California Code of Regulations
Title 8 - Industrial Relations
Division 1 - Department of Industrial Relations
Chapter 4.5 - Division of Workers' Compensation
Subchapter 1 - Administrative Director-Administrative Rules
Article 5.5.1 - Utilization Review Standards
Section 9792.10.3 - Independent Medical Review - Initial Review of Application

(a) Following receipt of the Application for Independent Medical Review, DWC Form IMR, pursuant to section 9792.10.1(b), the Administrative Director shall determine whether the disputed medical treatment identified in the application is eligible for independent medical review. In making this determination, the Administrative Director shall consider:

(b) The Administrative Director may reasonably request additional appropriate information from the parties in order to make a determination that a disputed medical treatment is eligible for independent medical review. The Administrative Director shall advise the claims administrator, the employee, if the employee is represented by counsel, the employee's attorney, and the requesting physician, as appropriate, by the most efficient means available.

(c) The parties shall respond to any reasonable request made pursuant to subdivision (b) within five (5) business days following receipt of the request. Following receipt of all information necessary to make a determination, the Administrative Director shall either immediately inform the parties in writing that a disputed medical treatment is not eligible for independent medical review and the reasons therefor, or assign the request to independent medical review under section 9792.10.4.

(d) If there appears to be any medical necessity issue, the dispute shall be resolved pursuant to an independent medical review, except that, unless the claims administrator agrees that the case is eligible for independent medical review, a request for independent medical review shall be deferred if at the time of a utilization review decision the claims administrator is also disputing liability for the treatment for any reason besides medical necessity.

(e) The parties may appeal an eligibility determination by the Administrative Director that a disputed medical treatment is not eligible for independent medical review by filing a petition with the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board.

(f) The Administrative Director shall retain the right to determine the eligibility of a request for independent medical review under this section until an appeal of the final independent medical review determination issued under section 9792.10.6(e) that determines the medical necessity of the disputed medical treatment has been filed with the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board, or the time in which to file such an appeal has expired.