Concerning access to medical care in workers' compensation.

Expanded the distance a worker can travel to find a network provider from 15 miles to 30 miles for workers in counties with fewer than 500,000 people, and extended the time to find a provider from 7 days to 10 days.

Clarified that employers must inform workers they have the right to seek initial or emergency treatment from a provider of their choice, and explicitly prohibited employers from inducing workers to use specific providers.

Modified the rules for when continued medical treatment is authorized for permanent partial disability, shifting the trigger from the award date to the date of the first lump sum or initial payment.

Added authority for the department to hire additional claims managers to reach a recommended average case load of 141 claims per manager, with expenditures subject to budget allotment rules but not requiring a specific appropriation.

Updated effective dates and expiration dates for various sections of the act, including setting an expiration for the provider network provisions in January 2028.