Last updated: November 2026
California workers' compensation Medical Provider Network (MPN) application readiness helps eligible applicants prepare a network plan for Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) review. Integral Healthcare Solutions (IHS) checks the evidence and drafts the narrative and policies for client approval; the applicant signs and files.
What is a California Medical Provider Network, and who can apply?
A Medical Provider Network is a provider entity or group approved under Labor Code sections 4616–4616.7 and Title 8, Article 3.5, Medical Provider Networks, according to 8 CCR 9767.1 (page opened November 5, 2026). The DWC answers to frequently asked questions about medical provider networks (page opened November 5, 2026) says an MPN must be approved by DWC before it can be used, and that each eligible employer or insurer decides whether to establish one. Unless exempted by law or the employer, all medical care for workers injured on the job whose employer has an approved MPN is handled through it.
Eligible applicant types are listed in the FAQ below; the applicant is legally responsible for the network and provides eligibility evidence under section 9767.3.
The linked DIR sections show histories through August 27, 2014 (pages opened November 5, 2026). DIR does not warrant currency; the October 2026 proposal below is not an adopted replacement.
Section 9767.3(d)(7) permits third-party preparation by agreement; DWC's FAQ confirms that delegation leaves compliance responsibility with the applicant.
How does DWC review an application, and how long does it take?
Section 9767.2 gives the Administrative Director 60 days from receipt of a complete new application to approve it for a four-year period or disapprove it. An application is complete if it includes correct information responsive to each applicable subdivision of section 9767.3. If the Director has not acted within 60 days of a complete submittal, it is deemed approved on the 61st day for four years, citing Labor Code section 4616(b). For reapproval, completeness likewise requires correct information responsive to each applicable subdivision of section 9767.3; the Director has 180 days from receipt to approve for four years or disapprove, with four-year deemed approval on day 181 if no action is taken.
DWC identifies receipt and missing items; no additional materials may be submitted or considered until notification. Decisions are limited to the application information.
DWC's FAQ sets no new-application deadline and says email applications are currently not accepted; verify the filing method.
What must the application contain?
Section 9767.3(c) requires a signed section 9767.4 cover page and compliant plan or optional application form, submitted in two copies on compact discs or flash drives in word-searchable PDF. Signatures may be original or electronic if compliant with Government Code section 16.5; original-document retention is included in the checklist below.
The checklist below is selective; review all applicable requirements in section 9767.3.
What are the access standards?
Section 9767.5 requires at least three available physicians of each specialty needed for the common injuries of the occupation or industry the network covers, within the standards that follow. It must have at least three available primary treating physicians and a hospital for emergency health care services, or if separate, a provider of all emergency health care services, within 30 minutes or 15 miles of each covered employee's residence or workplace. Occupational health providers and specialists treating common injuries must be within 60 minutes or 30 miles of a covered employee's residence or workplace.
- Where a health care shortage means a standard cannot be met in part of the service area, the applicant may propose written alternative standards, which the Administrative Director must approve before use.
- For non-emergency care, the first treatment appointment must be available within 3 business days of a covered employee telling an MPN medical access assistant that treatment is needed. For common occupational injuries, an initial appointment in the appropriate referred specialty must be available within 20 business days of a reasonable request through the assistant; if a timely appointment cannot be scheduled within ten business days of the request, the employer must permit necessary treatment by an appropriate outside specialist.
- Medical access assistants must be in the United States and available at least Monday through Saturday, 7 am to 8 pm Pacific Time, with assistance in English and Spanish.
Who needs readiness work, and what triggers it?
- An employer, insurer or network entity wants to direct injured workers' care to a defined network and has no plan yet.
- An approval is nearing the end of its four-year period. Under 8 CCR 9767.15, the applicant files a new complete application for reapproval no later than six months before expiration, meeting all requirements for a new original application.
- A change requires a Notice of MPN Plan Modification under section 9767.8; filing dates and implementation restrictions depend on the change, as explained in the FAQ below.
- A Notice of Random Review arrives. Section 9767.18 permits at most one random review in two years, without limiting investigations for good cause; the applicant has 30 calendar days from receipt of the Director's request, determined as specified in section 9767.18(a)(3), to provide the requested information or evidence.
Section 9767.15(b)(7) says that if a reapproval filing is made less than 60 days before the approval expires, the MPN may be subject to penalties, and approval will be suspended after the expiration date if the review is not completed before then.
DWC's October 23, 2026 release (page opened November 5, 2026) announces a December 11 hearing on proposed MPN changes, including electronic submission of certain materials and one copy instead of two; these are not adopted rules.
How IHS helps
IHS tests the network and file against the sections above:
- Applicant check. IHS sets out the applicant types and eligibility proof so counsel can confirm the responsible entity.
- Access-standard mapping. IHS maps your provider list and the covered employees' locations against the distance and specialty standards, and shows where coverage falls short.
- Drafting. IHS drafts the narrative, notification and policies for the applicant and counsel to approve, with clinical content approved by the client's clinicians.
