CWCI: Drop in IMR Volume Continues in First Half of 2022

The California Workers’ Compensation Institute reported that after hitting a new low in 2021 the volume of independent medical review decision letters continued to decline through the first half of 2022. The reforms in SB 863 created the administrative IMR process to resolve disputes over treatment requests without involving judges. “When California lawmakers first adopted the IMR as the means for resolving workers’ comp medical disputes they expected IMR volume would decline as providers became familiar with treatment guidelines, but it was not until 2019 that IMR letter v...