The department of administrative services shall act as employer for workers' compensation claims arising under this chapter and Chapters 4121., 4127., and 4131. of the Revised Code for all state agencies, offices, institutions, boards, or commissions except for public colleges and universities. The department shall review, process, certify or contest, and administer workers' compensation claims for each state agency, office, institution, board, and commission, except for a public college or university, unless otherwise agreed to between the department and a state agency, office, institution, board, or commission.
The department may enter into a contract with one or more third party administrators for claims management of a state agency, office, institution, board, or commission, except for a public college or university, for workers' compensation claims and for claims covered by the occupational injury leave program adopted pursuant to section 124.381 of the Revised Code.