Vol. 6, Issue 49

Find Solutions & Strategies December 7, 2015

The Limited Use of VR Evidence

The shape of things to come under Dahl

In This Issue

* VR EVIDENCE POST-DAHL

* MEDICAL REVIEW STUDY

* MORTALITY TREND

* SURVEILLANCE

* NEWS: Changes to proposed chronic pain and opioid treatment guidelines

* eNEWSLETTER ARCHIVES

Season's Greetings

the limited use of voc rehab evidence: the shape of things to come under dahl

In Mesanovic v. Specialty Termite, 2015 Cal. Wrk. Comp. P.D. LEXIS --, the WCAB affirmed the WCJ's finding that the applicant carpenter who suffered an industrial injury to his low back and psyche on 7/13/2007 did not rebut the diminished future earning capacity (DFEC) adjustment factor in the 2005 Permanent Disability Rating Schedule (PDRS) consistent with the holding in Ogilvie v. W.C.A.B. (2011) 197 Cal. App. 4th 1262 [76 Cal. Comp. Cases 624] (Ogilvie III)...read more.

cwci study examines medical review and medical dispute resolution in calif. workers' comp

Despite assertions that the California workers' compensation medical review and dispute resolution process results in wholesale denial of care for injured workers, a new California Workers' Compensation Institute (CWCI) analysis shows that about 96% of treatment services are approved and delivered to injured workers, and that the multiple levels of medical review have produced a system with a high degree of consistency for approving care while maintaining the state's evidence-based medicine standard....read more.

an alarming mortality and morbidity trend among middle-aged white non-hispanic americans suggests implications for ability to work

Thomas A. Robinson, J.D., our Feature National Columnist, is the co-author of Larson's Workers' Compensation Law (LexisNexis).

According to a study recently released by two Princeton University economists, the broadly observed long-term decline in mortality rates among men and women in the United States has been conspicuously absent within one American demographic-middle-aged, white non-Hispanics [see "Rising morbidity and mortality in midlife among white non-Hispanic Americans in the 21st century", by Anne Case, Ph.D. and Angus Deaton, Ph.D., published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences]. The study suggests that the increase in mortality among the identified segment of America's population is largely accounted for by increasing death rates from drug and alcohol poisonings, suicide, chronic liver diseases and cirrhosis...read more.

california compensation cases

Injured Worker Had No Expectation of Privacy While Working Out at Gym: Cal. Comp. Cases Advanced Postings (12/1/2015). Lexis.com and Lexis Advance online subscribers can read it.

california news headlines

CA: DWC Posts Changes to OMFS (Physician Services/Non-Physician Practitioner Services).

CA: WCIRB Actuarial Committee to Meet December 7.

CA: DWC Updates SJDB Voucher Form w/Notice of RTW Supplement Program.

CA: WCIRB Governing Committee to Meet Dec. 9 Re: Cost Monitoring Report.

CA: DWC Issues Notice for Changes to Proposed Chronic Pain, Opioid Treatment Guidelines.

NCCI Analyzes State Differences in Diagnosis, Treatment of Joint Injuries.

Businesses Consider Purchase of Active Shooter Insurance.

Study Finds News Media Focuses on Criminal, Not Preventative Aspects of Opioid Abuse.

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 Robin.E.Kobayashi@lexisnexis.com.

November 30, 2015: A Medical Provider Network Conundrum: Second Opinion Process.
November 23, 2015: Housekeeping Services Expenses Recovered as Medical Treatment.
November 16, 2015: Rules for Hearing Representatives.
November 9, 2015: Defendant Bound by a Stipulation Due to Unilateral Mistake.
November 2, 2015: Constitutionality of IMR Upheld.
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS 2010-2015 ARCHIVES.

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