summary
Introduced
02/20/2025
02/20/2025
In Committee
04/24/2025
04/24/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2025-2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
An act to amend Section 5307.6 of the Labor Code, relating to workers’ compensation.
AI Summary
This bill modifies California's workers' compensation medical-legal expense fee schedule to provide more flexibility in updating rates. Specifically, the bill allows the medical administrative director to adjust the fee schedule every two years based on an evaluation of medical practice costs, including increases in the conversion factor (a financial calculation used to determine payment rates) and the per-page cost of reviewing medical records. The bill draws from the Medicare Economic Index to inform these potential adjustments. Under the existing system, medical-legal evaluations are used to help resolve contested workers' compensation claims, and fees are typically capped at a physician's regular rate or a predetermined fee schedule. The new provisions aim to ensure that physicians performing these evaluations are fairly compensated and that the fee schedule remains responsive to changing medical practice costs. The bill maintains existing protections that prevent providers from charging excessive fees, require itemization and justification for any fees above the scheduled rate, and prohibit providers from accepting additional compensation beyond the authorized fees. These updates are intended to keep the workers' compensation medical-legal expense system current and equitable for healthcare providers conducting evaluations.
Committee Categories
Budget and Finance, Labor and Employment
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
May 23 hearing: Held in committee and under submission. (on 05/23/2025)
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