DWC Issues Notice of Third 15-Day Public Comment Period for QME Process Regulations

The Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) has issued a third notice of public comment period beginning on December 18, 2023, for modifying the text of proposed amendments to the Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME) Regulations. The affected regulations are Title 8, California Code of Regulations Sections 1, 11, 11.5, 14, 33, 35, 35.5, 50, 51, 52, 54, 55, 56, 57, 63, 10133.54 & 10133.55 (QME Process Regulations).

The proposed change is necessary to conform the hourly requirements for issuance of a certificate for completion of the Disability Evaluation Report Writing Course. The hours required for issuance of the certificate are changed from 12 to 16 to conform to the originally proposed change in the amount of hours for taking the disability evaluation report writing course.

Since the change in the hours represents a material alteration of the requirements, rights and responsibilities contained in the original text, this is a substantial change that is sufficiently related to the original proposed text. Since the change is sufficiently related, DWC is making the change in the text available for 15 days for public comment.

DWC has also published an Amendment to the Supplemental Initial Statement of Reasons to provide additional information about the need for the proposed regulations.

DWC will consider all public comments. The 15-day notice of modification to the text of the proposed regulations and the text of the regulations can be found on DWC’s rulemaking page.

Written comments should be addressed to:
Maureen Gray, regulations coordinator
Department of Industrial Relations
Division of Workers' Compensation
1515 Clay Street, 18th floor
Oakland, CA 94612

The Division’s contact person must receive all written comments concerning the proposed modification to the regulations no later than January 5, 2024. Written comments may be submitted by facsimile transmission (FAX), addressed to the contact person at (510) 286-0687. Written comments may also be sent electronically (via e-mail), using the following e-mail address: dwcrules@dir.ca.gov.

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