The DWC announced that the California  Office of Administrative Law has adopted the new regulations updating the medical treatment guidelines.  The  new guidelines will become effective on July 18th.

From the DWC News Release: “In addition to adding the new sections for chronic pain and postsurgical treatment, the clinical topics format allows us to make future updates on a chapter by chapter basis,” said DWC acting Deputy Administrative Director Destie Overpeck.  “In this way, we can continuously incorporate quality, evidence-based treatment for injured workers, which help them recover quicker and keep costs down for employers.”

The News Release continues, “the chronic pain section provides for treatment of close to 200 chronic conditions.  The section is based on the ODG, but contains an introduction written with input from the MEEAC.  It also contains additional treatment recommendations based on EBRs.  The section is evidenced-based and stresses the importance of returning patients to work through the use of treatments that show functional improvement and independence.”

Future Blog entries will look into those guidelines in greater detail. Can’t wait … here’s the link to the new regulations:

http://www.dir.ca.gov/dwc/DWCPropRegs/MTUS_Regulations/MTUS_Regulations.htm

This Friday is the SBICA Lunch and my Legal Update at Bella Mia in San Jose at 11:30 a.m.   Hope to see you there.

— Steve