REPEAL OF THE TREATMENT PLANNING RULE BEFORE IT WENT INTO EFFECT

bakerchiropractic@gmail.com — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 06:34:00 GMT

<MedicalBenefits@tdi.state.tx.us> 6/13/2007 7:15 PM >>>
The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation has announced that repeals of two workers' compensation rules will be submitted to the Texas Register. The rules are the Prospective Review of Medical Care Not Requiring Preauthorization (PRM) rule and the Treatment Planning rule.

The PRM rule is no longer needed due to the adoption of treatment guidelines for the workers' compensation system. To view the news release concerning PRM, please click on the following link: http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/wc/news/2007/news200776.html .

The treatment planning rule was adopted last December as one of several disability management rules but the effective date was postponed due to concerns expressed by system participants. The repeal of the treatment planning rule will not affect the other disability management rules including those adopting treatment and return-to-work guidelines for Texas. To view the news release concerning treatment planning, please click on the following link:

http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/wc/news/2007/news200779.html .
"June 12, 2007

TDI Will Change Disability Management Requirements

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 12, 2007
News Release

FOR MORE INFORMATION
John Greeley @ (512) 804-4202

Austin, TX – The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) announced that a workers’ compensation rule to require treatment planning for injured employees (28 Texas Administrative Code §137.300) will be repealed. This rule was adopted along with other disability management rules in December, 2006. The effective date for treatment planning was postponed until September 1, 2007, however, as the agency attempted to address ongoing concerns from system participants.

A repeal of the treatment planning rule will be submitted to the Texas Register. Since the rule has not become effective, system participants will not be required to meet the rule’s requirements.

“System participants support the concept of treatment planning, but many also agree that implementation will require significant business and administrative process changes,” Commissioner of Workers’ Compensation Albert Betts said. “We were concerned that participants would not be able to initiate treatment planning without some lapses in care for injured employees.”

Dr. Howard Smith, Medical Advisor for TDI’s Division of Workers’ Compensation, said TDI plans to work with health care providers and insurance carriers on a treatment planning pilot program.

“This treatment planning pilot will allow us to identify opportunities for improved communication and efficient delivery of appropriate medical care,” Smith said.

Since publication of the adopted disability management rules, system participants expressed the need for additional time to establish processes to appropriately address required treatment planning. Participants also argued for additional time to communicate and develop treatment planning parameters that are mutually acceptable to health care providers and insurance carriers.

Disability management rules requiring the use of workers’ compensation treatment guidelines and return-to-work guidelines became effective May 1, 2007 and will remain in effect."

BAKER CHIROPRACTIC,PA and Dr. John Raymond Baker,DC now on Texas True Choice insurance for Longview City Workers

bakerchiropractic@gmail.com — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 13:15:00 GMT

BAKER CHIROPRACTIC,PA and Dr. John Raymond Baker,DC are now on the list of providers for Texas True Choice, the insurance for city workers of the City of Longview Texas. This includes police, firemen, city utility workers, and everypone covered by the health insurance offered by the city of Longview Texas, Gregg County.

If you need Chiropractic care, conveniently located within the city of Longview, please call for an appointment today at 903-753-5400.

Have a great day!

TEXAS WORKERS COMPENSATION INFORMATION PAGE launches 12 June 2007

bakerchiropractic@gmail.com — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 13:09:00 GMT

TEXAS WORKERS COMPENSATION INFORMATION PAGE, powered by Terapad.com (http://www.terapad.com/) was launched today featuring blog, forums, image gallery, online shop, event calendar and more.

TEXAS WORKERS COMPENSATION INFORMATION PAGE can be accessed at http://workcomp.terapad.com/.

Workers Compensation is a difficult system in Texas to navigate. More and more doctors are leaving the system as it does get more complicated, and as it gets harder and harder for providers to get reimbursed from carriers.

Dr. John Raymond Baker,DC and BAKER CHIROPRACTIC,PA continue to be participating providers in the system. If you are an injured worker, please consider BAKER CHIROPRACTIC, PA for your care. Baker Chiropractic is an out of network provider for most networks at this time.

For a free consultation, please call 903-753-5400 and schedule an appointment.