An examination of California workers’ compensation independent medical review decisions shows roughly nine-in-10 of disputed medical service requests reviewed by an IMR physician agree with the utilization review determination that the service is not medically necessary. The IMR and UR …
Adopting a state-mandated workers’ compensation prescription drug formulary similar to systems in place in Texas and Washington could reduce California workers’ comp pharmacy payments by between $124 million and $420 million per year, a California Workers’ Compensation Institute study shows. …
A key part to California’s sweeping workers’ compensation reform is working, according to a new study and the people running the system. More than 95 percent of workers’ comp medical treatment requests are approved following the utilization review and independent …
Editor’s Note: This is part of a team report on opioid use by injured workers. For the national story read: Opioid Epidemic Plagues Workers’ Comp Washington and California are among states in the U.S. Western Region that have publicly struggled …
Editor’s Note: This is part of a team report on opioid use by injured workers. For stories focused on particular regions click on the respective links below. The national “epidemic” of opioid usage has garnered a great deal of public …
It’s human nature to wait until the last minute to take care of business, and California legislators are a great example of that. The deadline to introduce bills in the Assembly and Senate is just over a day away: Feb. …
Think California’s new workers’ compensation reform law addressed just about every aspect of an unwieldy system which, few would argue, desperately needs fixing? Think again. A report on compounding drugs reveals the effects of another workers’ comp-related law enacted at …
Head and spinal injuries cost California’s workers’ compensation insurers more than $500 million over 10 years, according to the California Workers’ Compensation Institute’s “Injury Score Card.” The report issued on Wednesday reflects data on California work injury claims for head …
Workers’ compensation medical costs in California were boosted by nearly $67.5 million in 2010 due to loophole in the law that allows double billing for surgical implants, according to a study released on Wednesday by the California Workers’ Compensation Institute. …
It’s no surprise that pharmaceuticals are one of the leading drivers of workers’ compensation costs in California, but a study issued on Wednesday shows the skyrocketing cost of drug testing is taking a spot as a major cost driver in …
