California legislators have passed only a handful of Workers'Compensation laws since passing a major overhaul in the sector in 2012, says the California Workers'Compensation Institute (CWCI).

Five of the 17 Work Comp laws of 2013 deal withpharmacies and controlled-substance distributionissues. 

Two pharmacy bills eliminate the requirement for prescriptioncopies to be sent along with requests for payment (SB 146), andrequire special state licenses for in-and-out-of state pharmaciesthat compound sterile drug products for sale or shipping toCalifornia while removing the option for accreditation from outsideagencies (SB 294).

An amendment to a previous law dealing with medical boardinvestigations of doctors suspected of causing patient death byover-prescribing a substance. Amendment SB 670 allows the board tocopy a patient's medical records even if unable to contact thedeceased's beneficiary or representative. It also expands thedefinition of unprofessional conduct to include a physician'srepeatedly unexplained refusal to be interviewed byinvestigators.

An annual $6 fee was imposed on provider and dispenser licensesto fund the Controlled Substance Utilization Review and EvaluationSystem (CURES) program. Pharmacies and clinics must report to CURESwhen they dispense controlled substances, but a provision requiringphysicians to check CURES before writing such prescriptions wasdeleted.

The Occupational Safety and Health Standards board synced statesafety and health standards for health care facilities withemployees working with or near certain chemotherapy drugs withNational Institute for Occupational Safety and Health standards.The antineoplastic (tumor-reducing) drugs may cause rashes,infertility, miscarriages, birth defects and even cancers.

Other notable WC reforms in California this year include arestriction on out-of-state athlete's claims for sportsinjuries sustained in California; permit insurers to electronicallytransmit policy information; and allow the State CompensationInsurance Fund directorial board to appoint a chief medical officerand other C-suite insurance positions.