The 2008 release of Official Disability Guidelines (ODG) culminates the research, efforts, and innovative ideas brought to Work Loss Data Institute (WLDI) by its staff, Editorial Advisory Board, and subscribers over the course of a busy and successful year. 
  

 Some highlights include WLDI’s announcement in April, 2007, of a new tool called ODG Treatment UR Advisor designed to provide guidance in approving medical treatments used in workers’ compensation, by matching diagnosis codes with procedures sourced from the ODG treatment guidelines, combined with actual outcome data. With this information ODG users can efficiently decide to approve or deny medical treatments that may require preauthorization, may be in a proposed treatment plan, or may have been selected for utilization management or review. There are many medical codes that lack the support of quality medical studies, but based on actual claims data, are very common for the diagnosis being reviewed, and result in good outcomes without excessive total costs. WLDI recognized that these are cases where there should be no delay in treatment just because a reviewer cannot find the procedure in the treatment guidelines and identifies them clearly in the UR Advisor. 
  

  On May 1, 2007, the Texas Rule signed on December 29, 2006 by Commissioner of Workers’ Compensation Albert Betts choosing Work Loss Data Institute’s Official Disability Guidelines – Treatment in Workers Comp (ODG Treatment) as the standard for non-network medical care administered for workers’ compensation claims statewide became applicable for all health care provided on or after that date. Implementation has been relatively smooth and dialogue between Texas stakeholders and WLDI is ongoing and most worthwhile. 
  

  In August, 2007, the California Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) unveiled a proposal for new chronic pain treatment guides based on the Official Disability Guidelines (ODG) that would replace those formerly used. 
  

  Later, in November, 2007, after considering what it called "valuable comments from the public," the California DWC decided to use the Official Disability Guidelines instead of writing in-house rules for new post-surgical treatment guidelines. The guidelines are intended to ensure that injured workers recovering from surgery receive an appropriate course of therapy. The new decision was posted to a second online forum on which members of the public again reviewed and commented on the proposal and the decision to use ODG was finalized. 
  

  In December, 2007, WLDI welcomed an announcement by the Kansas workers’ comp regulatory agency, the Department of Labor, Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC), that, as indicated in the new Schedule of Medical Fees, effective January 1st, 2008, “The Official Disability Guidelines-Treatment in Workers Compensation (ODG), published by Work Loss Data Institute (WLDI), is to be recognized as the primary standard of reference, at the time of treatment, in determining the frequency and extent of services presumed to be medically necessary and appropriate for compensable injuries under the Kansas Workers Compensation Act, or in resolving such matters in the event a dispute arises.” Before announcing the adoption, DWC conducted an extensive and independent evaluation of medical treatment guidelines commonly used in workers’ comp. Public hearings were also held on the subject, and ultimately the decision was made to name a single guideline – ODG. 
          

  Spurred by the recent and continuing adoptions and evaluations of the ODG guidelines in various jurisdictions across the country and internationally, WLDI recently announced a new, free training tool available to subscribers of ODG and the general public at large: ODG: Good to Go! a virtual simulation of a live ODG training demo provided by the Work Loss Data Institute’s Account Executives and Product Consultants. The 45-minute demo is available on the Web to both subscribers of ODG and non-subscribers alike satisfies the increased demand, particularly among health care providers new to the guidelines, for a short instructional on using ODG. To access ODG: Good to Go! visit: http://www.odg-disability.com/demo/ 
  

  Lastly, for states mandating or adopting a combination of guidelines by chapter or body part ODG links the user to all State Guidelines, as well as providing a link to the National Guideline Clearinghouse summaries. All that said, it is clear that with this thirteenth edition of Official Disability Guidelines and sixth edition of ODG Treatment in Workers’ Comp, the ODG database has emerged as the one definitive gateway to all the necessary normative and evidence-based information needed for timely and appropriate care, cost effective and favorable outcomes, state or jurisdictional compliance and prompt return to work and functionality. 

 

Patricia Whelan

Publisher