MTUS Updates: COVID-19 and Mental Health Treatment Guidelines

Following public hearings held via conference call earlier this year, the DWC has updated the Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule (MTUS), incorporating evidence-based guidelines addressing the treatment of COVID-19 and anxiety disorders.

Evidence-based updates to the MTUS regulations are exempt from LC §§5307.3 and 5307.4 and the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act.  However, under LC §§5307.27 the Division is required to have a 30-day public comment period, hold a public hearing, respond to all the comments received during the public comment period, and publish the order adopting the update online.

The public hearing on the Coronavirus Guidelines was held via conference call on May 14, and the updated version was adopted by order of the Administrative Director on May 24 and took effect for services on or after June 28. The guidelines address the evaluation, treatment, and prevention of COVID-19, incorporating by reference the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guidelines published March 29 by ACOEM, adding them to the existing MTUS guidelines for respiratory conditions or diseases experienced by injured employees (Occupational/Work-Related Asthma Guideline and Occupational Interstitial Lung Disease Guideline, CCR title 8 §9792.24.7).

The public hearing on the revision to the Mental Health Guidelines (CCR §9792.23.8) was held via conference call on June 11, and the updated version was adopted by order of the Administrative Director on July 15 and took effect for services on or after July 19.  The update incorporates by reference the Anxiety Disorders Guideline published April 30 by ACOEM, so the updated MTUS guideline now includes three modules that address the evaluation and management of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Acute Stress Disorder (ACOEM December 18, 2018); Depressive Disorders (ACOEM January 13, 2020); and Anxiety Disorders (ACOEM April 30, 2021).

Although these guidelines took effect earlier this summer, and the orders adopting them are posted on the DWC website, the DWC did not issue a Newsline announcing their adoption, so the Institute has posted the final versions of the regulations and all relevant documents under the Regulations tab on our website, which CWCI members can access here.

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