Designated Doctors In The Texas Worker’s Comp System
Clear Lake City Chiropractor Comments: Recently I was asked again to co-chair a conference in Dallas, Texas to help teach all types of doctors (medical, osteopathic and chiropractic) how to become Designated Doctors in the Texas Dept. of Insurance, Division of Worker’s Compensation. The course was co-sponsored by the American Academy of Disability Evaluating Physicians (AADEP) http://www.aadep.org/ and the Texas Council of Chiropractic Orthopedists (TCCO) http://www.texascouncilofchiropracticorthopedist.org . The Designated Doctor Training Seminar is designed to provide doctors and other health care providers with methods of determining maximum medical improvement (MMI) and of calculating the appropriate impairment rating using the AMA Guides, Fourth Edition, to follow the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation (Division) approved core curriculum for doctors seeking full authorization to perform the new functions of the DD under HB7 and for health care providers performing ROM, sensory, and motor testing for those doctors, to fulfill the MMI and impairment rating requirements per the new Rules of the Division to introduce the use of ODG and MDA and to introduce the issues involved in determining causality.
The 2005 legislature made significant changes in the Texas workers’ compensation system with HB7. The TDI Division of Workers’ Compensation has new Rules that require the Designated Doctor to have completed new training in order to be and stay on the Designated Doctor lists. In addition, the Designated Doctor role was expanded in HB7 to include determining and resolving issues regarding MMI, the impairment rating, return to work, causality, and treatment.
While there is a substantial amount of material to cover over a 2 day period, the course went very well. Being able to be well versed in the AMA’s Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, Fourth Edition takes time and a concerted effort. As always, the seminar was well received with many interesting questions and discussions. To all doctors who wish to be on the approved doctors list with TDI-DWC, study the AMA Guides and take the course and you will have a good understanding of how to help the injured workers in Texas.
Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at BeecherChiropractic.com. or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!
