As the Legislature printed it
DIVISION 4. WORKERS' COMPENSATION AND INSURANCE [3200 - 6002] · PART 2. COMPUTATION OF COMPENSATION [4451 - 4856] · CHAPTER 2. Compensation Schedules [4550 - 4856] · ARTICLE 2. Medical and Hospital Treatment [4600 - 4615]
How panels applied this section
Newest released decisions whose legal-standard extraction named this section. Each quotes the passage and links to the official PDF. Unofficial guide — not legal advice.
- ADJ11775583 · 2026-09-23 · Van Nuys District Office§ 4600
Determinative passage · p.13(Id. at pp. 4-5.) Unfortunately, the reviewing physician’s discussion is not a model of clarity. We note initially that the physician’s statement that because applicant’s “son works and therefore should be capable of helping her on weekends when he is not working” is speculative, unsupported in the factual and medical record, and legally suspect. Defendant has an affirmative statutory duty to provide “[m]edical, surgical … and hospital treatment, including nursing … which is reasonably required to cure or relieve from the effects of the injury ….” (Lab. Code, § 4600.) The availability of a family member to provide care that has been determined to be medically necessary does not relieve the employer of its statutory obligation to provide those services or to reimburse the cost of their provision. (Henson v. Workmen's Comp. Appeals Bd. (1972) 27 Cal.App.3d 452, 457 [37 Cal.Comp.Cases 564]; McCoy v. I.A.C. (1966) 64 Cal. 2d 82, 86 [31 Cal.Comp.Cases 93].) Nor does the reviewing physician explain how he arrived at a figure of 90 hours of aggregate home health care services. PTP Dr.
The employer's duty to provide medical treatment is not relieved by family member availability; the employer must provide or reimburse medically necessary home health care services.
Official decision · page 13 → - ADJ16340745 · 2026-08-07 · San Francisco District Office§ 4600
Determinative passage · p.537:5-8.) On March 13, 2026, the parties submitted, and WCA Kahn approved, the parties’ Stipulations for 16% permanent disability to the lumbar spine, with future medical care, based upon the reporting of IME Dr. Feinberg’s report dated September 27, 2021. (Stipulations, 3/13/26, pp. 8-9.) On April 27, 2026, the WCA issued the F&A. III. DISCUSSION An employer or its insurer is obligated to provide all medical treatment "that is reasonably required to cure or relieve the injured worker from the effects of his or her injury." (Lab. Code, § 4600(a).) "In the case of his or her neglect or refusal reasonably to do so, the employer is liable for the reasonable expense incurred by or on behalf of the employee in providing treatment." (Lab. Code, § 4600(a).) An employer will not be relieved of the duty to furnish medical care absent good cause, and section 4600 has been liberally interpreted in favor of the employee's right to obtain reimbursement. [Citations.] (Knight v. United Parcel Service (2006) 71 Cal.Comp.Cases 1423 (Appeals Board en banc.)
The WCA applied this standard to find defendant neglected to provide reasonable medical care, enabling self-procurement and reimbursement.
Official decision · page 5 → - ADJ4399741 · 2026-08-03 · Long Beach District Office§ 4600
Determinative passage · p.6Cal.4th 1231, 1237, 1238 [78 Cal.Comp.Cases 1209] [discussing newly amended sections 4605, 4061 and 4062 and newly enacted section 4603.2(a) in the context of section 84 of SB 863].) Section 4600 requires that an employer provide reasonable and necessary medical treatment to “cure or relieve” an employee from the effects of their industrial injury. This requirement to provide medical treatment for a workplace injury continues throughout the entire life of the employee unless the parties specifically resolve the issue of medical treatment. (United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co. v. Dept. of Ind. Relations (1929) 207 Cal. 144; Ferguson v. Workers’ Comp. Appeals Bd. (1995) 33 Cal.App.4th 1613, fn. 12 [60 Cal.Comp.Cases 275].) The Appeals Board’s jurisdiction with respect to medical treatment disputes is set forth in sections 4604 and 5304.
The Appeals Board retains jurisdiction over medical treatment disputes except as provided by section 4610.5.
