Class Code 8834
Physicians’ Practices/Outpatient Clinics
Class Code 8834 covers physicians' practices and outpatient clinics in California, including private physician offices, multi‑specialty outpatient centers, and clinic-based physician services. The approved pure premium rate for September 1, 2026 is $0.966 per $100 of payroll, which reflects the baseline expected cost of workers' compensation losses for this work mix.
What Class Code 8834 Covers
This classification applies to medical offices where physicians and licensed clinical staff provide outpatient evaluation, diagnosis, minor procedures, immunizations, wound care, and routine follow‑up care. It covers both solo and group physician practices, family medicine, pediatrics, internal medicine, and many specialty outpatient clinics when most activity is office‑based rather than inpatient or full laboratory services. Employees typically included are physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, registered and licensed vocational nurses, medical assistants, front‑desk administrative staff, and clinic managers. Dedicated diagnostic laboratories, ambulatory surgery centers with substantial invasive procedures, and employers whose primary business is inpatient care or hospital operations are generally classified elsewhere.
Who It Applies To
- Private physician offices (family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics)
- Multi‑specialty outpatient clinics and community health clinics
- Urgent care and walk‑in clinics operated by physician groups
- Specialty outpatient practices (dermatology, cardiology, orthopedics) when office‑based
- Clinic clinical staff: RNs, LVNs, medical assistants, PAs, NPs, front‑desk/admin personnel
Common Job Duties
- Performing patient intake, taking vitals, and recording medical histories
- Conducting examinations, minor procedures, wound care, and suturing
- Administering vaccines, injections, and intramuscular/subcutaneous meds
- Phlebotomy and handling blood or other potentially infectious materials
- Sterilizing instruments, cleaning exam rooms, and maintaining infection control
- Charting in electronic medical records, billing support, and appointment scheduling
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $0.966 Rate
The pure premium rate of $0.966 per $100 of payroll represents the expected cost of indemnity and medical losses before insurer overhead, profit, and adjustments. To estimate premium, multiply payroll (in hundreds) by $0.966; for example, $500,000 in payroll yields a base pure premium of $4,830. Final premium an employer pays will vary by insurer rate modifiers, experience modification (E-Mod), schedule credits or debits, deductible programs, and state or carrier policy adjustments.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Cal/OSHA standards particularly relevant include the Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) requirement (8 CCR 3203), the Bloodborne Pathogens standard (8 CCR 5193) with an exposure control plan, sharps injury log and hepatitis B vaccine offer, and the Aerosol Transmissible Diseases (ATD) standard (8 CCR 5199) where applicable. Healthcare employers must also implement workplace violence prevention measures, provide PPE and training, maintain training records, and keep OSHA logs and medical surveillance as required.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 8834
A PEO like Key HR can centralize California workers' comp services—handling claims intake, nurse case management, return‑to‑work programs, and OSHA recordkeeping—to reduce claim costs and shorten disability. Key HR also delivers tailored safety programs (sharps safety, workplace violence prevention, ergonomics), compliance templates for Cal/OSHA standards, and experience‑mod improvement strategies that can lower the effective premium for clinics.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Are in‑office lab techs and phlebotomists covered under class code 8834?
In‑office phlebotomy and basic diagnostic testing performed as part of a physician practice are generally included in 8834. However, dedicated laboratory operations, high‑volume diagnostic laboratories, or anatomic/pathology services are often classified under separate laboratory class codes—confirm classification with your auditor or PEO to avoid misclassification.
What are the most effective steps to lower workers' comp costs for a physician practice?
Prioritize sharps safety and bloodborne pathogen controls, implement a formal return‑to‑work program with transitional duties, reduce slips/trips with housekeeping and facility repairs, provide regular de‑escalation and violence prevention training, and work with a PEO or insurer to improve your experience modification through proactive claims management.
Which written programs and records must a California outpatient clinic maintain?
At minimum, maintain an Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP), a Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Plan (including sharps injury log and hepatitis B vaccine documentation), training records, PPE and respirator program documents if used, and workplace violence prevention program records when applicable.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 8834
- Classification
- Physicians’ Practices/Outpatient Clinics
- Pure Premium Rate
- $0.966 / $100 payroll
- Effective Date
- September 1, 2026
- Source
- WCIRB Approved Filing
Manage Workers' Comp Through a PEO
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