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I r:tA - \2. LEAGUE LEGISLATIVE BRIEFING WORKERS' COMP from page 1 . . . . . . . HELD IN SACRAMENTO A Medical Provider Network (MPN) is an entity The first of two Legislative Briefings being or group of health care providers approved by the conducted by League legislative staff occurred administrative director of the Division of Workers' Wednesday in Sacramento. Among the topics Compensation to treat injured workers on the job. discussed were the results of the November ballot, The MPNs are required to meet certain access including the parameters and ramifications of Prop standards to care for common occupational 1 A, as well as information and strategies on how to injuries and work-related illnesses. The MPNs best prepare and comply with newly passed legisla- must follow all medical treatment guidelines tion. established by the DWC and must allow employ- ees a choice of provider(s) in the network after the The briefings are held each year to update city first visit. An MPN must offer an opportunity for officials on laws passed by the legislature and second and third opinions if the employee dis- signed by the Govemor that will require changes in agrees with the diagnosis or treatment of the local procedures or ordinances in order to property treating physician. implement the new law. A key document in the briefings is the "Wrap-Up" Bulletin with close to 150 The MPNs are required to base their care of pages of new laws that were passed in the 2004 an injured worker on ~vidence-based guidelines legislative session. This bulletin will be available to and currently the American College of Occupa- all city officials around the first of December. It will tional and Environmental Medicine's Occupstional be available electronically, but hard copies can also Medicine Practice Guidelines are to· be used as be obtained at the League office. this standard. The briefings also present the annual Voting Under the regulations, MPNs must ensure that Record Report compiled by the League. This report a primary care physician and a hospital for emer- gives city officials a tool to evaluate the extent of gency care are located within 30 minutes or 15 support for city issues by their individual legislators. miles of each employee's residence or workplace. It should be used by city officials to constructively begin a dialogue with their legislative representa- The administrative director of the DWC may tives about city issues. suspend or revoke approval of an MPN if service under the MPN is not being provided according to Included in the briefings was also a look ahead the terms of the approved plan. Only self-insured at what city officials can expect in the 2005 legisla- employers and insurers can set up an MPN. tive session. The League has instituted a number of organizational changes that will require new steps No sooner had the regulations been released and organizational work in the future to maintain its than the California Applicant Attorneys Association strength as an advocacy organization working for announced its intent to challenge the regulations in the improvement of city government. The passage court. The basis of their claim is that the regula- of Proposition 1A will help considerably in stabilizing tions deny an injured worker the right to access a local government. This will pave the way for further physician of choice. This challenge will undoubt- discussions about local government finance reform edly wind its way through the courts before the and more specifically improving the clirnate for regulations can be finalized. We will keep you tackling the affordable housing problems in Califor- posted. nia. Attendees included elected officials, city man- agement staff, City Attorneys and Intergovernmental Relations Officers. The second meeting will be held Wednesday, November 17 in Ontario. PAGE 4/PRIORITY FOCUS Visit the League's Official Web Site--www.cacities.org