The Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) has added an easy-to-use search tool to help the public find Independent Medical Review (IMR) determinations quickly and efficiently. The DWC IMR search tool is available on the DWC website.

Over 300,000 IMR cases have been decided since the medical dispute resolution process was implemented on January 1, 2013. Following a determination by a physician reviewer, information for each case is posted to the DWC website. The public can use the new tool to search for decisions by case number, date of injury, specialty of reviewer, and/or category of treatment request.

“The DWC IMR search tool allows the public to easily research the database of IMR decisions,” said DWC Acting Administrative Director George Parisotto. “Increased knowledge about the program’s past performance will ultimately lead to a more effective IMR process.”

Each IMR case pertains to one or more requested treatments that were denied, delayed or modified following utilization review (UR). The IMRO’s expert reviewers useevidence-based guidelines contained in the DWC Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule (MTUS) to determine whether to uphold or overturn the UR decision. The rationale for a reviewer’s decision for each requested treatment is provided in the IMR final determination letter.

Maximus Federal Services is the current Independent Medical Review Organization (IMRO) contracted by DWC to conduct IMR.

Maximus is based in Reston, Virginia, and is a publicly-traded for-profit corporation that receives government contracts to provide “business process services” to government health and human services agencies in the United States, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Saudi Arabia. The company focuses primarily on “operating government-sponsored programs for vulnerable populations, such as Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Medicaid, health insurance exchanges and other health care reform initiatives under the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, welfare-to-work, and child support services,” according to its annual report.

And Maximus seems to be doing well. For the second quarter of fiscal 2016, Maximus revenue increased 26% to $606.5 million compared to $481.8 million reported for the same period last year. The increase in revenue was attributable to acquisitions that accounted for growth of 15% and organic growth of 13%, principally from the Health Services Segment. The increase in revenue was partially offset by a 2% decline from unfavorable foreign currency translation.

Health Services Segment revenue for the second quarter of fiscal 2016 increased 22% to $330.6 million compared to $270.9 million reported for the same period last year. The Company still expects revenue to range between $2.4 billion and $2.5 billion for fiscal 2016.