California’s Department of Industrial Relations would have to publish data on its website of physicians whose treatment review decisions resulted in denials, according to one workers compensation-related bill now being considered by state lawmakers.
S.B. 537, amended in the state Assembly on Sept. 6 and now with the state Senate, would specifically require the administrative director to annually publish data on physicians “who treated 10 or more injured workers during the 12 months before July 1 of the previous year, including the number of injured workers treated by the physician and the number of utilization review decisions that resulted in a modification or denial of a request for authorization of medical treatment based upon a determination of medical necessity.”
The bill also calls for the director to issue a report to the Legislature, on or before Jan. 1, 2023, comparing potential payment alternatives for providers to the official medical fee schedule.
Lawmakers are also considering other comp-related bills:
(Correction: the below article has been corrected to reflect that the cost of unlisted drugs is increasing rather than overall prescription drug costs in the California workers comp system).