The Changing Nature and Cost of the Medical-Legal Process in California WC (Research Note, published 02/16)

An Institute analysis that that reviews the legislative reforms, regulatory changes and judicial decisions that have reshaped the medical-legal process for resolving workers’ compensation claim disputes over the past quarter century; provides an update on the quantity, mix and average payments for medical-legal services in the wake of the 2002-2004 reforms; and generates benchmark data for use in future studies on the impact of the 2012 reforms, which introduced independent medical review as a new means for resolving treatment disputes.