Disability program design and administration

The association shall contract with a disability program administrator to determine disability, to provide short-term disability insurance coverage, and to administer the short-term disability program. A contract shall conform to rules adopted by the board, which rules shall include but not be limited to standards relating to the determination of disability; the independent review, by a qualified panel, of determinations made by the disability program administrator and challenged by the applicant; requirements for medical or psychological examinations; the adjustment or termination of payments based on the mental or physical condition of the program participant; the change of status of a program participant from short-term disability to disability retirement or from disability retirement to short-term disability based on the mental or physical condition, education, training, and experience of the program participant; and the monitoring of the disability program administrator's performance by the association.