Vol. 7, Issue 24

Find Solutions & Strategies June 13, 2016

WCAB Panel Finds Defense Counsel's Failure to Provide RFA to Claims Administrator Was Unreasonable

In This Issue

* FAILURE TO PROVIDE RFA

* BENEFIT INCREASES 2017

* STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS

* NEWS: WCRI study on opioids

* eNEWSLETTER ARCHIVES

A Note From the Editor

wcab panel finds defense counsel's failure to provide rfa to claims administrator was unreasonable

Sometimes common sense trumps strict application of UR rules

In Czech v. Bank of America, 2016 Cal. Wrk. Comp. P.D. LEXIS --, the WCAB panel affirmed the WCJ's finding that the defendant failed to timely complete utilization review (UR) pursuant to Labor Code � 4610 and that the applicant who suffered industrial orthopedic injuries on 4/3/2012 was entitled to medical treatment in the form of right sacroiliac joint rhizotomy and neurolysis, right piriformis Botox injections and 30-day trial of inferential unit. Here, the applicant sent a copy of an RFA for recommended treatment to the defendant's attorney rather than directly to the defendant. The defendant's attorney asserted, however, that it did not...read more.

cwci notes california workers' comp benefit increases for 2017

California's State Average Weekly Wage (SAWW) rose just over 3.9 percent from $1,120.67 to $1,164.51 in the year ending March 31, 2016, which the California Workers' Compensation Institute (CWCI) reports will boost temporary total disability (TTD) and permanent total disability (PTD) rates for 2017 work injury claims, and other workers' comp benefits that are tied to changes in the SAWW...read more.

california compensation cases

Split Panel Finds Pro Baseball Player's Cumulative Injury Claim Barred by Statute of Limitations. Lexis.com and Lexis Advance online subscribers can read it here.

california news headlines

CA: WCIRB Governing Committee to Meet June 15.

CA: DWC Posts Adjustments to OMFS (Physician/Nonphysician Services).

CA: DWC Issues 2nd Comment Period for Changes to ASC, Outpatient Fee Schedule.

CA: Former Lawmaker Tom Calderon Pleads Guilty.

PCI Issues New Report on Medical Cost Shifting From WC Opt Out Systems.

PCI Insurers Support Town Hall to Discuss Florida Workers' Comp System.

WCRI Study Finds Large Decreases in Opioids Received by Injured Workers.

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.

June 6, 2016: RFA Submitted by Secondary Treating Physician Triggered UR Process.
May 31, 2016: WCAB Panel Defines Violent Act for Psychiatric Injury.
May 23, 2016: Do Collective Bargaining Agreements Preempt LC 132a?
May 16, 2016: Compromise and Release and Hidden Glitches of Paragraph 3.
May 9, 2016: Labor Code Section 4662 and Vocational Experts.
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