Senate Labor Committee Passes UR Duty of Care, Value-Based Payment Study Bills

The California Senate’s labor committee passed bills that would require that utilization review physicians are licensed in the state and have the same duty of care as treating physicians, as well as a measure calling for a study into the viability of linking workers’ compensation health care payments with the value of care provided to injured workers. The committee also passed a bill that would expand a skin cancer presumption to cover state game wardens and park rangers. The Senate Committee on Labor, Public Employment and Retirement on Thursday voted 4-0 to pass SB 697, by...