Effective January 1, 2027, payers may voluntarily cover medical treatment for up to one year while compensability determination is under review.
Effective January 1, 2027, payers may voluntarily cover medical treatment for up to one year while compensability determination is under review.
Recommendations from the California report touched on pharmacy topics and access to care.
Reforms from Senate Bill 1160 resulted in a modest overall effect, with some improvements in timely access to recommended care.
Access to care and AI emerged as dominant themes of the conference.
Designated doctors are selected to evaluate medical issues in claims, such as MMI, impairment ratings, disability, and more.
Any licensed healthcare provider in good standing may treat injured workers, and prior auth thresholds increase from $1,000 to $1,500.
While patients in rural areas had to travel further for care, there were no meaningful increases to claim costs or disability duration.
Under emergency declaration, the bill went into effect immediately.
A new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute found that injured workers treated in medical provider networks have lower medical and total claim costs, faster access to care, and improved disability outcomes.
The bill would allow injured workers to obtain medication from out-of-network pharmacies when specific conditions occur.
An employer panel discussed issues such as access to care, early intervention practices, and claims culture and communication.
While the report addresses multiple topics, a significant focus was given to the expanding role of pharmacists as a healthcare provider.
The bill did not pass out of its original committee before a crucial deadline, and failed to pass after a special hearing.
Prolonged licensure pauses risk reducing interpreter availability and disrupting access to care.
Senate Bill 1404 could grant workers greater choice over their provider, pharmacy, certain ancillary services, and more.
