Vol. 6, Issue 31

Find Solutions & Strategies                August 3, 2015

Timely Utilization Review

WCAB panel strictly applies Bodam rule

In This Issue
A Note From the Editor
timely ur: wcab strictly applies bodam rule
Experts Richard Jacobsmeyer and Julius Young offer best practices for complying with Bodam

 

Julius Young thumbnailIn Gutierrez v. Bigge Crane & Rigging Company, 2015 Cal. Wrk. Comp. P.D. LEXIS --, the WCAB affirmed the WCJ's finding that the defendant's utilization review of a request for authorization submitted by the applicant's treating physician, Douglas Abeles, M.D., for prescription medications Percocet and Norco to treat the applicant's 1/8/2008 industrial low back injury was invalid pursuant to the holding in Bodam v. San Bernardino Department of Social Services (Appeals Board significant panel decision), due to the defendant's failure to establish that it timely communicated the UR determinations to Dr. Abeles' office within 24 hours after the decisions were made...read more.
hon. david hettick retires FROM the BENCH  
Hon. David Hettick retired last week after serving more than 28 years as a workers' compensation judge. We wish Judge Hettick all the best in his retirement!

A legal expert recently explained that there's a form and process that lawyers have to use to articulate their arguments to move things forward and that it shapes the content of what they say--form shapes content. A brilliant jurist is someone who can push the form in order to accommodate new content and new ideas. We think David Hettick is one such jurist. He will be greatly missed.

 

We are fortunate that he will continue to serve on the LexisNexis California Workers' Compensation Editorial Board and the LexisNexis California WCAB Noteworthy Panel Decisions Advisory Board. There he will continue to help all of us navigate the complexities of SB 863.

national workers' compensation conference 
Discounted CLE opportunity for our eNewsletter subscribers: You save an extra $100.00 on top of the $350.00 Pre-Early Bird Savings for the National Workers' Compensation & Disability Conference. But hurry, the best rate ends in just a few weeks! Register by Sept. 4 with Promo Code LNL to save. And because of our partnership with NWCDC you know you'll get only the highest quality content, with sessions exploring current legal issues from workplace violence to opt out. Make sure you're there November 11-13, and remember to use Promo Code LNL to get your special savings.
california news headlines

CA: WCIRB Actuarial Committee Posts Aug. 6 Meeting Agenda.

CA: Dept. of Public Health Announces New Cancer Trend Research Project.

CA: Judge to Rule Thursday on Whether Calderon Trial to Proceed. 

RIMS/Advisen: Stable Insurance Market Shows Decline in Workers Comp Costs.

Payroll Fraud Prevention Act of 2015 Introduced in Congress.

Luxe Valet On Demand Service Converts Contractors to Employees.

Lawmakers Seek to Investigate DOJ's Prosecution of Medical Marijuana Patients, Providers.

eNewsletter archives

Take a deep dive into our past eNewsletters for 2015 and prior...warning - some links to articles may not work...report any linking problems to [email protected].