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Vol. 5, Issue 16

Find Solutions & Strategies                                        April 21, 2014

Two Noteworthy Panel Decisions on Independent Medical Review 
  
WCAB applies Dubon in two recent decisions
In This Issue
* IMR PROCESS
* LUMBAR PATIENTS
* EMPLOYER FAULT; CREDIT
* NEWS: Constitutionality of IMR process challenged
* eNEWSLETTER ARCHIVES
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LexisNexis Legal & Professional Operations
wcab applies dubon in two noteworthy panel decisions

Two recent noteworthy panel decisions issued by the WCAB provide further guidance on the Independent Medical Review process in light of the Dubon en banc decision.

 

In the first case, the WCAB affirmed the WCJ's finding that the defendant's utilization review denials of the applicant's request for Xyrem and Botox treatments for her orthopedic injuries and fibromyalgia were invalid based upon the failure of all reviewing physicians to sign their reports and the defendant's failure to provide the reviewing physicians with relevant agreed medical examiner reports explaining the necessity of the requested treatments. However, the WCAB deferred its determination as to whether the requested medical treatment was reasonable and necessary, when the WCAB concluded that...read more.

quality "continuum of care" for worst case lumbar patients

Study shows return to work, work retention rates dramatically improve

 

By Teresa McLoughlin Rice, Esq.

 

Measured by such yardsticks as return-to-work, work retention and reoperation rates, the success of lumbar surgeries in the Workers' Compensation system could be fairly characterized as mixed. This, combined with the reality that lumbar spine surgery rates have been increasing, makes particularly intriguing a recent study suggesting improved outcomes where patients participate in a comprehensive "continuum of care" which includes quality postoperative rehabilitation....read more.

california compensation cases

Cal Comp CasesEmployer 90 Percent at Fault for Applicant's Burn Injuries: Cal. Comp. Cases April Advanced Postings (4/16/2014). Lexis.com and Lexis Advance subscribers can read it.

california news headlines
NOTICE OF CORRECTION
The DWC has brought to our attention an error in Table 1, Present Value of Permanent Disability, in Workers' Comp Laws of California, 2014 Edition. Access a corrected table here. We apologize for the error and inconvenience.

WorkCompCentral Education thumbnail  

 

enewsletter archives

ArchivesTake a deep dive into our past eNewsletters for 2014 and prior...warning - some links to articles may not work...report any linking problems to [email protected].
 
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