Texas DWC Changes Effective Date for Required Treatment Planning

The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation has submitted to the Texas Register an emergency rule to change the date on which treating doctors in the workers’ compensation system are required to complete a treatment plan for non-network patients. While the emergency rule is in effect, treatment planning is not required but is still encouraged by the division.

The DWC’s permanent treatment plan rule is expected to be amended to change the effective date from May 1, 2007 to Sept. 1, 2007.

Disability management in the Texas workers’ compensation system includes treatment planning and the use of treatment and return-to-work guidelines. Disability management optimizes health care and return-to-work outcomes for injured employees to avoid delayed recovery.

The effective dates of the division’s treatment guidelines rule and return-to-work guidelines rule will not be changed. The treatment guidelines are applicable to health care provided on and after May 1, 2007. Return-to-work guidelines are also effective on May 1, 2007.

The division urges treating doctors and insurance carriers in the workers’ compensation system to exchange information on treatment plans and begin treatment planning for injured employees as soon as possible.

Source: Texas DWC