In California, under what circumstances would a physician be required to provide a Med/Legal bill?

A physician is required to provide a Med/Legal bill in California for all types of claims because the necessity for a thorough evaluation and corresponding billing does not solely depend on whether a claim is accepted, disputed, or related to permanent disability. In California workers' compensation law, when a physician conducts a medical-legal evaluation, they must produce a report and bill for their services regardless of the status of the claim.

The purpose of the Med/Legal bill is to ensure that all physicians' evaluations contributing to adjudicating a claim, whether it involves initial injury assessments, ongoing treatment needs, or determining permanent disability, are properly documented and compensated. This standard promotes thoroughness in claims handling and ensures that medical examinations are appropriately valued for the essential role they play in the claims process.

Circumstances like whether the claim is accepted or disputed do not change the physicians' obligation to provide Med/Legal services or billing when such evaluations have been performed. Therefore, the requirement encompasses all types of claims uniformly, reflecting the broad scope of physician responsibilities in the workers' compensation context.