February 4, 2008 Source:
WorkInjury.com, CWCI
----------------------------
Stricter QME Regulations Demanded by Insurance Group
We've reported elsewhere in this week's edition on the recent testimony from various interests regarding the proposed changes to the QME regulations (to read that, CLICK HERE).
The California Workers' Compensation Institute (CWCI), a group made up of workers' compensation insurers and self-insured employers, also sent a letter to administrative director Carrie Nevans, recommending certain specific changes to the regulations, along with its reasoning behind each recommendation.
Among the Institute's many proposals:
• Requiring that QME's participate in more medical courses and training,
• Stricter enforcement of the QME regs,
• Automatic reductions in fees for reports filed late,
• Random auditing of QME reports to ensure quality,
• Making the punishment for cheating on the QME test lifetime banishment (rather than just a two-year wait to re-take the test),
• Distributing the panels throughout the state more uniformly to encourage more doctor participation,
• Adding and deleting QME related forms.
To read the CWCI's letter outlining these recommended changes,
- Help for the Injured Worker
