include providing each entity with notice of the requirements of
this clause, guidance on how this clause will be enforced by the
department and information on how the entity may participate in
the required certification or accreditation process at no cost
under subclause (C).
* * *
Section 2. Section 420 of the act is amended 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 reasonableness or necessity
[or frequency] 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.
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