January 2006

Report: California workers’ comp
reforms cut chiropractic visits

The California Workers’ Compensation Institute has issued the final installment in a six-part research series tracking medical costs and utilization following implementation of fee schedules, utilization review, and other workers’ compensation medical cost containment strategies included in the 2002–2004 legislative reforms.

Key findings showed the average number of chiropractic manipulation visits fell 55.8 percent following implementation of the 2004 utilization review schedule and the 24-visit cap. As a result, total payments per claim for chiropractic manipulation averaged 60.9 percent less in 2004 than in 2002.

Following the implementation of the 2004 utilization review schedule, the proportion of indemnity claims receiving chiropractic manipulation, physical therapy and injections declined.

At nine months post injury, the average number of visits and average total payments for chiropractic and physical medicine per indemnity claim dropped sharply in 2004.

All six of the Institute reports tracking early returns on California workers’ comp medical reforms can be accessed by visiting the ICIS section of the Institute web site at www.cwci.org.

Source: California Workers’ Compensation Institute, www.cwci.org

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