Welcome

to the

California Orthopaedic Association

 

NEW PRACTICE OPPORTUNITY:  CalPERS Independent Medical Examiners   

Orthopaedic Surgeons Need for Evaluations

The California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) maintains a database of physicians willing to perform disability retirement evaluations for State of

California employees.  These evaluations are for non-work-related injuries.

 

CalPERS is seeking orthopaedic surgeons who would be willing to perform these disability evaluations.  The evaluations do not involve apportionment issues and; therefore, do not utilize the AMA Guides or the Workers' Compensation Appeal's Board rating system.  Reimbursement for the orthopaedic evaluation and report is $1,000.  Additional reimbursement is possible based on the volume of medical records to be reviewed and for needed diagnostic tests.  Click on the following links for more information:  

Notice describing the CalPERS IME Program

IME Eligibility

Requirements IME Application and Sample Report

 

 

NEW FEATURE: Contact Your Legislator(s)

COA is always looking to develop new features on our web page to improve functionality for our Members. Please see the NEW Contact Your Legislator(s) link on the left hand tool bar or click here. This new feature allows you to easily send a personalized message to your state or federal legislator(s).

 

COA will also be using the Contact Your Legislators link to help our members send communications to legislator(s) on important legislative issues as they arise. Please check back for future COA Legislative Alerts.

The Division of Workers’ Compensation releases the first Lewin Report which will begin the discussion of transition to a RBRVS System for the Official Medical Fee Schedule—(OMFS) Physician Services.  This report describes the impact of the transition if it is done in a budget neutral manner.  The DWC has indicated that the report is a benchmark and does not necessarily represent DWC’s recommendations.  In fact, as a result of some public meetings with The Lewin Group, DWC has agreed to model the transition in other ways.  They have also indicated that they will provide us with a list of the top 100 surgical and non-surgical codes so that COA and other organizations can assess the impact on specific CPT codes and individual practices.  A copy of the Lewin report can be obtained on the DWC website: http://www.dir.ca.gov/dwc/RBRVSReport/RBRVS_May2008.pdf

COA Report Writing Course/Preparing for the QME Test

This 12-hour required course for new QMEs will be held Friday evening September 19 and Saturday, September 20 in Huntington Beach, CA. 

Click here for the course registration form.

            

 

California Orthopaedic Association

5380 Elvas Avenue #221

Sacramento, CA  95819

Phone:  916-454-9884

Fax:  916-454-9882

E-Mail:  coa1@pacbell.net

Executive Director:  Diane Przepiorski