Labor Code §4604.5 Medical treatment guidelines.
Title: Medical treatment guidelines.
History: Amended by Stats 2004, CH 34, effective 4/19/04
Source: California Legislative Council’s Website: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/calawquery?codesection=lab&codebody=

(a) Upon adoption by the administrative director of a medical treatment utilization schedule pursuant to Section 5307.27, the recommended guidelines set forth in the schedule shall be presumptively correct on the issue of extent and scope of medical treatment. The presumption is rebuttable and may be controverted by a preponderance of the scientific medical evidence establishing that a variance from the guidelines is reasonably required to cure or relieve the injured worker from the effects of his or her injury. The presumption created is one affecting the burden of proof.

(b) The recommended guidelines set forth in the schedule adopted pursuant to subdivision (a) shall reflect practices that are evidence and scientifically based, nationally recognized, and peer-reviewed. The guidelines shall be designed to assist providers by offering an analytical framework for the evaluation and treatment of injured workers, and shall constitute care in accordance with Section 4600 for all injured workers diagnosed with industrial conditions.

(c) Three months after the publication date of the updated American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine's Occupational Medicine Practice Guidelines, and continuing until the effective date of a medical treatment utilization schedule, pursuant to Section 5307.27, the recommended guidelines set forth in the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine's Occupational Medicine Practice Guidelines shall be presumptively correct on the issue of extent and scope of medical treatment, regardless of date of injury. The presumption is rebuttable and may be controverted by a preponderance of the evidence establishing that a variance from the guidelines is reasonably required to cure and relieve the employee from the effects of his or her injury, in accordance with Section 4600. The presumption created is one affecting the burden of proof.

(d) (1) Notwithstanding the medical treatment utilization schedule or the guidelines set forth in the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine's Occupational Medicine Practice Guidelines, for injuries occurring on and after January 1, 2004, an employee shall be entitled to no more than 24 chiropractic, 24 occupational therapy, and 24 physical therapy visits per industrial injury. (2) This subdivision shall not apply when an employer authorizes, in writing, additional visits to a health care practitioner for physical medicine services.

(e) For all injuries not covered by the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine's Occupational Medicine Practice Guidelines or official utilization schedule after adoption pursuant to Section 5307.27, authorized treatment shall be in accordance with other evidence based medical treatment guidelines generally recognized by the national medical community and that are scientifically based.

Title 8, CCR section 9792.8 (a) (2):

"For all conditions or injuries not addressed by the ACOEM Practice Guidelines or by the official utilization schedule after adoption pursuant to Labor Code section 5307.27, authorized treatment shall be in accordance with other evidence-based medical treatment guidelines that are generally recognized by the national medical community and are scientifically based. Treatment may not be denied on the sole basis that the treatment is not addressed by the ACOEM Practice Guidelines until adoption of the medical treatment utilization schedule pursuant to Labor Code section 5307.27. After the Administrative Director adopts a medical treatment utilization schedule pursuant to Labor Code section 5307.27, treatment may not be denied on the sole basis that the treatment is not addressed by that schedule."