THE PAIN, ENJOYMENT AND GENERAL ACTIVITY SCALE (PEG) AND WORKERS’ COMPENSATION: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

The California Workers’ Compensation System employs various scales and tests to assist with Injured Workers’ evaluation and treatment.  One of these tests is the Pain, Enjoyment and General Activity Scale (PEG.)

This article will discuss the PEG Scale and how it can be used within the workers’ compensation system.

Why Are Scales Used in General?

Scales can be used for many reasons.   Scales are generally self-reporting. Thus, all that is needed to administer one is a pen, a clipboard, and the questionnaire. Thus, they are a cheap, quick and easy way to extract information from Injured Workers. Scales can show that an injured Worker is credible.  They can show that an Injured Worker is malingering or exaggerating. Scales can show a cry for help.

One way a scale can be used Is by comparing them to prior scales.  When compared, it can show a patient’s assessment of medical improvement or lack thereof.

Scales are employed by medical examiners, treaters and utilization review evaluators to assess the Injured Workers’ disability status, permanent disability, and whether forms of treatment are indicated and should be approved.

In an article discussing PEG, it was noted that “[t]he competing demands of primary care, in which visits are short and pain is only one of several problems warranting attention, make efficiency of assessment a paramount concern.  A balance must be found between feasibility and key characteristics such as reliability, validity, and responsiveness.”  Krebs EE, Lorenz KA, Bair MJ, et al. Development and initial validation of the PEG, a three-item scale assessing pain intensity and interference. J Gen Intern Med. 2009;24(6):733-738. doi:10.1007/s11606-009-0981-1

What Is PEG Scale’s Complete Name?  How Does It Relate to Workers’ Compensation?

The PEG Scale’s full name is the Pain, Enjoyment of Life and General Activity Scale.

California Workers’ Compensation Law employs the AMA Guides to assess permanent impairment.  In the assessment of permanent impairment, Pain is a factor that is considered.  Also, Activities of Daily Living is also a factor.

In sum, the scale overlaps some of these issues.

What Does the PEG Scale Consist Of?

The PEG Scale consists of three questions that are rated from 0 to 10.

What is the Pain Scale’s First Question?

The first question is “what number best describes your pain on average in the past week?”

How is the First Scale Question Answered?

The question is answered in a 0 to 10 scale. 0 being “no pain” to 10 being “pain as bad as you can imagine.”

What is the Second Question of the Pain Scale?

The second question is “what number best describes how, during the past week, pain has interfered with your enjoyment of life?”

How is the Second Question Answered?

The question is answered in a 0 to 10 scale. 0 being “does not interfere” to 10 being “completely interferes.”

What is the Third Question on the Pain Scale?

The third question is “what number best describes how, during the past week, pain has interfered with your general activity?”

How is the Third Question Answered?

The question is answered in a 0 to 10 scale. 0 being “does not interfere” to 10, “completely interferes.”

How is the PEG Scale Scored?

The scale is scored by adding up all three numbers and dividing by 3.

What Is the PEG Scale Specifically Used For?

“This scale can be administered in person at a clinic or hospital, answered via phone interview or personally completed at home. It is a flexible scale that can be used for many scenarios. For example, the PEG scale is often used to determine if a medication is effective; using it for this purpose helps determine an individual’s level of functioning while taking medication(s). Individuals who show a stable level of functioning, with no other factors that suggest a dosage adjustment, a medication taper or a medication change is needed, would then continue on their medication regime.”  Painscale.com

Is There Any Advice to An Injured Worker?

Yes. These scales will be used possibly for two purposes: first, to evaluate your credibility, and  second, to evaluate your improvement with respect to prescription medications and treatment.

Thus, it is best to make your best efforts to accurately answer them.

What If I Need Advice?

If you would like a free consultation regarding workers’ compensation, please contact the Law Offices of Edward J. Singer, a Professional Law Corporation. We have been helping people in Central and Southern California deal with their workers’ compensation cases for 27 years. Contact us today for more information.