- File assembly and mock review. IHS maps evidence to the applicable application requirements, checks the assembled file and identifies gaps before client submission.
The applicant supplies its provider contracts, signed physician acknowledgments, provider data and legal documents. The limit: IHS does not file with or contact DWC, does not predict approval and gives no legal advice.
What to have ready
Selected checklist items follow the linked Title 8 sections, whose DIR histories show amendments or adoption operative August 27, 2014 (pages opened November 5, 2026); review the full applicable requirements.
- Applicant eligibility evidence under 8 CCR 9767.3(d)(1).
- Signed cover page, authorized officer/employee verification and designated liaison under 8 CCR 9767.3(c), (d)(5)-(6); retain the original signed cover page and complete plan for review on request.
- Applicable physician or group acknowledgments under 8 CCR 9767.5.1, retained while effective and three years afterward, subject to its participation and legacy-contract provisions.
- The eight-column provider file, with separate entries for each applicable physician code, in Excel unless the Director approves another format; a valid, currently certified HCO requires the cover-page notation and only additional ancillary-provider information under 8 CCR 9767.3(c)(1)-(3).
- The six geocoding files required by 8 CCR 9767.3(d)(8)(H), including ZIP-code reports and gap explanations; these approximate compliance, while actual access is measured from employee residence or workplace.
- Proposed shortage-based alternatives and applicable outside-network treatment policies under 8 CCR 9767.5.
- English/Spanish employee notice, continuity and transfer policies, and economic-profiling documentation under 8 CCR 9767.3(d)(8)(M)-(P): attach profiling policies/procedures and affirm provider distribution, or state that the applicant does not conduct profiling.
- A calendar distinguishing new-application and reapproval review under 8 CCR 9767.2, reapproval filing under 8 CCR 9767.15 and modification deadlines under 8 CCR 9767.8.
If items are missing, bring the list to the free introductory call.
How it compares
Eligible employers, insurers and network entities can apply; a third party may prepare their filing by agreement. DWC's FAQ distinguishes using a certified Health Care Organization network as a deemed entity: its provider list must remain exactly as certified.
What it costs
We found no application fee in the DWC FAQ and the Title 8 sections we opened. Confirm current fees and forms with DWC.
IHS scopes each engagement after a free introductory call.
What this is not
- It is not legal advice. IHS is a consulting firm, not a law firm, and counsel reviews the plan and the notice documents.
- It is not a guarantee of DWC approval. IHS does not file with DWC or contact it for the applicant.
- Counsel checks the current statute and regulations before filing.
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply for a California Medical Provider Network?
DWC lists workers' compensation insurers, self-insured employers, joint powers authorities, the State of California, the California Insurance Guarantee Association, the State Compensation Insurance Fund, groups of self-insured employers and entities that provide physician network services. The applicant must be legally responsible for the network.
Is DWC approval required before a network is used?
Yes. DWC says an MPN must be approved by the Division before it can be used. Unless the law or the employer exempts it, care for workers injured on the job whose employer has an approved MPN is handled through the MPN.
How long does DWC have to act, and when do we file for reapproval?
Section 9767.2 gives the Administrative Director 60 days from receipt of a complete new application to approve it for four years or disapprove it, with deemed approval on the 61st day if the Director has not acted. Section 9767.15 says the applicant files for reapproval no later than six months before the approval expires.
What are the access standards?
Section 9767.5 requires at least three available physicians in each specialty needed for common injuries in the covered occupation or industry, within its access standards. At least three available primary treating physicians and a hospital providing emergency care, or a separate provider of all emergency services, must be within 30 minutes or 15 miles of each covered employee's residence or workplace; occupational health providers and specialists treating common injuries must be within 60 minutes or 30 miles of that residence or workplace. A shortage-based alternative requires the Administrative Director's approval before use.
What are physician acknowledgments?
Section 9767.5.1 requires written participation acknowledgments from physicians, with the obligation applying to a participating group instead of its shareholder, partner or employee physicians. Subdivision (e)(5) provides an exception for certain continuous or automatically renewing contracts entered before August 27, 2014, without new execution, where the contract identifies the MPN or an openly published website lets authorized persons view and deselect participation with authentication available on reasonable proof of identity.
What triggers a modification filing?
Section 9767.8 requires filing within fifteen business days after an MPN or applicant name change or a liaison or authorized-individual change; for eligibility, the trigger is written knowledge of the change. Other listed changes require advance filing unless a different deadline is stated. A modification is deemed approved if the Director has not acted within 60 days of notice submittal. Except for subdivisions (a)(2), (a)(3) and (b), implementation must wait for approval or passage of 60 days, whichever occurs first.
What does IHS draft, and what does the applicant file?
IHS drafts the readiness checklist, the plan narrative, the employee notification and the policies for the applicant and counsel to approve. The applicant signs and files with DWC. IHS does not.
Does readiness work guarantee approval?
No. The Administrative Director approves or disapproves each application, limited to the information it contains. A readiness review shows where the file falls short.