(b) The purpose of the conference shall be to consider the following:

1. (i) confirmation that all appropriate forms, including medical reports, have been submitted and a verification that all information on the forms is accurate;
2. (ii) addition of any other necessary parties, where appropriate;
3. (iii) simplification and limitation of factual and legal issues, where appropriate;
4. (iv) presentation of a list of proposed witnesses, where appropriate;
5. (v) scheduling the case for a hearing; and
6. (vi) entering into a stipulation.

(c) The collective bargaining agreement may establish the following obligations and procedures:

1. (i) an alternative dispute resolution process to resolve claims arising under this chapter, which may include but is not limited to mediation or arbitration;
2. (ii) the use of an agreed managed care organization as defined in section one hundred twenty-six of this chapter or a list of authorized providers for medical treatment, which may be the exclusive source of all medical and related treatment provided under this chapter;
3. (iii) the use of an agreed list of authorized providers for the purpose of providing medical opinions and testimony, which may be the exclusive source of all such medical opinions and testimony under this chapter;
4. (iv) benefits for injured workers, their dependents or their survivors supplemental to those provided under this chapter;
5. (v) a light duty, modified job, or return to work program;
6. (vi) a vocational rehabilitation or retraining program; and
7. (vii) worker injury and illness prevention programs and procedures.

(e)

1. (i) Determinations rendered as a result of an alternative dispute resolution procedure shall remain in force during a period in which the employer and a recognized or certified exclusive bargaining representative are renegotiating a collective bargaining agreement.
2. (ii) Upon the expiration of a collective bargaining agreement which contains a provision for an alternative dispute resolution procedure for workers' compensation claims, the resolution of claims relating to injuries sustained as a result of a work-related accident or occupational disease may, if the collective bargaining agreement so provides, be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the expired collective bargaining agreement until the employer and a recognized or certified exclusive bargaining representative negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement.
3. (iii) Upon the termination of a collective bargaining agreement which is not subject to renegotiation, the employer and its employees shall become fully subject to the provisions of this chapter to the same extent as they were prior to the implementation of the collective bargaining agreement provided, however, that when a claim has been adjudicated under the alternative dispute resolution procedure, the claimant or employer to such claim or matter shall be estopped from raising identical issues before the board.

4-a. Public employee welfare fund; wage replacement payment; lien. a. For the purposes of this subdivision, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

1. (i) "Public employer" shall mean the state, a municipal corporation, a local government agency or other political subdivision, a public authority, a public benefit corporation, or any other political subdivision of the state.
2. (ii) "Public employee" shall mean all employees of a public employer.
3. (iii) "Public employee welfare fund" shall mean any trust fund or other fund established or maintained unilaterally or jointly by one or more labor organizations which represent the relevant public employees and/or one or more public employers whether directly or through trustees, to provide employee welfare benefits for public employees or their families or dependents, or for both, including, but not limited to, medical, surgical or hospital care or benefits, and benefits in the event of sickness, accident, disability, or death. b. Where a public employee who is ineligible for benefits under section two hundred three or two hundred seven of this chapter by reason of his public employer's failure to voluntarily elect coverage under section two hundred twelve of this chapter, is disabled and has claimed or subsequently claims and is entitled to workers' compensation benefits under this article, and that public employee is covered by a public employee welfare fund which voluntarily provides a wage replacement benefit in the event of disability, the following provision shall apply: Where such an employee receives a wage replacement benefit from such a public employee welfare fund in respect of the disability which forms the basis of the workers' compensation claim, the public employee welfare plan making such payment may, at any time before an award of workers' compensation benefits is made, file with the board a claim for reimbursement out of the proceeds of such award to the public employee for the period for which the wage replacement benefit was paid to the public employee under the rules of the public employee welfare fund, and shall have a lien against the award for reimbursement, provided that the insurance carrier or other entity liable for payment of the award receives, before such award is made, a copy of the claim for reimbursement from the public employee welfare fund which paid the wage replacement benefit, or provided that the board's decision and award directs such reimbursement.