AB 1542: Workers’compensation: neuropsychologists.

Existing workers compensation law generally requires employers to secure the payment of workers compensation, including medical treatment, for injuries incurred by their employees that arise out of, or in the course of, employment. Existing law requires the Administrative Director of the Division of Workers Compensation to appoint qualified medical evaluators in each of the respective specialties as required for the evaluation of medical-legal issues, including medical doctors and osteopaths who meet specified requirements, including, among others, that the evaluator has successfully completed a residency training program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. Existing law also provides that the requirements for a psychologist to be appointed as an evaluator include either being board certified in clinical psychology by a board recognized by the administrative director; holding a doctoral degree in psychology or a doctoral degree sufficient for licensure, and having at least 5 years of specified experience; or having at least 5 years of postdoctoral experience and having previously served as a medical evaluator.

This bill would provide that a medical doctor or osteopath who has successfully completed a residency program accredited by an organization that is a predecessor to the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Evaluation and is recognized by the administrative director would satisfy the residency training requirement. The bill would provide that a person who is certified in neuropsychology by specified boards or organizations and was appointed as a qualified medical evaluator in neuropsychology before January 1, 2015, or who is a clinical psychologist licensed to practice in the state, holds a doctoral degree in psychology, and has at least 2 years of specified experience and training, may be appointed by the administrative director as a qualified medical evaluator in neuropsychology.

This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.