DWC Adds Timeline, Penalties to IMR Rules

The California Division of Workers’ Compensation on Friday revised its proposed independent medical review rules to add new penalties and to require a determination on whether a dispute is eligible for review be made within 15 days.The changes to the rules appear to address two concerns about the new process created by SB 863 to resolve disputes over utilization-review determinations. Injured workers and their attorneys say it’s currently taking about two months to receive notice from Maximus Federal Services that a case was accepted for IMR. In some instances, IMR decisions are be...