§ 4600.4

(a) A workers’ compensation insurer, third-party administrator, or other entity that requires, or pursuant to regulation requires, a treating physician to obtain either utilization review or prior authorization in order to diagnose or treat injuries or diseases compensable under this article, shall ensure the availability of those services from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Pacific coast time of each normal business day.

(b) For purposes of this section “normal business day” means a business day as defined in Section 9 of the Civil Code.

(Added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 124, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2000.)