The Department of Industrial Accidents' (DIA) treatment guidelines and protocols cover the majority of tests and treatments for work-related injuries.
Treatment guidelines and protocols are used to evaluate if an injured worker's proposed treatment is medically reasonable and necessary. They give guidance to clinicians, insurers, and others about appropriate diagnostic testing and treatment. Members of the Health Care Services Board (HCSB) draft the guidelines. They give guidance to clinicians, insurers, and others about appropriate diagnostic testing and treatment. Members of the Health Care Services Board (HCSB) draft the guidelines. The full HCSB board votes to endorse the guidelines after soliciting and considering public comment. Thereafter, the DIA director adopts the guideline/protocol. Guidelines are not mandates and it is expected that up to 10% of treatment may deviate from the recommendations in the guidelines/protocols.