Official decision · page 6 → - ADJ9600339 · 2026-06-22 · Los Angeles District Office§ 4600
Determinative passage · p.3Section 4600(a) provides: Medical, surgical,... and hospital treatment,... that is reasonably required to cure or relieve the injured worker from the effects of the worker's injury shall be provided by the employer. In the case of the employer's neglect or refusal reasonably to do so, the employer is liable for the reasonable expense incurred by or on behalf of the employee in providing treatment. (Lab. Code, § 4600, bold and italics added for emphasis.) If an employer has established an MPN, the employer is only liable for treatment by a physician from within its MPN. (Lab. Code, § 4600(c), 4616 et seq.) However, if the employer neglects or refuses to provide reasonably necessary medical treatment, whether through an MPN or otherwise, then an employee may self-procure medical treatment at the employer's expense. (Lab.
Defendant's refusal to authorize treatment with Dr. Patterson was found to violate this statute.
Official decision · page 3 → - ADJ12308686 · 2026-06-11 · Los Angeles District Office§ 4600
Determinative passage · p.5The MPN access standards measure adequacy for brain-injury conditions according to the availability of recognized medical specialists. There is no board-certified specialty titled "brain injury specialist" in the manner that neurology exists as an established specialty. A boardcertified neurologist possesses the medical qualifications necessary to diagnose, treat, and manage brain injuries including post-concussion syndrome and post-traumatic vertigo. Defendant therefore satisfied its obligation under section 4600 when it provided applicant with the names of three qualified neurologists located within the required geographic boundaries.
Defendant met requirements by providing access to three neurologists within the MPN for applicant's brain injury condition.
Official decision · page 5 → - ADJ14305554 · 2026-06-09 · Santa Rosa District Office§ 4600
Determinative passage · p.4II Section 4600(b) provides that "medical treatment that is reasonably required to cure or relieve the injured worker from the effects of the worker's injury means treatment that is based upon the guidelines adopted by the administrative director pursuant to Section 5307.27." (Lab. Code, § 4600(b).) Section 5307.27 specifies that these guidelines refer to the Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule (MTUS). (Lab. Code, § 5307.27(a).) The MTUS can be found in AD Rules 9792.20 through 9792.27.23 (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 8, § 9792.20-9792.27.23). The MTUS is presumptively correct on the extent and scope of treatment and is the primary source of guidance for physicians. (Lab. Code, § 4604.5(a); Cal. Code Regs., tit. 8, § 9792.21(c).) However, the MTUS may be rebutted, and treatment may be warranted based on recommendations outside the MTUS in limited situations. (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 8, § 9792.21(d); see also Lab. Code, § 4604.5(d).) If a UR decision is untimely, the determination of medical necessity must be made by the WCAB based on substantial medical evidence consistent with the MTUS. (Dubon II, supra, 79 Cal.Comp.Cases at 1300.)
Medical necessity determination must be consistent with MTUS guidelines as primary source of guidance for physicians.
Official decision · page 4 → - ADJ10298755 · 2026-06-01 · Anaheim District Office§ 4600
Determinative passage · p.4Section 4600 requires the employer to provide reasonable medical treatment to cure or relieve from the effects of the industrial injury. (Lab. Code, § 4600(a).) An employers' review of an employees' medical treatment requests are governed solely by UR. (Lab. Code, § 4610, 4610.5; State Comp. Ins. Fund v. Workers' Comp. Appeals Bd. (Sandhagen) (2008) 44 Cal.4th 230, 236 [73 Cal.Comp.Cases 981].) Section 4610 provides time limits within which a UR decision must be made by the employer. These time limits are mandatory. Every employer is required to participate in UR, for consideration of a treating physician's request for authorization of medical treatment. (State Compensation Ins. Fund v. Workers' Comp. Appeals Bd. (Sandhagen) (2008) 44 Cal.4th 230 [73 Cal.Comp.Cases 981]. When there is a challenge to the validity of a UR decision, the only issue which the Appeals Board may address is the legal issue regarding the timeliness of the UR decision. All other disputes regarding a UR decision must be resolved through IMR. (Dubon v. World Restoration, Inc. (2014) 79 Cal.Comp.Cases 1298 (Appeals Board en banc).)
