COVID-19: California emergency rule permits telehealth medical-legal evaluations
Sacramento, CA — Aiming to protect physicians and injured workers from exposure to COVID-19, the California Department of Industrial Relations Division of Workers’ Compensation has adopted an emergency regulation that allows medical-legal evaluations to be performed via telehealth.
Effective Jan. 18, the regulation also reduces the use of personal protective equipment and provides flexibility in evaluation site locations – both of which can help injured workers and employers move their workers’ compensation claims forward, according to a DIR press release. It’s set to expire July 19, with the possibility for two 90-day extensions.
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DWC first filed the regulation with the state’s Office of Administrative Law on Jan. 5, and received public comment and feedback from OAL through Jan. 10.
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