Returning from Illness. An employee returning from an absence due to illness or injury, and deemed eligible to draw benefits, must have a written certificate to return to work from his attending physician or dentist at the employee’s own expense and may be required to obtain a return to work certificate from the Authority’s physician or dentist at the Authority’s expense. The Authority may only examine the employee for the injury or illness for which the employee was being treated or any other illness for which the employee was being treated while they were off. Providing timely notice from the employee, the Authority shall make every effort to schedule the returning employee’s examination with the Authority’s physician or dentist prior to the actual return to work date. If the examination by the Authority’s physician or dentist is delayed to a time after the employee’s physician or dentist has issued a return to work date, the decision of the Authority’s physician or dentist will prevail with regard to benefits. If the Authority’s physician or dentist disagrees with the employee’s physician’s or dentist’s return to work statement, the Authority will pay the fees of a third doctor or dentist who shall be a recognized specialist in that particular disability, who will examine the employee and give his opinion. This decision shall be binding.