Relevant to the underlying dispute about UR denial and medical treatment continuation.
Official decision · page 4 → - ADJ10966476 · 2026-05-29 · Los Angeles District Office§ 4600
Determinative passage · p.6defendant can be liable for reasonable and necessary medical treatment in the form of home health care services for both skilled and unskilled care, including household tasks that are incidental to the medical treatment. (Smyers v. Workers' Comp. Appeals Bd. (1984) 157 Cal.App.3d 36 [49 Cal.Comp.Cases 454]; see Lab. Code, § 4600(h).)
Home health care services require physician prescription and employer receipt
Official decision · page 6 →
All 141 decisions naming § 4600 →
The rules written under this section
A statute says what is owed; Title 8 says by when, on what form, and what happens if the deadline passes. These name § 4600as what they implement.
- 8 CCR § 1Definitions.
- 8 CCR § 36Service of Comprehensive Medical-Legal Evaluation Reports by Medical Evaluators Including Reports Under Labor Code Section 4061.
- 8 CCR § 36.5Service of Comprehensive Medical/Legal Report in Claims of Injury to the Psyche.
- 8 CCR § 9771Applications for Certification.
- 8 CCR § 9773Treatment Standards.
- 8 CCR § 9773.1Referrals to Chiropractors.
- 8 CCR § 9774Quality of Care.
- 8 CCR § 9775Grievance and Dispute Resolution Procedure.
- 8 CCR § 9777Patient Assistance and Notification.
- 8 CCR § 9778Evaluation.
- 8 CCR § 9779Certification.
- 8 CCR § 9779.1On-Site Surveys.
- 8 CCR § 9779.2Suspension; Revocation; Hearing.
- 8 CCR § 9779.3Obligations of Employer Covered by a Contract with a Health Care Organization
- 8 CCR § 9779.4DWC Form 1194.
- 8 CCR § 9779.5Reimbursement of Costs to the Administrative Director; Obligation to Pay Share of Administrative Expense.
- 8 CCR § 9779.8Copies of Documents.
- 8 CCR § 9779.9Late Payment. [Repealed]repealed
- 8 CCR § 9779.45Minimum Periods of Enrollment.
- 8 CCR § 9780Definitions.
- 8 CCR § 9780.1Employee's Predesignation of Personal Physician.
- 8 CCR § 9781Employee's Request for Change of Physician.
- 8 CCR § 9782Notice to Employee of Right to Choose Physician.
- 8 CCR § 9783DWC Form 9783 Predesignation of Personal Physician.
- 8 CCR § 9785Reporting Duties of the Primary Treating Physician.
- 8 CCR § 9785.2Form PR-2 "Primary Treating Physician's Progress Report."
- 8 CCR § 9785.2.1Form PR-2 “Primary Treating Physician Progress Report” - Services On or After October 1, 2015.
- 8 CCR § 9785.3Form PR-3 "Primary Treating Physician's Permanent and Stationary Report."
- 8 CCR § 9785.3.1Form PR-3 “Primary Treating Physician's Permanent and Stationary Report” - Services On or After October 1, 2015
- 8 CCR § 9785.4Form PR-4 “Primary Treating Physician's Permanent and Stationary Report.”
- 8 CCR § 9786Petition for Change of Primary Treating Physician.
- 8 CCR § 9786.1Petition for Change of Primary Treating Physician; Response to Petition for Change of Primary Treating Physician (DWC Form 280 (Parts A and B).
- 8 CCR § 9787Appeal from Administrative Director's Order Granting or Denying Petition for Change of Primary Treating Physician.
- 8 CCR § 9789.10Physician Services Rendered on or After July 1, 2004, but Before January 1, 2014 - Definitions.
- 8 CCR § 9789.11Physician Services Rendered on or After July 1, 2004, but Before January 1, 2014.
- 8 CCR § 9789.12.1Physician Fee Schedule: Official Medical Fee Schedule for Physician and Non-Physician Practitioner Services - For Services Rendered On or After January 1, 2014.
