By the end of the year the DWC plans to have a new 12 point plan in order to control medical costs.  This is directly correlated with adjusting what will be submitted to Utilization Review.  Many of the treatment requests submitted to UR include MRIs, CAT scans, and physical therapy.  Occasionally if a doctor is not around to respond to UR, they automatically deny the treatment request.  This adds additional money and costs that could be avoided with the 12 point system.

The idea is only unreasonable requests will go through Utilization Review.  In the end costs will go down and UR will become a streamlined process unlike the difficult and costly system is it currently.

For more info go to:https://www.workcompcentral.com/members/index.php?fa=news&id=6c2ccbfa15185dfa068be4fe0d05c411g&state=CA&CFID=17580966&CFTOKEN=89730080

In the 2004 worker’s compensation reform a $500,000 dollar budget was set aside for modifications made for return to work employees  at small businesses. A small business is classified as 50 or fewer employees.  The budget provides up to $2500 to employers who make accommodations for permanently disabled employees and $1250 for temporary disabled employees.  Accommodations that can be reimbursed are items that help employees heal from their injury and prevent a re-injury, for example  ergonomic work stations.

The program has attempted to advertise as  “Bring ‘em Back” but unfortunately only a minute part of the budget has been used because employers  either do not know of the back to work program, are reluctant to participate because of the difficult economic times, or assume there is too much paperwork involved.

The good news is small businesses now have up to 2020 to apply for the program and there more than $400,000 to distribute.

If you are a small business check out this website for more information: http://www.dir.ca.gov/dwc/Returntoworkreimbursementprogram/returntowork.htm