Workers’ compensation: medical treatment.
- Establishes a statewide medical provider network to address workplace injury treatment shortages in San Joaquin Valley.
- Requires injured workers to seek treatment in employer networks before accessing the statewide network.
- Allows workers to use the statewide network if employer network cannot provide treatment within 30 days.
- Mandates implementation of the new medical provider network by January 1, 2027.
Assembly Member Soria's proposal to establish a specialized medical provider network for workplace injuries in California's San Joaquin Valley responds to documented treatment shortages identified in a December 2024 University of California, Merced study. The legislation creates a statewide database of physicians who meet specific eligibility criteria and agree to treat injured workers in eight central valley counties.
Under the proposed system, employees must first seek treatment through their employer's existing medical provider network. If unable to obtain care within 30 days, workers may access physicians in the new statewide network. The bill preserves employees' existing rights to treatment by personal physicians while adding an alternative pathway when employer networks cannot provide timely care. To qualify for the network, physicians must maintain good standing with the Medical Board of California, comply with workers' compensation fee schedules and reporting requirements, and have prior medical provider network experience as of January 1, 2025.
The Division of Workers' Compensation's administrative director must implement the network by January 1, 2027, following public hearings to establish operational procedures. The network will serve Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tulare counties. All treatment provided through the network remains subject to existing utilization review processes and medical treatment schedules, maintaining current oversight mechanisms while expanding provider access in underserved areas.
This bill was recently introduced. Email the authors to let them know what you think about it.
Introduced By
Latest Voting History
 Esmeralda SoriaD Assembly Member | Bill Author |  Not Contacted |
- Establishes a statewide medical provider network to address workplace injury treatment shortages in San Joaquin Valley.
- Requires injured workers to seek treatment in employer networks before accessing the statewide network.
- Allows workers to use the statewide network if employer network cannot provide treatment within 30 days.
- Mandates implementation of the new medical provider network by January 1, 2027.
This bill was recently introduced. Email the authors to let them know what you think about it.
Introduced By
Assembly Member Soria's proposal to establish a specialized medical provider network for workplace injuries in California's San Joaquin Valley responds to documented treatment shortages identified in a December 2024 University of California, Merced study. The legislation creates a statewide database of physicians who meet specific eligibility criteria and agree to treat injured workers in eight central valley counties.
Under the proposed system, employees must first seek treatment through their employer's existing medical provider network. If unable to obtain care within 30 days, workers may access physicians in the new statewide network. The bill preserves employees' existing rights to treatment by personal physicians while adding an alternative pathway when employer networks cannot provide timely care. To qualify for the network, physicians must maintain good standing with the Medical Board of California, comply with workers' compensation fee schedules and reporting requirements, and have prior medical provider network experience as of January 1, 2025.
The Division of Workers' Compensation's administrative director must implement the network by January 1, 2027, following public hearings to establish operational procedures. The network will serve Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tulare counties. All treatment provided through the network remains subject to existing utilization review processes and medical treatment schedules, maintaining current oversight mechanisms while expanding provider access in underserved areas.
Latest Voting History
Esmeralda SoriaD Assembly Member | Bill Author | Not Contacted |