- 8 CCR § 9789.12.2Calculation of the Maximum Reasonable Fee - Services Other than Anesthesia.
- 8 CCR § 9789.12.3Status Codes C, I, N and R.
- 8 CCR § 9789.12.4“By Report” - Reimbursement for Unlisted Procedures/Procedures Lacking RBRVUs.
- 8 CCR § 9789.12.5Conversion Factors.
- 8 CCR § 9789.12.6Geographic Health Professional Shortage Area Bonus Payment: Primary Care; Mental Health.
- 8 CCR § 9789.12.7CMS' National Physician Fee Schedule Relative Value File / Relative Value Units (RVUs).
- 8 CCR § 9789.12.8Status Codes.
- 8 CCR § 9789.12.9Professional Component (PC)/Technical Component (TC) Indicator.
- 8 CCR § 9789.12.10Coding; Current Procedural Terminology©, Fourth Edition.
- 8 CCR § 9789.12.11Evaluation and Management: Coding - New Patient; Documentation.
- 8 CCR § 9789.12.12Consultation Services Coding - Use of Visit Codes.
- 8 CCR § 9789.12.13Correct Coding Initiative.
- 8 CCR § 9789.12.14California Specific Codes.
- 8 CCR § 9789.12.15California Specific Modifier.
- 8 CCR § 9789.13.1Supplies.
- 8 CCR § 9789.13.2Physician-Administered Drugs, Biologicals, Vaccines, Blood Products.
- 8 CCR § 9789.13.3Physician-Dispensed Drugs.
- 8 CCR § 9789.14Reimbursement for Reports, Duplicate Reports, Chart Notes.
- 8 CCR § 9789.15.1Non-Physician Practitioner (NPP) - Payment Methodology.
- 8 CCR § 9789.15.2Non-Physician Practitioner (NPP) - “Incident To” Services.
- 8 CCR § 9789.15.3Qualified Non-Physician Anesthetist Services.
- 8 CCR § 9789.15.4Physical Medicine/Chiropractic/Acupuncture Multiple Procedure Payment Reduction; Pre-Authorization for Specified Procedure/Modality Services.
- 8 CCR § 9789.15.5Ophthalmology Multiple Procedure Reduction.
- 8 CCR § 9789.15.6Diagnostic Cardiovascular Procedures - Multiple Procedure Reduction.
- 8 CCR § 9789.16.1Surgery - Global Fee.
- 8 CCR § 9789.16.2Surgery - Billing Requirements for Global Surgeries.
- 8 CCR § 9789.16.3Surgery - Global Fee - Miscellaneous Rules.
- 8 CCR § 9789.16.4Surgery - Global Fee; Exception: Circumstances Allowing E&M Code During the Global Period; Primary Treating Physician's Progress Report (PR-2).
- 8 CCR § 9789.16.5Surgery - Multiple Surgeries and Endoscopies.
- 8 CCR § 9789.16.6Surgery - Bilateral Surgeries.
- 8 CCR § 9789.16.7Surgery - Co-Surgeons and Team Surgeons.
- 8 CCR § 9789.16.8Surgery - Assistants-at-Surgery.
- 8 CCR § 9789.17.1Radiology Diagnostic Imaging Multiple Procedures.
- 8 CCR § 9789.17.2Radiology Consultations.
- 8 CCR § 9789.17.3Additional Payment Reductions for Certain Diagnostic Imaging Services.
- 8 CCR § 9789.18.1Payment for Anesthesia Services - General Payment Rule.
- 8 CCR § 9789.18.2Anesthesia - Personally Performed Rate.
- 8 CCR § 9789.18.3Anesthesia - Medically Directed Rate.
- 8 CCR § 9789.18.4Anesthesia - Definition of Concurrent Medically Directed Anesthesia Procedures.
- 8 CCR § 9789.18.5Anesthesia - Medically Supervised Rate.
- 8 CCR § 9789.18.6Anesthesia - Multiple Anesthesia Procedures.
