Medical Necessity Disputes Down 52% Since 2014

Medical disputes in Texas’ workers’ compensation system declined again in 2020, resulting in a cumulative decrease of 52% since 2014. The Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation reported 1,357 necessity disputes in 2020, down from 1,372 in 2019. Disputes have fallen in seven of the last eight years, increasing only once, by 3%, in 2018. The number of disputes in 2020 was 52% lower than the 2,826 disputes from 2014. “Several factors contributed to this decline, including fewer workers’ compensation claims filed, the adoption of health care networks in 2006 and DW...