California DWC

DWC Posts 2024 Newslines: Fee Schedules, QME Exams, Office Updates

California Division of Workers' Compensation posted its 2024 newsline index listing 50+ regulatory announcements including multiple Official Medical Fee Schedule adjustments for pathology, clinical laboratory, physician services, DMEPOS, hospital outpatient departments, and ambulance services throughout 2024. Key actions include adoption of an updated Pharmaceutical Fee Schedule effective July 1, 2025, and multiple 15-day public comment periods for pharmaceutical fee schedule revisions. The newsline also covers QME examination registrations for October 2024, office relocations in San Jose and Eureka, temporary closure and reopening of the San Bernardino district office, and transition to CourtCall video platform for hearings.

DWC 2025 Workers' Compensation Newsline: UR Regulations Approved, Medical Fee Schedule Updates, Proposed MTUS and ADA Rules

The California Division of Workers' Compensation published its 2025 newsline documenting multiple regulatory actions including OAL approval of proposed utilization review regulations (December 30), approximately 25 adjustments to the Official Medical Fee Schedule across multiple service categories (pathology, laboratory, DMEPOS, hospital outpatient, physician services, ambulance), proposed ADA accommodation and MTUS evidence-based updates open for public comment, and 2026 temporary total disability rates of $1,609.96 per week announced November 21. The DWC also posted draft EAMS Rules and SJDB/RTW rules for comment, opened registration for the 33rd annual Educational Conference, launched an online public records request system, and released the 2024 Independent Medical Review report.

Multiple Fee Schedule Adjustments, MTUS Updates, QME Exam Announcements

The California Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) Newsline archives a series of announcements from January through April 2026 covering multiple Official Medical Fee Schedule adjustments for hospital outpatient departments, ambulatory surgical centers, DMEPOS, pathology/laboratory, and physician/non-physician practitioner services; adoption of MTUS Drug List updates effective April 30, 2026; a new QME process regulation (section 55.1) effective April 1, 2026; and an increased mileage rate for medical and medical-legal travel expenses effective January 1, 2026. The DWC also announces QME exam applications open for April 11–17, 2026, a Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee meeting on April 15, 2026, and proposals open for public comment on ADA accommodation regulations and attorney deposition fee ranges.