February 12, 2013

WYOMING ADOPTS OFFICIAL DISABILITY GUIDELINES (ODG)

Cheyenne, WY – Effective immediately, the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, Division of Workers' Compensation has adopted Work Loss Data Institute’s Official Disability Guidelines (ODG) to provide decision support for evidence-based medical and return-to-work management for workers’ compensation claims.

The announcement came on the heels of recent ODG adoption in New Mexico, and follows the model in Ohio and North Dakota of ODG adoption by monopoly State payer systems. Multi-payer ODG states include Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, and California.

Adopting the current edition of ODG will enable Wyoming to ensure the latest and best available medical evidence is used to facilitate and safeguard early access to quality care with timely return-to-work, while limiting inappropriate and excessive utilization of medical services. This will reduce treatment delay, uncertainty and UR costs, while improving disability durations and workers’ comp health outcomes. To encourage its widespread use, Work Loss Data Institute is offering a substantial discount for subscribers operating in the state. Due to the importance of ongoing updates, online use is encouraged with a discount of 50% off, while the textbook set is available to residents for 25% off. To receive the discount, orders need only be placed using a Wyoming address.

 

From Marcia Price, Deputy Administrator of Claims for Wyoming, “ODG is a ‘win-win’ for our policyholders and their employees. The primary objective is improved patient outcomes and return-to-work through functional restoration. We are particularly pleased that ODG has the most comprehensive and up-to-date opioid guidelines available for workers’ comp, since these drugs have become a national epidemic.”

Work Loss Data Institute is an independent database development company focused on workplace health and productivity based in Encinitas, California. The ODG product line provides evidence-based medical treatment and disability duration guidelines to improve and benchmark outcomes for illness and injury cases. ODG is available in Web-based, textbook and Systems Integration formats, used in all 50 states and worldwide.