City of Long Beach - File #: 07-1174

• File #: 07-1174
• Version: 1
• Name: HR - Contract with various physicians
• Type: Contract
• Status: CCIS
• File created: 10/4/2007
• In control: City Council
• On agenda: 10/9/2007
• Final action: 10/9/2007
• Title: Recommendation to authorize City Manager to enter into contracts with various physicians for the purpose of serving as Independent Medical Examiners in the workers’ compensation alternative dispute resolution process with the Long Beach Police Officers Association and the Long Beach Firefighters Association. (Citywide)
• Sponsors: Human Resources
• Indexes: Contracts
• Related files: 30477_000, 30476_000, 30472_000, 30473_000, 30474_000, 30475_000, 30467_000, 30465_000, 30466_000, 30468_000, 30469_000, 30470_000, 30471_000, 30527_000, 31243_000, 31716_000, 31717_000, 31985_000, 30478_000, 30479_000, 30480_000, 30528_000, 30550_000, 30551_000, 30552_000, 30553_000, 30554_000, 30555_000, 30556_000, 30557_000, 30481_000, 30482_000, 30483_000, 30484_000, 30485_000, 30486_000, 30487_000, 30488_000, 30489_000, 30490_000, 30491_000, 30492_000, 30493_000, 30523_000, 30524_000, 30525_000, 30526_000, 34088_000, 34095_000, 34099_000, 34102_000, 35104_000, 34091_000, 34093_000, 30641_000, 30642_000, 30643_000, 30644_000, 30645_000, 30647_000, 32794_000, 34090_000, 34092_000, 34094_000, 34096_000, 34097_000, 34098_000, 34101_000, 34103_000, 34104_000, 34705_000, 34721_000

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
10/9/2007	1	City Council	approve recommendation	Pass

TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to enter into contracts with various physicians for the purpose of serving as Independent Medical Examiners in the workers’ compensation alternative dispute resolution process with the Long Beach Police Officers Association and the Long Beach Firefighters Association. (Citywide)

DISCUSSION
City management representatives, representatives of the Long Beach Police Officers Association (LBPOA), and representatives of the Long Beach Firefighters Association (LBFFA) have held meet and confer sessions over the last six months regarding implementation of a workers' compensation alternative dispute resolution process. During these meetings, the City and Union representatives mutually agreed upon a list of current Agreed Medical Examiners (AME) to approach as potential Independent Medical Examiners (IME) for the purpose of the workers' compensation alternative dispute resolution process. Physicians were chosen based upon their ability to be impartial in analyzing specifics of a workers' compensation case and their ability to write thorough reports. A total of 86 physicians were approached in various specialties, with 56 physicians responding that they were interested, 29 physicians did not reply, and 1 declined.

The current workers' compensation claim resolution process, as supported by the State regulations, is filled with delays for both the City and employee. There are currently two pathways for a workers' compensation claim to be resolved under State regulations: non-litigated cases are resolved through a Qualified Medical Examiner (QME) and litigated cases may be resolved using an Agreed Medical Examiner (AME) or a QME. QME's are assigned by the State through a complicated process that allows the employee to choose from a State panel of physicians. The State randomly assigns this panel of physicians by specialty and consideration is not given to the proximity of the employee's home or work location. On average, it c...