The California Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) recently revised employer notification requirements which go into effect on October 8, 2010. The DWC’s objectives for the amended regulations are to streamline the employee Medical Provider Network (MPN) notices and procedures, update the employee information provided to workers, and reduce the administrative burden and costs in California’s workers’ compensation system.
The new requirements will affect several mandated forms employers are required to post and/or provide in the work place, as well as how and when employers must distribute them to workers. Highlights of the amended regulations, are:
▪ Changes have been made to the mandated Employee Posting Notice [form 13708 English & form 13709 Spanish]
▪ A new form, MPN Implementation Notice [form 3841] is required to notify employees of the Medical Provider Network.
▪ Employers may now distribute the MPN notices electronically if employees have regular access to e-mail at work. However, electronic distribution does not replace the requirement to post the notices.
▪ Employers must provide the Employee’s Guide to the State Fund Medical Provider Network [form 13176] only at the time of injury or when an existing injured employee begins treatment within the MPN.
▪ Employers must post the Employee’s Guide to the State Fund Medical Provider Network [form 13176] in close proximity to the currently required ‘Notice to Employees’ posting notice.
▪ Instructions on the DWC-1 [form 3301] claims form were revised.
Employers with multiple locations, will need to post the Notice to Employees and the Employee’s Guide to the State Fund Medical Provider Network (form 13176) at each location.
Failure to provide the required forms to employees may result in possible state fines as well as the loss of medical control of workplace claims.
State Fund policyholders can find detailed instructions for each form and can download these new materials on the Forms page of this Web site.
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