Medical Evaluator Demand Grows in California Workers’ Comp System

The number of qualified medical evaluators in California’s workers’ compensation system has increased since 2019, but the demand for their services has overtaken this growth, a new analysis shows.

Between 2019 and 2024, the number of state-certified evaluators increased by 16%, from 2,561 to 2,972. This growth occurred after California updated its payment system for medical-legal services in 2021, according to the analysis by the California Workers’ Compensation Institute.

The updated structure replaced the previous three-tiered evaluation model with a flat fee code, along with additional fees for record reviews and certain specialties. The goal was to improve compensation for evaluators and attract more physicians to participate in the system.

Although panel requests began when disputes occurred over issues like work-related injuries, permanent disability, and treatment needs, they also climbed, increasing to 17% over the six-year period. The number of panel requests rose by 32.7% between 2021 and 2024 alone, reducing the availability gains made by recruiting more evaluators, according to CWCI.

The report shows some specialties saw an increase in registered evaluators, and several high-demand fields became more drained. Regardless of a 28% increase in internal medicine evaluators, panel requests in that specialty rose at an even quicker pace. Neurology, psychiatry, chiropractic and psychology saw rising ratios of panel requests per evaluator, designating growth shortages.

The only specialty to experience a decline in evaluator numbers was psychology, which fell 8% from 2019 to 2024, according to CWCI.

Topics California Workers' Compensation