Study: Use of Physician Networks in California Workers’ Comp at Record High

A California Workers’ Compensation Institute study released on Tuesday shows the use of network physicians to provide medical care to injured workers in California has continued to grow over the past five years and now stands at a record high. The use of network physicians to provide medical care to injured workers in California rose sharply in 2005, immediately after Medical Provider Networks (MPNs) first became available in California workers’ compensation, expanding employer medical control from 30 days to the life of the claim, according to the study.