Managed Care Organization

Managed Care Organizations (M.C.O. or MCO) are organizations certified by the Bureau of Workers' Compensation to manage medical care. Providers submit bills to the MCO, which will make the initial determination on whether or not to pay the bill.

The MCO process is explained more fully on our MCO (Managed Care) Information page. We also have a chart of the "MCO Decision Process".

Other Information:

• Court: On July 18, 2001, the Ohio Supreme Court held in Northwest Ohio Bldg. and Construction Trades Council v. Conrad, that the method used to fund the MCO system was constitutional. (August, 2001)
  
  
• Court: A Court of Appeals' Magistrate found that medical treatment that produces a temporary benefit can be reasonably necessary to treat an injury and ruled that the Commission improperly denied medical treatment because it would not provide "lasting benefits." (May, 2001)
  
  
• Court: Court of Appeals Finds MCO Program Improperly Funded. (March 2000)
  
  
• Court: Supreme Court Rules MCO Program consitutional. (February 2000)
  
  
• Administrative: BWC Regulation changes affecting MCO Appeals and vocational rehabilitation. (January, 1999)
  
  
• Court: Common Pleas Judge Upholds MCO Program. (October, 1998)
  
  
• Administrative: The BWC has new medical "treatment plan approval guidelines", which will be effective on June 1, 1998. (May, 1998)
  
  
• Court: A case has been filed in the Ohio Supreme Court challenging the practice of permitting Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) to terminate medical treatment in workers' compensation claims. (May, 1998)
  
  
• Court: Lawsuit Challenging MCO procedure transferred to Franklin County. (September, 1997)
  
  
• Court: Lawsuit filed challenging MCO system. (June, 1997)
  
  
• Administrative: The New MCO Process. (April, 1997)