The Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) published a new report which provides an overview of Texas-certified designated doctors (DDs) in the Texas workers’ compensation system and describes their role within the administrative dispute resolution process.

Designated doctors neutral, independent doctors trained and certified by the DWC to help resolve disputes about an injured employee’s claim. DDs are selected by the DWC to answer questions about a work-related injury or occupational illness, which can include MMI, impairment ratings, disability, return-to-work, and more.

This report is an analysis of DDs by evaluating their performance, presenting comparative information from 2020-2024 by comparing metrics such as rescheduled appointments, timeliness of reports, and other DD responsibilities. Additionally, the report compares DDs who work with an agent – such as a scheduling company – and those who work independently.

 According to the report, the total number of DDs decreased slightly during the study period, with approximately 304 in 2024 (209 with an agent). Appointment volume remained stable, at roughly 27,0000 annually, though nearly two-thirds of appointments were handled by DDs working with an agent.

As for performance, only 7% of DD ratings were disputed, with a 98.6% rate of upholding DD decisions. Furthermore, more than 94% of DDs received high or average performance ratings.

However, 12,500 rescheduling requests were made annually, or 34% of appointments on average, mostly due to DD unavailability. Scheduling delays and other administrative challenges may impact the timeliness of dispute resolution and claims processing for some payers, as Because designated doctors drive key determinations, inefficiencies in this process can affect claim progression and payment outcomes.