FOLIO

DWC Issues Report on Designated Doctors

May 22, 2026 | by FOL

DWC’s Workers’ Compensation Research & Evaluation Group (REG) has issued a report providing an overview of Texas-certified designated doctors (DDs) in the Texas workers’ compensation system and describing their role within the administrative dispute resolution process. This report analyzed DDs by evaluating their performance and presented comparative information for the years 2020 to 2024 by comparing metrics such as rescheduled appointments, timeliness of reports, and other DD responsibilities. The report compared DDs who use an agent, such as a scheduling company, and those who work independently.

Here are highlights from the report:

• • Total number of DDs decreased slightly from 2020 to 2024. In 2024, there were a total of 304 DDs: 209 working with an agent and 95 working independently.
  • Total number of DD appointments remained consistent at almost 27,000 appointments across the years. In 2024, there were 27,866 DD appointments.
  • DDs who work with an agent performed nearly two-thirds of all DD appointments annually.
  • DDs working with an agent handled more claims, redesignations, disputes, and letters of clarification (LOC) across all years reviewed.
  • There were, on average, 12,500 reschedule requests, or 34%, throughout the years.
  • In 2024, there were more than 13,000 reschedule requests: 84% of these reschedule requests were for DD is unavailable.
  • Out of all DD ratings, 98.6% were upheld by DWC in 2024.
  • In 2024, 7% of DD ratings were disputed. On average, 80% of these disputed ratings were upheld, throughout the years studied.
  • More than 94% of DDs received a high or average performance-based oversight (PBO) rating, 2023-2024.

You can access the full report at https://tdi.texas.gov/reports/wcreg/documents/designated-doctors-2026.pdf