BILL ANALYSIS
AB 933
Page 1
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 933 (Fong)
As Amended August 17, 2010
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |49-30|(May 21, 2009) |SENATE: |22-12|(August 23, |
| | | | | |2010) |
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Original Committee Reference: INS.
SUMMARY : Requires physicians in the workers' compensation
system who conduct utilization review to be licensed in the
state of California.
The Senate amendments initially made substantial changes to the
bill, but ultimately returned the bill to the same form as when
it passed the Assembly.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Provides for a comprehensive system of workers' compensation
benefits for workers injured on the job, including medical
benefits.
2)Requires medical treatment to be provided in most cases
consistent with the American College of Occupational and
Environmental Medicine Guidelines.
3)Authorizes employers or insurers to conduct "utilization
review" of proposed medical treatment in order to determine
the appropriateness of that treatment and its compliance with
the applicable guidelines.
4)Specifies that "[n]o person other than a licensed physician
who is competent to evaluate the specific clinical issues
involved . . . may modify, delay or deny requests" for medical
treatment. By regulation, this has been interpreted to mean a
physician licensed in any state.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill required physicians who
conduct utilization review to be licensed in California.
AB 933
Page 2
FISCAL EFFECT: Although the bill is tagged nonfiscal in its
current form, there is, according to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, the potential of costs to the state in its workers'
compensation program to the extent that any utilization review
expenses increase due to the California license requirement.
Analysis Prepared by : Mark Rakich / /INS. / (916) 319-2086
FN: 0006263