evidence but shall not be bound by such
report.
(a.1) Peer review performed under this section and peer
review organizations used under this section shall comply with
the requirements established under section 306(f.1)(6).
* * *
Section 4. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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