California’s workers’ compensation system has undergone numerous changes since the implementation of the sweeping reforms that started in 2013 with Senate Bill 863.
In the last few years medical provider fraud has been addressed by subsequent new laws, a plague of liens that burdened the system are being addressed, and there’s even a new drug formulary.
Not everyone likes the changes. One has no further to look that public comments on new rulemaking proposals by the the Division of Workers’ Compensation, which some providers have called unfair and overly burdensome, as well as a concerning shortage of qualified medical examiners – who are an essential backbone of how workers’ comp medical reviews are dealt with in the system.
But for George Parisotto, administrative director of the DWC, addressed the changes, the complaints, the changes, and the positives, are all part of the job. He spoke about the system and the changes with Insurance Journal. This has been edited for brevity and clarity.