- 8 CCR § 9789.18.7Anesthesia - Medical and Surgical Services Furnished in Addition to Anesthesia Procedure.
- 8 CCR § 9789.18.8Anesthesia - Time and Calculation of Anesthesia Time Units.
- 8 CCR § 9789.18.9Anesthesia - Base Unit Reduction for Concurrent Medically Directed Procedures.
- 8 CCR § 9789.18.10Anesthesia - Monitored Anesthesia Care.
- 8 CCR § 9789.18.11Anesthesia Claims Modifiers.
- 8 CCR § 9789.18.12Anesthesia and Medical/Surgical Service Provided by the Same Physician.
- 8 CCR § 9789.19Update Table.
- 8 CCR § 9789.19.1Table A.
- 8 CCR § 9789.20General Information for Inpatient Hospital Fee Schedule -- Discharge after January 1, 2004
- 8 CCR § 9789.21Definitions for Inpatient Hospital Fee Schedule.
- 8 CCR § 9789.22Payment of Inpatient Hospital Services.
- 8 CCR § 9789.23Hospital Cost to Charge Ratios, Hospital Specific Outliers, and Hospital Composite Factors.
- 8 CCR § 9789.110Update of Rules to Reflect Changes in the Medicare Payment System.
- 8 CCR § 9789.111Effective Date of Fee Schedule Provisions.
- 8 CCR § 10101Claim File--Contents.
- 8 CCR § 10101.1Claim File--Contents.
- 8 CCR § 10102Retention of Claim Files.
- 8 CCR § 10108Audit Violations--General Rules.
- 8 CCR § 10109Duty to Conduct Investigation; Duty of Good Faith.
- 8 CCR § 10110Notice of Intention to Issue a Notice of Compensation Due; Notice of Compensation Due; Review by Workers' Compensation Appeals Board.
- 8 CCR § 10111Schedule of Administrative Penalties for injuries on or after January 1, 1990, but before January 1, 1994.
- 8 CCR § 10111.1Schedule of Administrative Penalties for Injuries on or After January 1, 1994.
- 8 CCR § 10111.2Full Compliance Audit Penalty Schedules; Target Audit Penalty Schedule.
- 8 CCR § 10139Workers' Compensation Claim Form (DWC 1) and Notice of Potential Eligibility.
- 8 CCR § 10208.8Petition Appealing Order Granting or Denying Petition for Order Requiring Employee to Select Employer-Designated Physician.
- 8 CCR § 10233Filing of Medical Reports, Medical-Legal Reports, and Various Records. [Repealed]repealed
- 8 CCR § 10451.2Determination of Medical Treatment Disputes. [Repealed]repealed
- 8 CCR § 10451.3Petition for Costs. [Renumbered]repealed
- 8 CCR § 10545Petition for Costs.
- 8 CCR § 10547Petition for Labor Code Section 5710 Attorney's Fees.
- 8 CCR § 10564Interpreters. [Renumbered]repealed
- 8 CCR § 10616Employer-Maintained Medical Records. [Repealed]repealed
- 8 CCR § 10618X-Rays. [Renumbered]repealed
- 8 CCR § 10619Subpoena of X-Rays. [Repealed]repealed
- 8 CCR § 10626Examining and Copying Hospital and Physicians' Records. [Repealed]repealed
- 8 CCR § 10635Duty to Serve Documents.
- 8 CCR § 10660X-Rays.
- 8 CCR § 10790Interpreters.
Also on this
Unofficial guide — not legal advice. The statute is the state’s text. The quotes are litigated applications, not a prediction.
About California Labor Code § 4600
What is California Labor Code § 4600?
Labor Code § 4600 sits in ARTICLE 2. Medical and Hospital Treatment [4600 - 4615]. The statute on this page begins: (a) Medical, surgical, chiropractic, acupuncture, licensed clinical social worker, and hospital treatment, including nursing, medicines. The official display is on LegInfo; this is a reprint.
Did WCAB panels apply Labor Code § 4600 in this corpus?
This corpus has 141 released decisions whose extracted legal standards named § 4600. Quotes and PDFs are on this page. That is not every case in California that ever cited the section.