The Texas Workers' Compensation Commission is discussing withthe California Department of Industrial Relations a jointelectronic system for tracking workers' comp carriers' claiminformation.

The system would track medical providers and networks billingsand reimbursement.

Joseph Montoya, a representative of the TWCC, said the twostates were exchanging information regarding legislation for boththat would require electronic billing to be implemented for someinsurance companies and health care providers.

Texas recently passed H.B. 7, a measure that calls for thecreation of workers' comp networks which would be certified by theTexas Department of Insurance.

H.B. 7 also eliminates the Texas Workers' CompensationCommission and its functions will now fall beneath agovernor-appointed commissioner in the insurance department.

Mr. Montoya said that his group is working on a proposal topresent to the workers' compensation commissioner's office prior toJan. 1, 2006 with the goal of implementing an electronic billingsystem by Jan. 1, 2008.

He said the states are hopeful that the coordination will leadto a standard format that software vendors, insurance companies andhealth care providers could adopt for both states.