Chapter 4.5. Division of Workers' Compensation
Subchapter 1. Administrative Director--Administrative Rules
Article 5. Transfer of Medical Treatment

§9786. Petition for Change of Primary Treating Physician.

(a) A claims administrator desiring a change of primary treating physician pursuant to Labor Code Section 4603 shall file with the Administrative Director a petition, verified under penalty of perjury, on the “Petition for Change of Primary Treating Physician” form (DWC-Form 280 (Part A)) contained in Section 9786.1.

The petition shall be accompanied by supportive documentary evidence relevant to the specific allegations raised. A proof of service by mail declaration shall be attached to the petition indicating that (1) the completed petition (Part A), (2) the supportive documentary evidence and (3) a blank copy of the “Response to Petition for Change of Primary Treating Physician”, (DWC-Form 280 (Part B)), were served on the employee or, the employee's attorney, and the employee's current primary treating physician.

(b) Good cause to grant the petition shall be clearly shown by verified statement of facts, and, where appropriate, supportive documentary evidence. Good cause includes, but is not limited to any of the following:

(1) The primary treating physician has failed to comply with Section 9785, subdivisions (e), (f)(1-7), or (h) by not timely submitting a required report or submitting a report which is inadequate due to material omissions or deficiencies;

(2) The primary treating physician has failed to comply with subdivision (f)(8) of Section 9785 by failing to submit timely or complete progress reports on two or more occasions within the 12-month period immediately preceding the filing of the petition;

(3) A clear showing that the current treatment is not consistent with the treatment plan submitted pursuant to Section 9785, subdivisions (e) or (f);

(4) A clear showing that the primary treating physician or facility is not within a reasonable geographic area as determined by section 9780(g).

(5) A clear showing that the primary treating physician has a possible conflict of interest, including but not limited to a familial, financial or employment relationship with the employee, which has a significant potential for interfering with the physician's ability to engage in objective and impartial medical decision making.

(6) A clear showing that the primary treating physician, providing medical treatment to the employee within the first 30 days following the date of injury under Labor Code section 4610, subdivision (b), has a pattern and practice of failing to render treatment that is consistent with the Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule adopted pursuant to Labor Code section 5307.27.

(c)(1) Where good cause is based on inadequate reporting under subdivisions (b)(1) or (b)(2), the petition must show, by documentation and verified statement, that the claims administrator notified the primary treating physician or facility in writing of the complete requirements of Section 9785 prior to the physician's failure to properly report.

(2) Good cause shall not include a showing that current treatment is inappropriate or that there is no present need for medical treatment to cure or relieve from the effects of the injury or illness.

(3) Where an allegation of good cause is based upon failure to timely issue the “Doctor's First Report of Occupational Injury or Illness,” Form 5021, within 5 working days of the initial examination pursuant to Section 9785, subdivision (e)(1), the petition setting forth such allegation shall be filed within 90 days of the claims administrator's knowledge of the initial examination.

(4) The failure to verify a letter response to a request for information made pursuant to Section 9785(f)(7), failure to verify a narrative report submitted pursuant to Section 9785(f)(8), or failure of the narrative report to conform to the format requirements of Section 9785(f)(8) shall not constitute good cause to grant the petition unless the claims administrator submits documentation showing that the physician was notified of the deficiency in the verification or reporting format and allowed a reasonable time to correct the deficiency.

(d) The employee, his or her attorney, and/or the primary treating physician may file with the Administrative Director a response to said petition, provided the response is verified under penalty of perjury and is filed and served on the claims administrator and all other parties no later than 20 days after service of the petition. The response may be accompanied by supportive documentary evidence relevant to the specific allegations raised in the petition. The response may be filed using the “Response to Petition for Change of Primary Treating Physician” form (DWC-Form 280 (Part B)) contained in Section 9786.1. Where the petition was served by mail, the time for filing a response shall be extended pursuant to the provisions of Code of Civil Procedure Section 1013. Unless good cause is shown, no other document will be considered by the Administrative Director except for the petition, the response, and supportive documentary evidence.

(e) The Administrative Director shall, within 45 days of the receipt of the petition, either:

(1) Dismiss the petition, without prejudice, for failure to meet the procedural requirements of this Section;

(2) Deny the petition pursuant to a finding that there is no good cause to require the employee to select a primary treating physician from the panel of physicians provided in the petition;

(3) Grant the petition and issue an order requiring the employee to select a physician from the panel of physicians provided in the petition, pursuant to a finding that good cause exists therefor;

(4) Refer the matter to the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board for hearing and determination by a Workers' Compensation Administrative Law Judge of such factual determinations as may be requested by the Administrative Director; or

(5) Issue a Notice of Intention to Grant the petition and an order requiring the submission of additional documents or information.

(f) The physician may continue to serve as primary treating physician until an order of the Administrative Director issues granting the petition.

(g) The Administrative Director may extend the time specified in subdivision (e) within which to act upon the claims administrator's petition for a period of 30 days and may order a party to submit additional documents or information.

Credits

Note: Authority cited: Sections 133, 139.5, 4603, 4603.2, 4603.5 and 5307.3, Labor Code. Reference: Sections 4600, 4603, 4603.2 and 4610, Labor Code.

History

1. Repealer and new section filed 11-9-77; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 77, No. 46).

2. Amendment of subsections (a), (c), (d)(4), (e), and (f) filed 11-11-78; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 78, No. 45).

3. Amendment of subsection (a) filed 8-9-84; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 84, No. 35).

4. Change without regulatory effect of subsection (c) filed 7-11-86; effective upon filing (Register 86, No. 28).

5. Amendment of section and Note filed 8-31-93; operative 8-31-93. Submitted to OAL for printing only pursuant to Government Code section 11351 (Register 93, No. 36).

6. Amendment of subsections (b)(5), (d), and (g) filed 3-27-95; operative 3-27-95. Submitted to OAL for printing only pursuant to Government Code section 11351 (Register 95, No. 13).

7. Editorial correction of subsection (h) (Register 95, No. 29).

8. Editorial correction of inadvertently omitted subsection (d)(2) (Register 96, No. 52).

9. Amendment of subsection (f) and repealer and new subsection (g) filed 12-27-96; operative 12-27-96. Submitted to OAL for printing only pursuant to Government Code section 11351 (Register 96, No. 52).

10. Amendment of section heading and section filed 12-22-2000; operative 1-1-2001 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(d) (Register 2000, No. 51).

11. Amendment filed 5-20-2003; operative 6-19-2003 (Register 2003, No. 21).

12. Amendment of subsections (b)(1) and (b)(4), new subsection (b)(6), amendment of subsections (c)(2)-(3) and (f)-(g) and amendment of Note filed 12-30-2025; operative 4-1-2026 (Register 2026, No. 1).