Division of Workers' Compensation issues second 15-day notice of revisions to proposed medical treatment guideline regulations

The Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) has modified its medical treatment utilization schedule (MTUS) regulations. A second 15-day notice of modification was distributed to interested parties and the revised regulations are posted on the DWC Web site. Members of the public may comment on the revisions until 5 p.m. on Apr. 16, 2007.

The proposed MTUS regulations, commonly referred to as medical treatment guidelines, are authorized by Labor Code section 5307.27. This Labor Code section requires the administrative director to adopt a medical treatment utilization schedule. The revisions in this draft of the regulations include the following:

• Clarified proposed section 9792.21(a)(2) setting forth the acupuncture medical treatment guidelines by deleting the requirement limiting acupuncture to a maximum of 14 treatments, as continued treatment is controlled by the proposed definition of functional improvement
• Clarified the meaning of "randomization" and "co-interventions" in Table A, set forth in proposed section 9792.22(c)
• Amended proposed section 9792.23 to include representation of members of the specialty boards approved by the Medical Board of California (MBC)
• Clarified proposed section 9792.23(c) to clarify the process to be used by the medical evidence evaluation advisory committee in making recommendations to the DWC medical director.