The California legislature’s Assembly Insurance Committee will hear testimony on Thursday regarding several pieces of workers’ compensation legislation, including a proposal for the creation of a state-wide network of medical providers for the treatment of injured workers. The hearing will begin at 10:30 am on Thursday, and will be viewable by livestream.
The committee will hear testimony on AB 1465, a bill proposed by Assemblywoman Eloise Reyes (D-San Bernardino), which would compel the Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) to create a network of doctors, the California Medical Provider Network (CAMPN). Workers who sustain injuries would be able to select a doctor from the state-wide network or from their employer’s network. The deadline for DWC to establish the network could be June 30, 2022.
Also on the schedule for discussion on Thursday are AB 404, which would require DWC to complete updates to the Medical-Legal Fee Schedule no less than every two years, and two bills on benefits for state workers. AB 334 would extend a presumption that skin cancer is compensable to certain employees of the Departments of Fish and Wildlife and Parks and Recreation. AB 872 would provide up to one year of salary continuation benefits to firefighters employed by the Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention, in lieu of temporary disability.
SRTK will continue to closely monitor these legislative developments. As always, if you have questions about what these regulations or other developments may mean for you or your case, please contact our offices.