WCAB

Hinden, Grueskin, Rondeau & Breslavsky, and Charles R. Rondeau, Bakersfield, for amicus curiae California Applicants Attorneys Association in support of petitioner Brice Sandhagen.

Neil P. Sullivan and Vincent Bausano, for respondent Workers' Compensation Appeals Board.

RAYE, J.

The California Constitution directs the Legislature to create a system of workers' compensation that accomplishes "substantial justice in all cases expeditiously, inexpensively, and without incumbrance of any character." (Cal. Const., art. XIV, § 4.) A primary goal of the workers' compensation system is to secure prompt treatment for an injured worker to facilitate his or her return to the work force at the earliest possible time. ( Avalon Bay Foods v. Workers' Comp. Appeals Bd. (1998) 18 Cal.4th 1165, 1175-1176, 1178 , 77 Cal.Rptr.2d 552 , 959 P.2d 1228 .)

The employer of an injured worker is responsible for all medical treatment reasonably necessary to cure or relieve the worker from the effects of injury. (Lab. Code, § 4600, subd. (a).) [1] In order to protect the injured employee's right to prompt appropriate treatment and to reduce costs, in 2003 the Legislature directed the Administrative…