11 NCAC 23C .0106 PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY OF THE REHABILITATION PROFESSIONAL IN WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIMS
(a) A rehabilitation professional shall exercise independent professional judgment in making and documenting recommendations for medical and vocational rehabilitation for an injured worker, including any alternatives for medical treatment and cost-effective return-to-work options. It is not the role of the rehabilitation professional to direct medical care.
(b) A rehabilitation professional shall inform the parties of his or her assignment and role in the case. Upon assignment, a rehabilitation professional shall disclose to health care providers and the parties any possible conflict of interest, including any compensation and the carrier's or employer's ownership of or affiliation with the rehabilitation professional.
(c) Subject to the provisions for medical care and treatment set forth in the Workers' Compensation Act, the medical rehabilitation professional may explain medical information to the worker and shall discuss with the worker all treatment options appropriate to the worker's conditions, but shall not advocate any one source for treatment or change in treatment.
(d) As case consultants or expert witnesses, rehabilitation professionals shall provide unbiased, objective opinions. The limits of their relationships shall be defined through written or oral means in accordance with the following, applicable professional codes of ethics or professional conduct, which are hereby incorporated by reference, including subsequent amendments and editions:
(1) for Certified Rehabilitation Counselors and Certified Vocational Evaluators, the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification Code of Professional Ethics;
(2) for Certified Registered Rehabilitation Nurses and Orthopaedic Nurse Certifieds, the Code of Ethics for Nurses;
(3) for Certified Disability Management Specialists, the Certification of Disability Management Specialists Commission Code of Professional Conduct;
(4) for Certified Occupational Health Nurses and Certified Occupational Health Nurse-Specialists, the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, Inc. Code of Ethics; and
(5) for Certified Case Managers, the Code of Professional Conduct for Case Managers.
(e) Copies of the codes of ethics or professional conduct listed in Subparagraphs (d)(1) through (d)(5) of this Rule may be obtained at no cost, either upon request at the offices of the Commission, located in the Dobbs Building, 430 North Salisbury Street, Raleigh, North Carolina, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., or at one of the following applicable websites:
(1) for Certified Rehabilitation Counselors and Certified Vocational Evaluators, the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification Code of Professional Ethics), http://www.crccertification.com/filebin/pdf/CRCCodeOfEthics.pdf;
(2) for Certified Registered Rehabilitation Nurses and Orthopaedic Nurse Certifieds, the Code of Ethics for Nurses,
(3) for Certified Disability Management Specialists, the Certification of Disability Management Specialists Commission Code of Professional Conduct, http://new.cdms.org/docs/CDMS%20Code%20of%20Professional%20Conduct%2008012011.pdf;
(4) for Certified Occupational Health Nurses and Certified Occupational Health Nurse-Specialists, the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, Inc. Code of Ethics,https://www.aaohn.org/dmdocuments/Code_of_Ethics_2009.pdf; and
(5) for Certified Case Managers, the Code of Professional Conduct for Case Managers http://www.ccmcertification.org/sites/default/files/downloads/2012/CCMC_Code_of_Conduct%202-22-12.pdf.
(f) Rehabilitation professionals shall practice only within the boundaries of their competence, based on their education, training, professional experience, and other professional credentials.
(g) A rehabilitation professional shall not conduct or assist any party in claims negotiation or investigative activities.
(h) A rehabilitation professional shall not advise the worker as to any legal matter including claims settlement options or procedures, monetary evaluation of claims, or the applicability to the worker of benefits of any kind under the Workers' Compensation Act during his or her assignment in the case. The rehabilitation professional shall advise the non-represented worker to direct such questions to the Information Specialists at the Commission, and the represented worker to direct questions to his or her attorney.
(i) Rehabilitation professionals shall not accept any compensation or reward from any source as a result of settlement.
History Note: Authority G.S. 97-25.4; 97-25.5; 97-32.2; 97-80;
Eff. January 1, 1996;
Amended Eff. November 1, 2014; June 1, 2000;
Recodified from 04 NCAC 10C .0106 Eff. June 1, 2018.