Key Provisions of AB 1293
- Standardized QME Report Template: Requires DWC to create a uniform report format that ensures all legal and regulatory elements are addressed.
- New Evaluation Request Form: Mandates a standardized form for parties to communicate with panel QMEs before an evaluation.
- Quality Review Process: Establishes a process for parties to submit inaccurate or incomplete reports to the DWC’s Medical Director for review.
- Annual Report Card: Requires DWC to annually assess and publish data on QME report quality and timeliness, including reports rejected by judges or the WCAB.
- Regulatory Deadline: All new forms and procedures must be adopted through regulation by January 1, 2027.
With the bill now advancing to the Senate, the next step will be committee hearings and potential amendments before a full Senate vote. If passed and signed into law, the DWC will begin the regulatory process to implement these changes.