California Division Of Workers’ Compensation Online Databases Down Until The End Of January

Oakland, CA  (CompNewsNetwork) - The California Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) is experiencing problems with the server that supports the online posting of several of its databases. These databases include the searchable qualified medical evaluator (QME) listing, the pharmacy fee schedule calculator and the DWC online forum. The DWC is working diligently to fix the server problems and anticipates having the databases back in service by Jan. 30, 2008.

The DWC has posted a version of the QME database in an Excel format, which can be sorted by column to find a QME in a specific specialty or area, along with a tab-delimited text file of the database, at http://www.dir.ca.gov/dwc/Medi calUnit/QME_page.html.

There is no easy temporary fix for the pharmacy fee schedule. While the server is being repaired, users may download the current Medi-Cal pharmacy fee rates from the DWC Web site at http://www.dir.ca.gov/dwc/dwc_home_pag e.htm. The database comes in a 7.51 MB zip file, which was updated on Dec. 26, 2007. The file's record layout and instructions are included in the zip file, and may also be viewed at http://www.dir.ca.gov/dwc/pharmfe esched/pfs.html. The regulations governing pharmacy fees are contained in the California Code of Regulations, Title 8, section 9789.40 . The DWC hopes to have the problem resolved and the calculator re-posted by Jan. 30, 2008.

The division's on line discussion forum for regulations is also affected by this database problem. While the DWC does not currently have any regulations posted to its online forum, the fix for this database may take longer than the fix for the pharmacy fee schedule and the QME database. That's because information is both sent into the forum from the public domain, and sent out to the public from an internal database. However, the division will still be able to use a similar tool for getting comments from the public on its proposals by having comments sent in to an email address, compiled and posted daily. In this way, members of the public will still be able to see what others are saying about a proposal when crafting their own comments. More information about this process will be provided if the database problem is not resolved at the time of the next forum posting.

The DWC apologizes for this inconvenience. Technical staff are working to correct the problem and get the databases up and running as quickly as possible.

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