This bill amends Section 28-33-5 of the General Laws to require employers to promptly provide medical services to injured employees, including medical, surgical, dental, optical, and other treatments, as well as nurse and hospital services, medicines, crutches, and apparatus. The employer is also required to provide medical appliances and apparatus to cure or relieve the employee from the effects of the injury. However, the employer is not liable to pay for or provide hearing aids or other amplification devices. Additionally, the bill adds a new provision that states if an employee receives a COVID-19 vaccine in compliance with an employer's mandate and suffers an adverse medical event as a result, all associated medical expenses shall be paid by workers' compensation insurance. The bill would take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
421: 28-33-5