When may an employee treat outside the MPN?

• A. Private: January 1; Public: July 1
• B. Private: May 1; Public: May 1
• C. Private: December 1; Public: December 1
• D. Private: March 1; Public: Oct 1

Answer: (D)

In California SIPs, you normally must receive medical care from a provider within the MPN, but there are limited times you can treat outside the MPN. The official transition windows allow outside-MPN treatment: for private employers, March 1; for public employers, October 1. These dates align with the periodic updates of the MPN and provide a temporary period to continue care while the network changes are made. Therefore, the valid times to treat outside the MPN are Private: March 1 and Public: October 1. The other dates don’t align with these designated transition windows.