Too Soon to Cry Chicken Little on IMR Rates, Observers Say

By Greg Jones, Western Bureau ChiefIndependent medical review is so new to California’s workers’ compensation system that it would be premature to suggest it’s doomed to fail based only on the fact that doctors will be paid between $150 and $200 to determine whether there is evidence to approve or deny a request for medical treatment, some industry experts think.Michael Gavin, chief strategy officer for Duluth, Ga.-based Prium Medical Cost Management Services, said independent medical review is essentially a continuation of utilization review and should be priced accordingly....