The State of Washington Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) is seeking subject matter experts for its Provider Network Credentials Panel (PNCP) in the specialties of Family Medicine, Pain Medicine, Spine/Neurosurgery, and Physiatry.
Potential candidates who are available to serve will review both current providers, as well as those submitting applications, along with information from the department, and make recommendations for participation in the L&I Medical Provider Network (MPN). Appointment to the committee is for a 3-year term, and compensation is provided to panel members for participation in the work of the panel in accordance with a personal services contract. Subject matter experts may also be asked to perform peer reviews.
In the cases of dispute, panel members may be periodically called to testify and are required to provide testimony in hearings of the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals or other courts of law. Testimony may be given in court, through deposition, telephone, teleconference, or other electronic medium as requested by the parties to the dispute or the board or court.
Monthly meetings are held via a virtual platform (ZOOM) with records for review sent via secure file transfer (SFT). Meetings typically last up to 2 hours, and are scheduled either in the morning (7:00 am) or evening (6:00 pm).
Authority to Act: In 2011 the State of Washington passed Senate Bill 5801 (RCW 51.36.010) requiring the L&I to establish an industrial insurance health care provider network. The purpose of the network is to improve health outcomes and reduce costs associated with poor quality care by ensuring that providers provide quality treatment and use best practices to prevent disability. As part of the network requirements, providers must demonstrate an ability to provide high quality care through an absence of any significant disciplinary history, significant medical practice history, and significant history of noncompliance with policies and guidelines established by L&I. A complete list of standards can be found at WAC 296-20-01030 and WAC 296-20-01050.
If you are aware of physicians interested in learning more about this position, or know of someone who may want to complete an application to serve in this important role, please contact Dr. Randal Franke, Associate Medical Director, at frra235@plni.wa.gov, or Kelli Fussell, Provider Quality and Compliance Manager, at fusk235@lni.wa.gov or by telephone at 360-902-6821.