Commissioner Betts Signs Disability Management Rules

Commissioner of Workers’ Compensation Albert Betts has signed rules that establish treatment guidelines, treatment planning benchmarks, and return-to-work goals and time frames which can be used to provide health care to injured employees in the Texas workers’ compensation system. The rules (28 Texas Administrative Code §§137.1, 137.10, 137.100, and 137.300) are referred to as disability management rules and are necessary to implement Texas Labor Code §413.011.

Beginning May 1, 2007, health care providers are required to use Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) treatment and return-to-work guidelines when providing non-network health care to injured employees in the workers’ compensation system. Health care providers are encouraged to review the disability management rules prior to the effective date. The rules were published in the Texas Register on January 12, 2007 and are posted on the DWC website tdi.state.tx.us.

DWC will be providing training to health care providers on the new rules and use of treatment and return-to-work guidelines prior to May 1, 2007.

“These rules provide a framework to improve communications among injured employees, health care providers, employers, insurance carriers, and the Division,” Commissioner Betts said. “Disability management is a process designed to optimize health care and return-to-work for injured employees in order to avoid unnecessarily delayed recovery.” Read more at tdi.state.tx.us