California SB 899 information and resources

California Workers' Compensation Reform

California MPN Questions and Answers

Broadspire Announces AMA Disability Rating Training for all California Claim Employees

Broadspire SB 899 presentation available online

What employers can expect for California comp in 2005

Broadspire to implement Medical Provider Network to comply with California SB 899

California Workers' Compensation Reform

Broadspire understands the need for companies to comply with all the requirements of workers' compensation legislation, particularly in California, where SB 899 became effective on January 1, 2005 . Since the passage of this bill, Broadspire has worked to assist clients with all aspects of the new law.

To learn more about the ways Broadspire is helping clients to comply with SB 899, please click here for a copy of our white paper.

Broadspire Announces AMA Disability Rating Training for all California Claim Employees

To continue to provide optimum support for California 's SB 899, Broadspire is holding comprehensive training for key claim staff to train them on use of the American Medical Association (AMA) guides for rating permanent disability of injured workers, which California has adopted as part of its new permanent disability rating schedule.

Brigham and Associates, leading national experts on impairment assessment, will conduct the training. Brigham and Associates is led by Christopher Brigham, MD, editor of the Guides Newsletter and Guides Casebook and co-author of Understanding the AMA Guides in Workers' Compensation and more than 100 articles on impairment evaluation. Dr. Brigham is regarded as the leading expert on the AMA guides.

Permanent disability has historically been measured as the injured employee's ability to compete in the open labor market. The new standard will be based on the AMA guides to determine the impairment rating and include a factor for diminished future earning capacity, age and occupation of the injured worker. The calculation is be based on the formula developed by the administrative director utilizing the AMA Guide to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment , as well as information from the Rand Corporation's Evaluation of California's Permanent Disability Rating Schedule, Interim Report published in December 2003.
Use of the AMA guides means California 's disability rating system will be based on objective medical findings. The training will assist Broadspire claims adjusters in applying the rating system as they evaluate claims, enabling the company to better help clients comply with the requirements of SB 899.

Broadspire SB 899 presentation available online

Broadspire is offering a series of seminars in California to help customers and others learn more about SB 899, Seminar will address new administrative guidelines, approval processes for medical provider networks mandated by law, and possible financial benefits of SB 899. Those unable to attend the seminars may access our online presentation. Find out what Broadspire is doing to help employers comply with the law - and what you can do to help Broadspire process your claims effectively.

What employers can expect for California comp in 2005

What will 2005 bring as California employers and workers' compensation carriers and administrators continue to adjust to the mandates of SB 899? Concentra Vice President Christopher Wheaton, PH.D., answers that question in a recent article, What Employers can Expect for California Comp in 2005. Concentra is Broadspire's Medical Provider Network partner in California .

Broadspire to implement Medical Provider Network to comply with California SB 899

On April 19, California 's governor signed SB 899 into law, significantly reforming several areas of the state's workers' compensation system. One of its key provisions allows employers to create a Medical Provider Network (MPN) through which all medical treatment is to be directed unless an injured worker has pre-designated a personal physician. This part of the law goes into effect January 1.

SB 899 outlined how the MPN will work, but most of the specifics have been spelled out in administrative regulations that the Office of Administrative Law approved in early November. The process of submitting an MPN for approval now can move forward.

Broadspire recognizes that implementation and use of medical provider networks is an integral piece of the recent reforms and may result in significant cost savings. Now that regulations have been issued, Broadspire, on behalf of its clients, will very shortly be submitting a comprehensive network that meets or exceeds the standards set forth in the regulations.

In addition, Broadspire will provide its clients with correspondence they can use to notify employees of the upcoming changes before implementation of the MPN, as is required by law.

In addition, SB 899 requires that employees/claimants receive correspondence at different intervals: when they're hired and when a new claim is filed. Broadspire will assist clients with that correspondence. We also will identify existing claims that warrant transfer into the network by January 1, subject to limitations in the regulations.

These activities are part of Broadspire's ongoing response to SB 899. The company has held information and training sessions for claim personnel and clients and will sponsor a series of seminars, open to clients and others, in December.

Broadspire clients who have questions about SB 899 or the MPN should contact their account representatives or Harriet Evnin, claim administrative manager for Broadspire, at (714) 579-8118 or hevnin@choosebroadspire.com.

Highlights of MPN regulations

The new administrative regulations clearly spell out guidelines for submitting the MPN for approval by the state. The regulations also outline required notifications to employees, including provisions for transfer of care into the MPN and standards for access to and continuity of care. Regulations do allow for an injured or ill worker to continue treating with his or her current physician under the following circumstances:

• An acute condition, defined as a condition needing prompt medical attention and lasting 30 days or less.
• A serious chronic condition, defined as a medical condition due to a disease, illness, catastrophic injury or other medical problem that is serious in nature and that persists or worsens over 90 days and requires ongoing treatment to maintain remission or prevent deterioration. A claimant can continue treatment for up to one year and then arrange for transfer into an MPN.
• A terminal illness, expected to cause death within one year.