The Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) released its Proposed Fiscal Year 2025 Research Agenda, outlining research projects aimed at enhancing the Texas workers’ comp system.
Proposed projects include:
- A study to evaluate the impact of adopting a more current version of the American Medical Association Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, contingent on the AMA’s 2024 revisions
- An update of medical costs and utilization
- An analysis of designated doctors and scheduling companies
The DWC is also conducting a routine rule review of:
- Chapter 126 General Provisions Appliable to All Benefits
- Chapter 127 Designated Doctor Procedures and Requirements
- Chapter 128 Benefits – Calculation of Average Weekly Wage
This review is to determine if these rules are still necessary or if they should be repealed, readopted, or amended.
The DWC invites public comments on both the Proposed Fiscal Year 2025 Research Agenda and the rule review. Comments can be submitted via email to RuleComments@tdi.texas.govby 5:00 PM Central Time on September 16, 2024.
The DWC will also host its quarterly meetings for insurance carriers and healthcare providers on September 5th, 2024. The provider meeting will take place at 12:00 PM and the carrier meeting will take place at 2:30 PM. These meetings will be hybrid, marking the first opportunity to attend in person since the pandemic.
Agenda topics include:
- Compliance and investigations updates
- The Access to Medical Care in the Texas Workers’ Compensation System report
- The REG Research Agenda
- Health and safety updates
- Operations and external relations updates.
