Physician Accreditation Rules Take Effect Jan. 1

Thursday, October 26, 2017 | 0

Doctors seeking authorization to evaluate and rate impairments will have to pass an exam to demonstrate an understanding of the Colorado Division of Workers’ Compensation’s rules as well as the American Medical Association’s Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, under regulations that will take effect Jan. 1.

The DWC updated the requirements for Level II accreditation to require that doctors sit for an exam that will now include questions about the AMA Guides. If a provider fails the test two consecutive times, he would be required to attend a training seminar before taking the exam again.

New rules will also require doctors to serve a one-year Level II accreditation probationary term. The probationary period will expire if the physician does not submit three impairment rating reports the division considers sufficient.

Level II accreditation is limited to only medical doctors and doctors of osteopathy. These are the only providers who can rate impairments in the state’s comp system.

All providers, including doctors, chiropractors, dentists, podiatrists and physician’s assistants, need Level I accreditation to be reimbursed for treating injured workers.

The new accreditation rules are here.