Gee, more legal paper work stunts treatment? Who woulda thought?
The only way socialized medicine has a chance in the USA is to make it the ONLY way doctors can obtain employment.
Don't let the barn door hit you on the backside men.
California's workers comp was killing us. Good ridance to that old system. BTW, it isn't fixed all the way yet, so these guys are going to be a lot less happy in upcoming years.
A couple of years ago, Texas WC- which for years has paid less than Medicare while requiring extra paperwork, demand for free copies and record review, and notorious for late payment that was completely arbitrary and outside of any sort of regulation or accountability - decided that they would have Dr.s go through an extra paper work and a course in order to become "designated doctors."
I took it as an opportunity *not* to become a "designated doctor."
Many chronic pain clinics are sort of shady. The docs charge a high price for treatment and the WC insurance companies audit the bills to keep the pain clinics from abusing the system.
As long as the patient has had adequate treatment, therapy and medication, the pain should be bearable. Many chronic pain patients need to be told to suck it up and bear it.
As it is now, the WC adjusters deny and delay everything, without regard for its medical justification. One gets the impression that if a worker loses a limb, it would take months deny, delay and review to get authorization to apply a tourniquet.