Research

Physician-dispensed prescription drugs comprise a significant portion of all pharmaceutical prescriptions dispensed in California’s workers’ compensation system. Because of limits on the reach of statute and regulations adopted under Senate Bill (SB) 228, physician-dispensed pharmaceuticals are also much more expensive than the same drugs dispensed through a pharmacy. This report, prepared for the Commission for Health and Safety for Workers’ Compensation, documents the extra costs placed on the workers’ compensation system by physician-dispensed drugs. The report also reviews research on both the positive and negative impacts of physician dispensing.

This analysis estimates the proportion of California injured workers who are paid temporary disability and receive at least 2/3 wage replacement, and how the proportion has changed since the AB 749 TD rate increases took effect in 2003, 2004, and 2005?

This evaluation measured changes in the average amounts allowed under the California workers compensation inpatient hospital fee schedule for hospital stays for 2002, 2003 and 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.

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.

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.