 

UTILIZATION REVIEW IN CALIFORNIA WORKERS’ COMPENSATION:  A PERSPECTIVE FOR INJURED WORKERS

For Injured Workers seeking medical treatment for their workers’ compensation claims, Utilization Review (UR) of their Physician’s Requests for Authorization for medical treatment is all too common.   Injured Workers often receive letters denying treatment, modifying treatment, deferring treatment authorization, requesting further information and certifying treatment.  These letters are generated by the Insurance Companies via their Utilization Review process.

This article will briefly discuss the history of Utilization Review, what is Utilization Review, why the workers’ compensation system employs UR, and how an Injured Workers should address UR.

What Is the History of Utilization Review?

“Background Utilization management has been defined by the Institute of Medicine as “a set of techniques used by or on behalf of purchasers of health benefits to manage health care costs by influencing patient care decision-making through case-by-case assessments of the appropriateness of care prior to its provision.”[1] Utilization management is used in an effort to discourage the use of unnecessary or inappropriate medical services, without jeopardizing necessary high-quality care.

The terms “utilization management” and “utilization review” (UR) are used interchangeably in this report. By the late 1980’s, UR had become ubiquitous in health care, effecting virtually everyone with any form of health insurance coverage in the U.S., and many workers’ compensation claims administrators had also begun to use UR as a cost-containment tool.” Utilization Review in California’s Workers’ Compensation System: A Preliminary Assessment July, 2001 Division of Workers’ Compensation Public Health Institute Department of Industrial Relations Berkeley, California State of California [emphasis added]

What is Utilization Review?

“Utilization management is a set of techniques used to manage health care costs through the assessment of the appropriateness of care in individual cases. The primary focus of utilization management is reduction of the use of unnecessary or inappropriate medical services.” Utilization Review in California’s Workers’ Compensation System: A Preliminary Assessment July, 2001 Division of Workers’ Compensation Public Health Institute Department of Industrial Relations Berkeley, California State of California

In layman’s term, managing health care costs saves Insurance Companies money by denying treatment.  Denying treatment leads to less bills. Less bills leads to less costs.

What are the Reasons for Utilization Review?

Medical costs within the workers’ compensation system are driven my multiple factors.  These can include fraud, overuse, and greed.

First, fraud in workers’ compensation could include prescriptions for expensive and unnecessary treatment.

Second, overuse in workers’ compensation involved Injured Workers who were enthusiastic about their treatment and had providers who would enable it. For example, before UR, there were individuals with minor back injuries with open medical awards that would seek chiropractic adjustments 3 days a week in perpetuity.

Third, greed and distrust of medical providers. There is a distrust by insurance Companies of medical providers.   Medical providers may be incentivized to provide treatment to make money versus providing the care that was needed.   For example, epidural injections, at one point in time, became increasingly used.  Arguably, they were done because they were profitable for the providers rather than helpful to the Injured Workers.

How Should Injured Workers Address Utilization Review?

Injured Workers need to address utilization review by choosing treating doctors who are responsive to the UR process.  Further, Injured Workers should be aware of UR denials and the need to file for Independent Medical Review.

An Injured Worker should choose the right treating doctor for UR processes. An Injured Worker should look for treating doctors who understand the utilization review process.   This means that the doctors should understand the forms that need to be filled out to get treatment approval.  This means that the doctors should understand the treatment utilization schedules as to what treatment can be approved and how to request it. Finally, the doctor should be responsive to inquiries from utilization review when they request peer to peer discussions as well as requests for supplemental reports.

Also, Injured Workers need to have treating doctors who will be responsive to the utilization review company’s requests for further information.

What if I Need Advice?

If you would like a free consultation regarding workers’ compensation, please contact the Law Offices of Edward J. Singer, a Professional Law Corporation. We have been helping people in Central and Southern California deal with their workers’ compensation cases for 27 years. Contact us today for more information.

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