Vol. 7, Issue 1

Find Solutions & Strategies January 1, 2016

Top 25 Noteworthy Panel Decisions

For the period July-December 2015

In This Issue

* TOP 25 PANEL DECISIONS

* MEDICAL MILEAGE RATE

* TOP BIZARRE CASES 2015

* LABOR CODE BOOK

* CCC's: Illegal Marijuana Business, Residential Employee, Dec. CCC cites available

* NEWS: WCIRB report on Q3 insurer experience

* eNEWSLETTER ARCHIVES

Happy New Year

Work Comp Index 2016 Edition

TOP 25 noteworthy PANEL DECISIONS (JULY-DECEMBER 2015)

LexisNexis has picked the top "noteworthy" panel decisions issued by the WCAB during the period July through December 2015. The list features a number of decisions addressing the assignment and reporting of PQMEs, several cases discussing the requirements for obtaining recovery from the SIBTF, and a split decision where the panel majority found that that WCJ properly calculated applicant's level of permanent disability by adding impairments rather than by combining ratings using Combined Values Chart. Also included is a case in which the WCAB was split on the issue of whether the applicant was injured while working in defendant's residence was an excluded employee under LC 3352(h) even though applicant also did work on defendant's rental properties...read more.

medical MILEAGE RATE to decline for 2016 travel

The Internal Revenue Service has announced that the standard mileage rate for business miles will decline 3.5 cents per mile to 54 cents per mile as of January 1, 2016...read more.

top 10 bizarre workers' comp cases for 2015

Two California cases have made the list for 2015

By Thomas A. Robinson, co-author Larson's Workers' Compensation Law

My bizarre workers' comp case blog is, in many respects, a reenactment of a tradition that my mentor, Arthur Larson, and I shared prior to his death some years ago. Each January, Arthur and I would meet in Arthur's home and review our respective lists of unusual or bizarre workers' compensation cases reported during the previous 12 months. One thing we always kept in mind: while a case might be bizarre in an academic sense, it was intensely real. It affected real lives...read more.

workers' comp laws of calif. 2016 edition: a new look

NEW! THICKER COVER, LARGER SIZE FOR THE LABOR CODE BOOK. Due to the explosion in the number of statutes and regulations post-SB 863, the book became too thick and the paper cover would easily tear. We have now used a thicker cover and increased the size of the book a bit to decrease the page count by about 25%, making the book easier to handle. As a result of these changes, you'll also find that the tables and charts are somewhat larger and easier to read. We look forward to hearing your feedback. If you don't already subscribe, you can order the book here.

california COMPENSATION CASES

Applicant Shot at Illegal Marijuana Growing Business Suffered Compensable Injury: Cal. Comp. Cases December Advanced Postings (12/16/2015). Lexis.com and Lexis Advance online subscribers can read it.

Cal Comp Cases

Defendant Hired Applicant in His Capacity as Homeowner and Not Part of His Rental Property Business: Cal. Comp. Cases January Advanced Postings (12/29/2015). Lexis.com and Lexis Advance online subscribers can read it.

Cal Comp Cases

December CCC Cites Now Available. Lexis.com and Lexis Advance online subscribers can read it.

california news headlines

CA: DWC Posts Mileage Rate Effective 1-1-2016.

CA: Federal Judge Bars Uber From Imposing New Contract on Drivers in Class Action Suit.

CA: WCIRB Releases Report on Q3 Insurer Experience.

CA: Angie Wei Elected 2016 Chair of CHSWC.

CA: DWC, Sedgwick Reach Settlement on Recent Audit of Medical Treatment Requests.

CA: Bill Would Allow Gig Workers to Collectively Bargain With Company.

CA: 9 Arrested in $24M Scheme to Allegedly Defaud 230 WC Insurers for Interpreter Services.

CA: DIR Publishes 2015 Legislative Report.

CA: DWC Adds New Form to Expand Electronic JET File Options.

CA: DWC Posts Adjustments to OMFS (DMEPOS).

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

CA: DWC Posts Changes to OMFS (Pathology and Clinical Laboratory Section).

CA: DWC Posts Updated Spanish Version of Benefit Notices.

ProPublica Examines Power, Wealth of Middlemen at Workers Comp Conferences.

CDC Reports Increase in Drug, Opioid Overdose Deaths in U.S. 2000-2014.

CDC Accepting Comments for Proposed 2016 Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain.

NIOSH Examines Troubling Statistics on Opioid Overdose Epidemic.

NPR Reports on 'Third Wave' of Asbestos Disease in the U.S.

Expert Details How Affordable Care Act Is Expanding Into Workers' Compensation.

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.

December 14, 2015: 2015 Year in Review.
December 7, 2015: The Limited Use of Vocational Rehabilitation Evidence.
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.
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS 2010-2015 ARCHIVES.

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