The Division of Workers’ Compensation has issued a notice of public hearing on proposed changes to the Qualified Medical Evaluator regulations. The proposed rulemaking is to amend existing regulations and forms to implement an online panel process for represented initial panel requests.

A public hearing on the proposed regulations has been scheduled at 10 a.m., Friday, May 22, 2015, in the auditorium of the Elihu Harris Building, 1515 Clay Street, Oakland, CA, 94612. Members of the public may also submit written comment on the regulations until 5 p.m. that day.

The QME regulations amend existing regulations to require parties in a represented case to submit initial QME panel requests online and immediately receive a QME panel. The requesting party will then serve the panel request form, any required documentation, and the QME panel on all parties with a proof of service. The proposed rulemaking will also simplify QME Form 105 for unrepresented injured workers. The proposed regulations also makes non-substantive changes to the QME appointment from, reappointment form, and the QME unavailability form.

DWC will consider all public comments, and may modify the proposed regulations for consideration during an additional 15-day public comment period. The notices of rulemaking, text of the regulations, and the initial statements of reasons can be found at on the DWC rulemaking page. More information.