California comp regulator suspends 18 medical providers

The California Division of Workers’ Compensation announced Monday that it suspended 18 more medical providers from treating injured workers statewide, bringing the total number of providers suspended to 263 since state law required that doctors be suspended under certain circumstances.

All but four of the suspensions follow fraud convictions, as stipulated in state law, and most involved millions in Medicare fraud, according to a division statement listing the suspensions and convictions.

Four providers surrendered their medical license or had their medical licenses revoked for such violations as prescribing of controlled substances with no legitimate medical purpose, unprofessional conduct, and failure to maintain records, according to the release.

A.B. 1244, which went into effect Jan. 1, 2017, requires DWC’s administrative director to suspend any medical provider, physician or practitioner from participating in the workers compensation system when that provider meets certain conditions.