Research

This study compares recovery and cost outcomes and the use of common medical procedures 1) not recommended by the ACOEM Guidelines and 2) those recommended with optimal targets (PT and chiro services). Results show that when treatment exceeded ACOEM-recommended levels, medical and indemnity payments, treatment durations, and the number of paid TD days were significantly higher for many medical service categories.

This analysis compared the average amounts paid under the revised outpatient surgery facility fee schedule effective on January 1, 2004 to the average payments for the same services prior to adoption of the schedule.

The goal of this physical therapy and chiropractic manipulation analysis was to determine any emerging correlations between the implementation of the utilization review program effective January 1, 2003, the 24-hour visit vap effective on January 1, 2004 and changes in the average utilization and cost of these services.

The goal of this analysis was to measure the average amounts paid and the percentage change in the average payment for common medical services by fee schedule section before and after the revision of the California Workers Compensation Physician Services Fee Schedule. Fee changes included in this study took affect on July 1, 2004, January 14, 2005, and May 14, 2005.

This analysis measured changes in the utilization, reimbursement and accessibility of prescription drugs in California workers' compensation following the revisions to the pharmacy fee schedule that were effective on January 1, 2004.

This analysis measured changes in medical utilization and reimbursement by type of medical service at the early stages of medical claim development subsequent to the California workers' compensation reforms of 2002 – 2004.