DWC Encourages Carriers to Extend Certain Preauthorizations

The Commissioner of Workers’ Compensation has encouraged carriers and URAs to extend preauthorizations issued before March 22, 2020, without a request from a health care provider, and provide injured employees and health care providers with written notice of updated authorizations. These extensions do not apply to one-time preauthorizations for medical care that has already been completed, new preauthorization requests, or pharmacy preauthorizations.

Workers’ Compensation Commissioner Cassie Brown posted a memo on the Division website on May 14, 2020 in which she described the request as a way to “help injured employees receive medical care they need to treat their work-related injuries without an unnecessary administrative delay.”

Division Rule 134.600 describes the time frames that apply to requests for preauthorization under the Act.

The memo also encourages workers’ compensation certified networks and political subdivision health plans under Labor Code Section 504.053(b)(2) to extend injured employee referrals for specialists, therapy, and other medically necessary services to prevent disruptions in the continuity of their medical care.