The Department of Industrial Relations’ Division of Workers’ Compensation has issued a notice of public hearing which will take place on September 6, 2017 for proposed evidence-based updates to the Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule (MTUS) regulations by Administrative Director order.
There have been many new scientific and medical developments since the MTUS was initially adopted in 2007. Because most of the treatment guidelines have not been updated since 2007, these new scientific and medical developments have not been incorporated into the MTUS. The MTUS must be able to keep up with the evolving nature of scientific evidence to ensure that its recommendations accurately represent current standards of care. Thus, the primary policy objective of this action is to update the MTUS’ medical treatment guidelines so that its recommendations accurately represent current evidence-based standards of care.
These proposed evidence-based updates to the MTUS incorporate by reference the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine’s (ACOEM’s) most recent treatment guidelines to the General Approaches, Clinical Topics, and Special Topics sections of the MTUS.Below is a list of the most recent ACOEM guidelines that will be incorporated by reference into the MTUS:
– Initial Approaches to Treatment Guideline (ACOEM June 30, 2017)
– Cervical and Thoracic Spine Disorders Guideline (ACOEM May 27, 2016)
– Shoulder Disorders Guideline (ACOEM August 1, 2016)
– Elbow Disorders Guideline (ACOEM 2013)
– Hand, Wrist, and Forearm Disorders Guideline (ACOEM June 30, 2016)
– Low Back Disorders Guideline (ACOEM February 24, 2016)
– Knee Disorders Guideline (ACOEM October 28, 2015)
– Ankle and Foot Disorders Guideline (ACOEM September 2015)
– Eye Disorders Guideline (ACOEM April 1, 2017)
– Hip and Groin Guideline (ACOEM May 1, 2011)
– Occupational/Work-Related Asthma Medical Treatment Guideline (ACOEM January 4, 2016)
– Occupational Interstitial Lung Disease Guideline (ACOEM January 4, 2016)
– Chronic Pain Guideline (ACOEM May 15, 2017)
– Opioids Guideline (ACOEM April 20, 2017)
The public hearing is scheduled for September 6, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. in the auditorium of the Elihu Harris Building, 1515 Clay Street, Oakland, California. Members of the public may review and comment on the proposed evidence-based updates to the MTUS until 5 p.m. on September 6, 2017.
These proposed evidence-based updates to the MTUS regulations are exempt from Labor Code sections 5307.3 and 5307.4 and the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act. However, DWC is required to have a 30-day public comment period, hold a public hearing, respond to all the comments received during the public comment period, and publish the order online.