FERNANDO RUIZ-LUCERO vs. GCA SERVICES GROUP, INC.; ACE AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY, administered by ESIS FREMONT

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied the defendant's petition for reconsideration, upholding the finding that the applicant could treat outside the defendant's Medical Provider Network (MPN). The MPN failed to meet access standards by not having three primary treating chiropractors within a 15-mile or 30-minute radius of the applicant's residence. This failure constitutes good cause for the applicant to seek treatment outside the MPN, as required by regulations ensuring timely access to appropriate medical care. The Board agreed with the WCJ's reasoning that the defendant's inadequate MPN access justified the applicant's out-of-network treatment.