4121.62 Contracts for rendition of rehabilitation services.

(A) The authority granted to the administrator of workers’ compensation pursuant to sections 4121.61 to 4121.69 of the Revised Code includes the authority to do all of the following:

(1) Contract with any public or private person for the rendition of rehabilitation services;

(2) Take actions and utilize money in the state insurance fund as necessary to obtain federal funds and assistance in the maximum amounts and most advantageous proportions and terms possible;

(3) Conduct rehabilitation educational programs for employers and employees;

(4) Establish within the bureau of workers’ compensation a rehabilitation division under the supervision of a director of rehabilitation appointed by and responsible to the administrator.

(B) The director of the division established is in the unclassified civil service of the state. The appointing authority may designate up to three positions at each facility under the jurisdiction of the division, and up to six positions in the division which are part of the director’s immediate staff as being in the unclassified service of the state as long as the administrator determines that the positions are primarily and distinctively administrative, managerial, or professional. All other full-time employees of the division are in the classified civil service.

(C) The administrator shall establish fees for use of services offered by the division of rehabilitation, including, without limitation, the expense of providing rehabilitation services, counseling, and training. The administrator shall adopt rules, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, which establish the specific services the division offers and the amount of the fee for those services, which amount shall be based upon the actual cost of the division providing the services to the employer and employee.

(D) Nothing in sections 4121.61 to 4121.69 of the Revised Code shall be interpreted to grant authority to the administrator to require a claimant to utilize a public provider of rehabilitation services, counseling, or training.

Effective Date: 01-01-2002