Overview
California's workers' compensation system undergoes regular legislative updates. This article summarizes key changes effective in 2025 that affect disability rating calculations and claims processing.
SAWW Adjustments
The State Average Weekly Wage (SAWW) is updated annually, affecting temporary and permanent disability benefit calculations. The 2025 SAWW adjustment impacts:
Current rates are published by the Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) and incorporated into the Glass Box PD calculator automatically.
Medical-Legal Fee Schedule Updates
The Official Medical Fee Schedule (OMFS) receives periodic updates affecting:
Practitioners should verify current fee schedules through the DWC website for billing purposes.
Electronic Filing Requirements
The DWC continues expanding electronic filing mandates. 2025 requirements include:
Utilization Review Timelines
Regulations governing utilization review (UR) decisions include updated timeline requirements for:
Impact on Disability Calculations
For permanent disability ratings, the core calculation methodology under Labor Code sections 4660-4664 remains consistent. The Glass Box PD calculator incorporates current adjustment factors and SAWW values as they are published.
Staying Current
The DWC publishes updates through its newsline service. Practitioners can subscribe for notifications about regulatory changes, fee schedule updates, and procedural modifications.
Glass Box tools are updated to reflect current statutory requirements as changes take effect.