- Currently Effective Treatment Guidelines
| - Mid and Low Back |
- Neck |
- Shoulder |
- Knee |
- Carpal Tunnel |
- Non-Acute Pain |
- Additional Treatment Guidelines – Effective Date: TBD
- Ankle and Foot |
- Asthma |
- Depression |
- Elbow |
- Hand, Wrist and Forearm |
- Hip and Groin |
- Interstitial Lung Disease |
- PTSD |
- Get information, forms and search for insurer contacts for:
NYS Workers' Compensation Board
Riverview Center
150 Broadway
Attn: WCB Medical Director's Office
Suite 195
Menands, NY 12204
(800) 781-2362
WCBMedicalDirectorsOffice@wcb.ny.gov
Overview
In December 2010, the New York State Workers' Compensation Board implemented legislatively mandated Medical Treatment Guidelines (MTG) that fundamentally changed the delivery of health care to injured workers. The MTGs initially included four evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of injuries involving the neck, back, shoulder and knee. These became the mandatory standard of care for dates of service on or after December 1, 2010. On March 1, 2013, the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome MTG and updated versions of the then existing MTGs, including a new maintenance care program, were adopted. The Non-Acute Pain MTG, as well as updated versions of the existing MTGs, were implemented for dates of treatment on or after December 15, 2014.
The following MTGs will become effective on a date to be announced, coinciding with the launch of OnBoard Limited Release: Elbow Injuries, Foot and Ankle Injuries, Hip and Groin Injuries, Hand, Wrist and Forearm Injuries (including Carpal Tunnel Syndrome), Occupational Interstitial Lung Disease, Occupational/Work-Related Asthma, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder.
Please contact the Medical Director's Office at (800) 781-2362 or MedicalTreatmentGuidelines@wcb.ny.gov with any questions regarding the Medical Treatment Guidelines.
What's New to Medical Treatment Guidelines Program
December 10, 2020: Effective Date for New Medical Treatment Guidelines Delayed
The health crisis facing the New York State continues to impact the ability of authorized health care providers to implement changes and comply with the newly adopted Medical Treatment Guidelines (MTGs) set to take effect January 1, 2021.
To prevent any negative impacts to injured workers, the Board has issued an Order of the Chair directing that the MTGs set to be effective January 1, 2021, will instead be effective on the launch date of OnBoard: Limited Release, to be announced in a future communication to stakeholders. Please watch for updates.
October 30, 2020: Training for New Medical Treatment Guidelines
Training is available for the following new Medical Treatment Guidelines (MTGs).
- Elbow Injuries
- Foot and Ankle Injuries
- Hip and Groin Injuries
- Hand, Wrist and Forearm Injuries (including Carpal Tunnel Syndrome)
- Occupational Interstitial Lung Disease
- Occupational/Work-Related Asthma
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder *
- Major Depressive Disorder *
Each new MTG has a corresponding training course that provides an overview of the General Guideline Principles, conditions associated with the body part or disease, and treatment recommendations. Continuing medical education (CME) credit is available for each course.
Non-CME training presentations are also available as PDF files for those who want to learn about the new MTGs but do not need CME credit.
* Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder were posted on October 21, 2020 for a 60-day public comment period. Training for these MTGs will be adjusted if needed based on the feedback received.
October 16, 2020: New Medical Treatment Guideline Lookup Tool & Training
- The NYS Workers' Compensation Board's Medical Treatment Guideline Lookup Tool (MTG Lookup) allows users to search any of the Board's adopted Medical Treatment Guidelines (MTGs) by diagnosis (condition) and treatment or test. While the full MTGs that are posted on the Board's website and available via the Medical Portal should be referenced for detailed MTG information, the Lookup Tool will assist providers in quickly determining if the condition/treatment combination is "Recommended," "Not Recommended" or "Conditional." This will help provide quicker, better care for injured workers.
The MTG Lookup Tool also has a feature that produces a verification (in PDF format) that a lookup was completed, provides the specific MTG recommendation and includes patient-specific case information. While utilizing the MTG Lookup Tool and generating the PDF are not a guarantee of payment, it does provide for fast, efficient search of the MTG recommendations. The PDF can be kept in the medical record and may also be sent to the insurer as an attachment to the bill, or request for prior authorization, as verification of the MTG recommendation.
Learn more: Access the MTG Lookup Tool recorded presentation (8 minutes)
October 16, 2020
- Proposed Amendment of 12 NYCRR 324.2 to incorporate new Medical Treatment Guidelines for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Acute Stress Disorder, and Major Depressive Disorder.
September 21, 2020
- Adopted Amendment of 12 NYCRR 324.2 to add a Hand, Wrist and Forearm Medical Treatment Guideline (MTG) and to add a new Asthma MTG. The Hand, Wrist and Forearm MTG contains treatment recommendations for carpal tunnel syndrome, and will replace the current Carpal Tunnel Syndrome MTG effective January 1, 2021.
