§ 9792.10.8. Independent Medical Review - Payment for Review.

(a) The costs of independent medical review and the administration of the independent medical review system shall be borne by claims administrators. For each Application for Independent Medical Review, DWC Form IMR, assigned to an independent review organization for an independent medical review of a disputed medical treatment, the fee for the claims administrator shall be:

(1) For calendar year 2013:

(A) For regular review:

(i) $560.00 for each application where a determination is issued under section 9792.10.6(b) by a medical reviewer who: (1) is a physician as defined by Labor Code section 3209.3; and (2) holds an M.D. or D.O. degree. If the review is conducted and a determination, or determinations if applicable, is issued by two medical reviewers as defined in this provision, the cost is $760.00

(ii) $495.00 for each application where a determination is issued under section 9792.10.6(b) by a medical reviewer who: (1) is a physician as defined by Labor Code section 3209.3; and (2) holds a degree other than an M.D. or D.O. degree. If the review is conducted and a determination, or determinations if applicable, is issued by two medical reviewers as defined in this provision, the cost is $655.00

(B) For expedited review:

(i) $685.00 for each application where a determination is issued under section 9792.10.6(b) by a medical reviewer who: (1) is a physician as defined by Labor Code section 3209.3; and (2) holds an M.D. or D.O. degree. If the review is conducted and a determination, or determinations if applicable, is issued by two medical reviewers as defined in this provision, the cost is $850.00.

(ii) $595.00 for each application where a determination is issued under section 9792.10.6(b) by a medical reviewer who: (1) is a physician as defined by Labor Code section 3209.3; and (2) holds a degree other than an M.D. or D.O. degree. If the review is conducted and a determination, or determinations if applicable, is issued by two medical reviewers as defined in this provision, the cost is $760.00.

(C) For withdrawn reviews:

(i) $215.00 for each application where review is terminated by the independent review organization prior to the receipt of the documentation and information provided under section 9792.10.5 by a medical reviewer.

(ii) If the review of an application and documentation and information provided under section 9792.10.5 is terminated by the independent review organization during or subsequent to the review of by a medical reviewer, the cost will be the same as if a determination under section 9792.10.6(b) had been issued by the medical reviewer.

(2) For calendar year 2014:

(A) For regular review:

(i) $550.00 for each application where a determination is issued under section 9792.10.6(b) by a medical reviewer who: (1) is a physician as defined by Labor Code section 3209.3; and (2) holds a M.D. or D.O. degree. If the review is conducted and a determination, or determinations if applicable, is issued by two medical reviewers as defined in this provision, the cost is $740.00.

(ii) $475.00 for each application where a determination is issued under section 9792.10.6(b) by a medical reviewer who: (1) is a physician as defined by Labor Code section 3209.3; and (2) holds a degree other than an M.D. or D.O. degree. If the review is conducted and a determination, or determinations if applicable, is issued by two medical reviewers as defined in this provision, the cost is $635.00.

(B) For expedited review:

(i) $645.00 for each application where a determination is issued under section 9792.10.6(b) by a medical reviewer who: (1) is a physician as defined by Labor Code section 3209.3; and (2) holds a M.D. or D.O. degree. If the review is conducted and a determination, or determinations if applicable, is issued by two medical reviewers as defined in this provision, the cost is $830.00.

(ii) $575.00 for each application where a determination is issued under section 9792.10.6(b) by a medical reviewer who: (1) is a physician as defined by Labor Code section 3209.3; and (2) holds a degree other than an M.D. or D.O. degree. If the review is conducted and a determination, or determinations if applicable, is issued by two medical reviewers as defined in this provision, the cost is $740.00.

(C) For withdrawn reviews:

(i) $215.00 for each application where review is terminated by the independent review organization prior to the receipt of the documentation and information provided under section 9792.10.5 by a medical reviewer.

(ii) If the review of an application and documentation and information provided under section 9792.10.5 is terminated by the independent review organization subsequent to the receipt of the documentation and information provided under section 9792.10.5 by a medical reviewer, the cost will be the same as if a determination under section 9792.10.6(b) had been issued by the medical reviewer.

(b) The independent medical review organization shall bill each claims administrator for payment in arrears for every independent medical review initiated under this Article that was completed or terminated prior to completion. Invoices shall identify each independent medical review, the fees assessed for each review, and the aggregate total fee owed by the claims administrator.

(c) The aggregate total fee owed by the claims administrator for the prior calendar month shall be paid to the independent medical review organization within thirty (30) days of the billing. If the aggregate total fee is not paid within ten (10) days after it becomes due, there shall be added an additional amount equal to 10 percent, plus interest at the legal rate, which shall be paid at the same time but in addition to the total aggregate fee.

(d) The fees paid by claims administrators for independent medical review under this section are non-refundable and not subject to discount or rebate. Any questions or disputes over the aggregate total fee and additional payments owed by the claims administrator under subdivision (c), late payments, and untimely determinations shall be submitted to the Administrative Director for informal resolution. Any request to resolve a dispute must be accompanied by a written statement setting forth the amount in dispute and the nature of the dispute.

HISTORY

1. New section filed 12-31-2012 as an emergency; operative 1-1-2013 pursuant to Government Code section 11346.1(d) (Register 2013, No. 1). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 7-1-2013 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.

2. New section refiled 7-1-2013 as an emergency; operative 7-1-2013 (Register 2013, No. 27). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 9-30-2013 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.

3. New section refiled 9-30-2013 as an emergency; operative 10-1-2013 (Register 2013, No. 40). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 12-30-2013 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.

4. Certificate of Compliance as to 9-30-2013 order transmitted to OAL 12-30-2013 and filed 2-12-2014 (Register 2014, No. 7).

Note

Note: Authority: Sections 133, 4603.5, 5307.3 and 4610.6, Labor Code. Reference: Sections 4610, 4610.5 and 4610.6, Labor Code.