Today’s issue of WorkCompRecap features the release of a new report from the California Workers’ Compensation Institute (CWCI) that found the volume of Independent Medical Review (IMR) determination letters in the state fell significantly, fueled by a sharp decline in prescription drug disputes.
CWCI noted that state lawmakers expected IMR volume would decline over time as providers became familiar with treatment guidelines, but letter volume increased steadily over the first five years, except 2017. Volume finally did drop sharply in 2019, falling to a five-year low of 163,899, down 11.3% from 2018, while the Q1 2020 shows the decline is continuing, falling 4.9% below Q1 2019, and dropping to a 5-year low of 38,981.
Find out more (including a link to the free report!) by clicking here!