280. Occupational Health

280.990 Workers’ Compensation Benefit Caps

 

The Colorado Medical Society supports legislative efforts to increase the total amount of disability benefits payable under the “Workers’ Compensation Act of Colorado.”
(RES-5, AM 2002; Reaffirmed, BOD-1, AM 2014)

280.991 Evaluation of Permanent Impairment

 

The Colorado Medical Society supports adoption, by the appropriate regulatory agencies, the most recent edition of the American Medical Association (AMA) Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment.

Formerly Policy 140.999

(RES-26, AM 2000; Reaffirmed, BOD-1, AM 2014)

280.992 Workers’ Compensation Utilization Review

 

The Colorado Medical Society supports a policy for provider disciplinary actions under Workers’ Compensation utilization review that includes peer review of all clinical issues, an opportunity for providers to present their case, present additional information and answer questions. The provider will be afforded at least two (2) levels of appeal.
(Late RES-13, IM 1998; Reaffirmed, BOD-1, AM 2014)

280.993 Division of Workers’ Compensation Peer Review Activities

 

Any peer review activities by the Division of Workers’ Compensation shall be implemented in compliance with state and federal regulations governing peer review activities and confidentiality.
(RES-64, AM 1996; Reaffirmed, BOD-1, AM 2014)

280.994 Workers’ Compensation - Level 1 Accreditation

 

(Motion of the Board, January 1996; Sunset, BOD-1, AM 2014)

280.995 Independent Medical Examination

 

Colorado Medical Society supports the integrity of the “Independent Medical Examination” by assuring that a physician can determine who will be present during examination. If the physician’s integrity is abridged by judicial action, the physician has the right to refuse to perform the examination.
(RES-14, IM 1993; Reaffirmed, BOD-1, AM 2014)

280.996 Patient Solicitation

 

The Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs considers the practice of soliciting patients through the “Independent Medical Examination” process to be unethical and constitutes a violation of the Colorado Medical Society’s Code of Ethics.
(Motion of the Board, January 1993; Reaffirmed, BOD-1, AM 2014)

280.997 Workers’ Compensation and Health System Reform

 

The following aspects of Workers’ Compensation health care are critical and must be considered when developing an overall health care reform plan:

• Medical decision-making must continue to be a physician responsibility.
• We support managed care within the Workers’ Compensation system with employer and employee input into the structure of that system.
• Maintain recognition of physician case management reimbursement including appropriate reimbursement for impairment ratings.(4) Provider payments must be commensurate with current prevailing reimbursement levels in the State of Colorado.

(Motion of the Board, November 1992; Reaffirmed, BOD-1, AM 2014)

280.998 Unfair Treatment of Occupationally Injured Patients

 

The Colorado Medical Society (CMS) continues to support fair and equal treatment of occupationally injured patients in the Workers’ Compensation system. The CMS will continue to work with the Governor and Legislature on an on-going basis to ameliorate inequities in the Workers’ Compensation Act.
(RES-75, AM 1991; Reaffirmed, BOD-1, AM 2014)

280.999 Continued Improvements to the Colorado Workers’ Compensation System

 

The Colorado Workers’ Compensation system should provide the highest level of benefits to the worker with proper incentives for the worker to return to productive employment as soon as possible. The Colorado Medical Society shall work directly with the business community, the state legislature, the Department of Labor and Employment, labor organizations and other appropriate groups to improve the Workers’ Compensation System.
(RES-28, IM 1990; Reaffirmed, BOD-1, AM 2014)