Medical Management is a tool for reducing medical costs.

Reform legislation passed in the State of California in 2003 and 2004 has significantly impacted the delivery of medical care to injured workers in the workers' compensation system. As we know, medical care is what drives all other benefits.

The presence of the Medical Case Manager in the physician's office or in the telephonic follow-up can be an effective tool for managing the medical care being recommended/implemented for your employee. The nurse can discuss and educate the physician in understanding ACOEM Guidelines or other evidence based treatment guidelines. This will expedite authorization and provision of appropriate services or facilitate seeing the plan through the Utilization Review process.

In addition to management of medical care, the replacement of Vocational Rehabilitation with either credit for those Injured Workers' who are returned to a modified position, or, an "Add On" for those where the employer is unable to accommodate the work restrictions, the Medical Case Manager's understanding of the work environment can be of significant importance in returning the claimant to work, thereby reducing the costs.