Ohio § 4123.66

§ 4123.66.

(A) In addition to the compensation provided for in this chapter, the administrator of

workers' compensation shall disburse and pay from the state insurance fund the amounts

for medical, nurse, and hospital services and medicine as the administrator deems

proper and, in case death ensues from the injury or occupational disease, the administrator

shall disburse and pay from the fund reasonable funeral expenses in an amount not

to exceed seven thousand five hundred dollars.  The bureau of workers' compensation shall reimburse anyone, whether dependent, volunteer,

or otherwise, who pays the funeral expenses of any employee whose death ensues from

any injury or occupational disease as provided in this section.  The administrator may adopt rules, with the advice and consent of the bureau of

workers' compensation board of directors, with respect to furnishing medical, nurse,

and hospital service and medicine to injured or disabled employees entitled thereto,

and for the payment therefor.  In case an injury or industrial accident that injures an employee also causes damage

to the employee's eyeglasses, artificial teeth or other denture, or hearing aid, or

in the event an injury or occupational disease makes it necessary or advisable to

replace, repair, or adjust the same, the bureau shall disburse and pay a reasonable

amount to repair or replace the same. (B) The administrator, in the rules the administrator adopts pursuant to division (A)

of this section, may adopt rules specifying the circumstances under which the bureau

may make immediate payment for the first fill of prescription drugs for medical conditions

identified in an application for compensation or benefits under section 4123.84 or 4123.85 of the Revised Code that occurs prior to the date the administrator issues an initial determination order

under division (B) of section 4123.511 of the Revised Code .  If the claim is ultimately disallowed in a final administrative or judicial order,

and if the employer is a state fund employer who pays assessments into the surplus

fund account created under section 4123.34 of the Revised Code , the payments for medical services made pursuant to this division for the first fill

of prescription drugs shall be charged to and paid from the surplus fund account and

not charged through the state insurance fund to the employer against whom the claim

was filed. (C)(1) If an employer or a welfare plan has provided to or on behalf of an employee any

benefits or compensation for an injury or occupational disease and that injury or

occupational disease is determined compensable under this chapter, the employer or

a welfare plan may request that the administrator reimburse the employer or welfare

plan for the amount the employer or welfare plan paid to or on behalf of the employee

in compensation or benefits.  The administrator shall reimburse the employer or welfare plan for the compensation

and benefits paid if, at the time the employer or welfare plan provides the benefits

or compensation to or on behalf of employee, the injury or occupational disease had

not been determined to be compensable under this chapter and if the employee was not

receiving compensation or benefits under this chapter for that injury or occupational

disease.  The administrator shall reimburse the employer or welfare plan in the amount that

the administrator would have paid to or on behalf of the employee under this chapter

if the injury or occupational disease originally would have been determined compensable

under this chapter.  If the employer is a merit-rated employer, the administrator shall adjust the amount

of premium next due from the employer according to the amount the administrator pays

the employer.  The administrator shall adopt rules, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised

Code, to implement this division. (2) As used in this division, “welfare plan” has the same meaning as in division (1)

of 29 U.S.C.A. 1002 . (D)(1) Subject to the requirements of division (D)(2) of this section, the administrator

may make a payment of up to five hundred dollars to either of the following: (a) The centers of medicare and medicaid services, for reimbursement of conditional payments

made pursuant to the “Medicare Secondary Payer Act,” 42 U.S.C. 1395y ; (b) The Ohio department of medicaid, or a medical assistance provider to whom the department

has assigned a right of recovery for a claim for which the department has notified

the provider that the department intends to recoup the department's prior payment

for the claim, for reimbursement under sections 5160.35 to 5160.43 of the Revised Code for the cost of medical assistance paid on behalf of a medical assistance recipient. (2) The administrator may make a payment under division (D)(1) of this section if the

administrator makes a reasonable determination that all of the following apply: (a) The payment is in response to a request from a party listed in division (D)(1) of

this section. (b) There is an injury or occupational disease that is compensable, or is likely to be

compensable, under this chapter or Chapter 4121., 4127., or 4131. of the Revised Code. (c) The payment will resolve the request from a party listed in division (D)(1) of this

section. (3) Any payment made pursuant to this division shall be charged to and paid from the

surplus fund account created under section 4123.34 of the Revised Code . (4) Nothing in this division shall be construed as limiting the centers of medicare and

medicaid services, the department, or any other entity with a lawful right to reimbursement

from recovering sums greater than five hundred dollars. (5) The administrator may adopt rules, with the advice and consent of the bureau of workers'

compensation board of directors, to implement this division.