Reed Group - The Global Return-to-Work Resource

State of Texas Disability and Return-to-Work News and Events

The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation has issued a state-wide adoption of Reed Group's The Medical Disability Advisor: Workplace Guidelines for Disability Duration, as the required return-to-work guideline reference for out-of-network providers.

Rule 137.10 identifies the most current edition of The Medical Disability Advisor, Workplace Guidelines for Disability Duration (MDA), excluding all sections and tables relating to rehabilitation, as the Division return to work guidelines for the evaluation of expected or average return to work time frames.

The MDA is designed to optimize return-to-work outcomes for employees by providing clear direction regarding overall expectations, in addition to encouraging best practices for returning employees to work in a safe and appropriate timeframe.

For further details on the adopted rules and comments by the Division of Texas, click here.

To read the press release, click here.

The primary benefits of the MDA include:

Data Quality - Evidence based, objective and more reliable due to size and diversity of sources; in addition data is collected from the outset with the proper ICD-9-CM code(s).
Data Analysis - Most valid and accepted method used by MDA to develop practice guidelines. MDA provides reference data in the guidelines. A panel of experts reviews the data and provides recommendations for "Length of Disability" for each ICD-9-CM code.
Ease of Use - The MDA utilizes the US Department of Labor's Job Classification in the "Length of Disability" recommendations - a widely used, understood and accepted classification system. In addition, the MDA offers an on-line version with a navigation system designed my experts in browser usability.

For further information on The Medical Disability Advisor click here.

Special pricing for Texas only:

Please contact a Product Consultant at 866.889.4449 or email sales@rgl.net for your orders.

MDA 5 Internet annual subscription-$197.50
MDA Internet Bilingual (English-Spanish) Annual Subscription-$324.00
MDA5 Internet Spanish Annual Subscription-$197.50
MDA 5 Textbook (2 volumes)-$347.50
MDA 5 for Windows-$347.50

No other volume discounts apply with this pricing nor does this pricing apply to any other products offered by Reed Group.

Under "Adopted Rules" on the TDI Division of WC website, the Disability Management Rules were posted for the public late 1-05-06, noting that the rules were Adopted by the Commissioner of Workers' Compensation (signed) on 12-29-06. The DM rules will become effective on January 19, 2007 except where otherwise noted that the effective date is 5-01-07.