4123-6-41. No legal relationship between the industrial commission or bureau and a health care provider

(A) Direct payment to a health care provider or other person by the industrial commission, self-insuring employer, bureau of workers' compensation, or their agent, for medical care rendered to a claimant does not imply or create a legal relationship between the provider or person and the commission, self-insuring employer, bureau, or their agent.

(B) The services rendered to the claimant are the legal obligation of the claimant. The direct payment to the health care provider is a discretionary method by which the award made to the claimant for medical expenses may be discharged.

(C) Except as prohibited by division (O) of section 4121.44 of the Revised Code, when payment is made to the claimant, the sole legal recourse of the health care provider is against the claimant.

Effective: 11/13/2015
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 08/26/2015 and 08/25/2020
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 4121.12, 4121.121, 4121.30, 4121.31, 4121.44, 4121.441, 4123.05, 4123.66
Rule Amplifies: 4121.12, 4121.121, 4121.44, 4121.441, 4123.66
Prior Effective Dates: 2/12/97, 1/1/99, 2/14/05, 2/1/10