February 2, 2026 | Sacramento, CA — MedLegalNews.com — California’s Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) has taken a significant step toward modernizing its long-criticized Electronic Adjudication Management System (EAMS), issuing formal requests for proposals in January aimed at overhauling the backbone of the state’s workers’ compensation court infrastructure.
The initiative signals renewed urgency inside the Department of Industrial Relations to address system limitations that have frustrated judges, attorneys, claims administrators, and injured workers for more than a decade.
Longstanding System Faces Mounting Pressure
EAMS, launched in 2008, was designed to centralize case filings, document management, and adjudication workflows across California’s workers’ compensation courts. Over time, however, the platform has struggled to keep pace with rising caseloads, cybersecurity standards, and modern digital expectations.
Stakeholders have repeatedly flagged issues involving system downtime, limited search functionality, slow document uploads, and poor interoperability with claims and medical billing platforms. The modernization effort seeks to replace aging architecture with scalable, cloud-ready solutions capable of supporting real-time access and improved data integrity.
What the DWC Is Seeking From Vendors
According to the RFP framework, the DWC is prioritizing vendors that can deliver enhanced system reliability, improved user interfaces, and stronger security controls while maintaining continuity for ongoing litigation. Proposals are expected to address data migration, accessibility compliance, and long-term maintenance without disrupting active cases.
Officials have emphasized that modernization must support judges and court staff first, while also improving transparency and efficiency for external users navigating California’s workers’ compensation system.
Broader Reform Context in Workers’ Compensation
The EAMS modernization effort arrives amid broader scrutiny of administrative efficiency within California’s workers’ compensation system. In recent years, policymakers have examined delays in adjudication, rising administrative costs, and the system’s ability to adapt to digital filing norms accelerated by remote work and pandemic-era reforms.
While the RFP does not commit the state to a specific vendor or timeline for deployment, it establishes a formal pathway toward replacing infrastructure widely viewed as overdue for reform.
What Comes Next
Following proposal submissions and evaluations, the DWC is expected to move into contract negotiations later this year. Implementation timelines will depend on procurement outcomes, system testing, and coordination with court operations statewide.
For attorneys, claims professionals, and employers, the modernization process may ultimately reshape how disputes are filed, tracked, and resolved—bringing long-awaited technological updates to a system central to California’s workers’ compensation framework.
For official updates and background on EAMS and the modernization initiative, readers can review materials published by the California Division of Workers’ Compensation.
Subscribe to MedLegalNews.com for timely reporting, regulatory analysis, and exclusive insights on California workers’ compensation, litigation trends, and healthcare compliance.
🔗 Read More from MedLegalNews.com:
- Medical-Legal Record Review Costs Surpass $93 Million as Utilization Rises
- CMA Endorses AAP’s Evidence-Based Immunization Schedule Amid Federal Rollbacks
- Supreme Court Redraws Federal–State Lines in Medical Malpractice Procedure
- Healthcare Fraud Enforcement Accelerates Heading Into 2026
- Medi-Cal Full-Scope Enrollment Freeze Takes Effect in 2026, Reshaping Coverage Eligibility
FAQs: About EAMS Modernization
What is the purpose of the EAMS modernization project?
The project aims to replace outdated technology with a more secure, efficient, and user-friendly system for managing workers’ compensation adjudication statewide.
Who uses the Electronic Adjudication Management System?
EAMS is used by workers’ compensation judges, court staff, attorneys, claims administrators, and other stakeholders involved in dispute resolution.
Will ongoing cases be affected by the modernization?
The DWC has indicated that continuity of active cases will be a priority during any transition, with data migration and phased implementation expected.
When could a new system be implemented?
While no firm timeline has been announced, vendor selection and contract negotiations are expected to occur later this year following proposal evaluations.