Multiple Fee Schedule Adjustments, MTUS Updates, QME Exam Announcements
Summary
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.
“DWC newslines were created in 1992 to provide up-to-date information about the Division of Workers' Compensation to subscribers.”
About this source
GovPing monitors California DWC for new labor & employment regulatory changes. Every update since tracking began is archived, classified, and available as free RSS or email alerts — 3 changes logged to date.
What changed
This DWC Newsline entry consolidates multiple regulatory announcements from early 2026. Key substantive items include multiple Official Medical Fee Schedule adjustments across hospital outpatient departments, ambulatory surgical centers, DMEPOS, pathology/laboratory, and physician/non-physician practitioner services. The MTUS Drug List updates are adopted effective April 30, 2026, and a new QME process regulation section 55.1 takes effect April 1, 2026. The mileage rate for medical and medical-legal travel expenses increased effective January 1, 2026. Two proposals for public comment are open regarding ADA accommodation regulations and attorney deposition fee ranges.
Affected parties including claims administrators, healthcare providers, qualified medical evaluators, attorneys, and employers should monitor the individual linked announcements for specific effective dates and compliance requirements. The new QME process regulation and fee schedule adjustments will directly affect medical-legal evaluation workflows and reimbursement rates in California workers' compensation claims.
Archived snapshot
Apr 22, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Division of Workers’ Compensation News and Announcements
You may sign up for the DWC Newsline at http://www.dir.ca.gov/email/listsub.asp?choice=1. For more information, call (510) 286-7100. Click on the date below to read the Web version of a newsline.
DWC newslines were created in 1992 to provide up-to-date information about the Division of Workers’ Compensation to subscribers. Newslines are archived by year. Please note that information may be outdated and some of the hyperlinks no longer work.
| April 7, 2026 | DWC posts adjustments to Official Medical Fee Schedule (Hospital Outpatient Departments/Ambulatory Surgical Centers) |
| April 6, 2026 | DWC posts adjustments to Official Medical Fee Schedule (DMEPOS) |
| April 2, 2026 | DWC posts adjustments to Official Medical Fee Schedule for Pathology and Clinical Laboratory |
| March 26, 2026 | DWC Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee meeting scheduled for April 15, 2026 |
| March 26, 2026 | DWC adopts updates to MTUS Drug List effective April 30, 2026 |
| March 18, 2026 | DWC posts adjustments to Official Medical Fee Schedule (Physician Services / Non-Physician Practitioner Services) |
| March 9, 2026 | DWC posts proposal to update ADA accommodation regulations to online forum for public comment |
| February 27, 2026 | DWC posts adjustments to the Official Medical Fee Schedule (Hospital Outpatient Departments/Ambulatory Surgical Centers) |
| February 26, 2026 | DWC posts update to Official Medical Fee Schedule for Physician and Non-Physician Practitioner Services |
| February 2, 2026 | DWC posts adjustments to Official Medical Fee Schedule for Physician and Non-Physician Practitioner Services |
| January 30, 2026 | DWC posts fee schedule adjustments for Hospital Outpatient Departments / Ambulatory Surgical Centers |
| January 29, 2026 | DIR, DWC releases Independent Bill Review (IBR) report for 2023 and 2024 |
| January 28, 2026 | New QME process regulation section 55.1 in effect on April 1, 2026 |
| January 26, 2026 | DWC posts draft regulation establishing ranges for attorney deposition fees to online forum for public comment |
| January 26, 2026 | DWC issues notice of public hearing on February 27, 2026, for proposed evidence-based update and adoption to the Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule |
| January 22, 2026 | DIR reminds contractors, including out-of-state firms working on firefighting and wildfire recovery projects in California, to comply with state labor and safety laws
DIR recuerda a los contratistas, incluidas las empresas de otros estados que trabajan en proyectos de apoyo contra incendios y recuperación en California, que deben cumplir con las leyes laborales y de seguridad del estado |
| January 21, 2026 | DWC announces relocation of Santa Barbara district office to Goleta |
| January 16, 2026 | DWC posts completed Utilization Review results for claims administrators conducted in 2025 |
| January 15, 2026 | DWC posts reminder for submission of Annual Report of Inventory for claims reported during calendar year 2025 |
| January 13, 2026 | DWC now accepting applications for Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME) exam on April 11-17 |
| January 7, 2026 | DWC announces release of Requests for Proposal to modernize EAMS |
| January 5, 2026 | Mileage rate for medical and medical-legal travel expenses increases effective January 1, 2026 |
| January 5, 2026 | DWC Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee meeting scheduled for January 21, 2026 |
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