June 26, 2025 | Oakland, CA – MedLegalNews.com – The California Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) has opened a 15-day public comment period on proposed updates to the state’s utilization review rules. These updates aim to improve how medical care is reviewed and delivered within the workers’ compensation system. By revising the rules, the DWC plans to improve efficiency and ensure fair treatment decisions for injured workers across California.
Proposed Changes Target Efficiency
To increase transparency and speed up the process, the DWC proposed several key revisions to the utilization review rules. These changes clarify decision timelines, tighten qualifications for physician reviewers, and define documentation standards more clearly. As a result, the DWC expects fewer administrative delays and faster access to necessary care.
Stakeholder Participation Encouraged
To gather diverse input, the DWC urges all stakeholders—including injured workers, employers, insurers, and medical providers—to review the proposed rules and submit comments within the 15 day period. It values public feedback, as it helps shape a more balanced and effective workers’ compensation system.
Importance of Timely Feedback
This short comment window highlights the urgency of updating outdated rules that may block access to needed treatment. By refining the UR process, the DWC aims to resolve disputes faster and improve outcomes for injured workers. In particular, it focuses on preventing the denial of medically necessary care, which has remained a serious concern.
A Step Toward Better Care
Now that the comment period is open, the DWC reinforces its commitment to fair and timely workers’ compensation policies. Therefore, it calls on all stakeholders to take part. Their feedback will play a vital role in shaping a transparent and efficient medical review system that serves everyone involved in California’s workers’ comp process.
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