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BULLETIN: FLASH REPORT
WORKERS' COMP ADVISOR
Thursday, December 13, 2001
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A broadcast-type report of breaking news about workers'
compensation provided whenever news of significance develops.
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FLASH REPORT: Calderon Writes Scathing Letter to Comp Commission
Assembly Insurance Committee Chairman Tom Calderon has accused the
Commission on Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation of using flawed
research data to support proposed changes to the Official Medical Fee
Schedule.
In a Dec. 6 letter obtained by The Advisor on Thursday, Calderon also said
the commission appeared to be playing fast and loose with state contract
rules in hiring consultants. The commission canceled a presentation
scheduled for tomorrow in San Francisco by consultant Laura Gardner of
Axiomedics Research recommending changes to the inpatient portion of the fee
schedule.
Calderon said research by Gardner and other consultants is flawed because it
relies on data supplied by the California Workers' Compensation Institute, a
think tank funded by the insurance industry. The assemblyman said the recent
California Supreme Court decision in the Schaefer Ambulance Service case
raised questions about the validity of data submitted by insurers because
many included legal expenses in medical cost reports, artifically inflating
the true cost of medical services.
Medical providers have voiced similar complaints in the past, but
researchers contend that their databases are not affected by the insurers'
medical-cost reports.
But now a powerful legislator has joined the critics. Dick Gannon,
administrative director of the Workers' Compensation Division, said
Calderon's complaint could delay implementation of the inpatient fee
schedule, which he had hoped to accomplish next year.
"If it discredits the report, then we're back to square one," Gannon
said.
In addition, Calderon said some consultants' reports appeared to be done
before they were under contract with the state, which would be a violation
of state rules.
Workers' Comp Headlines
Vol. 11 Number 22, Wednesday, December 12, 2001
Brought to you via EARTHMAILT E-Delivery. http://www.earthmail.com
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A summary of news about workers' compensation provided 22 times per year
consistent with the publication of our printed newsletter. See information
at the end to learn how to subscribe to both the electronic and full
newsletter versions. Also all the legal stuff. YOU MAY FREELY forward this
document, provided you forward it in its entirety, as per the copyright
notice below.
-------------------------------------------------
ADVERTISEMENT - THIS ISSUE SPONSORED BY
STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND
http://www.scif.com
Get More. Worry Less.
California's Number One Workers' Comp Carrier
Serving the broker community with pride
Call our broker program at 1(800)834-2393 or
e-mail us at broker@scif.com for more
information
-------------------------------------------------
WORKERS' COMP ADVISOR
Electronic Summary Edition
Volume 11, No. 22
BALLOT INITIATIVE FILED:
Organized labor backs a pair of look-alike ballot initiatives filed by the
wife
of an injured worker who's been championing the cause of increased benefits.
DA CHARGES PREMIUM FRAUD WIDESPREAD:
A prosecutor for Los Angeles County is negotiating a $1 million settlement
with
an industrial medical clinic that made deals with employers not to report
minor
injuries to carriers.
ACCIDENT-PRONE MECHANIC TRIPLES UP COMP CLAIMS:
Department of Insurance investigators nab diesel mechanic who they allege was
collecting up to three disability checks at the same time.
STUDIES SHOW PRESUMPTION COSTLY:
A pair of studies released recently both say the state law that created a
presumption of correctness by the treating physician measurably drove up
medical costs.
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And that, as we in the news business say, is -30-
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Workers' Comp Headlines
Vol. 11 Number 21, Wednesday, September 28, 2001
Brought to you via EARTHMAILT E-Delivery. http://www.earthmail.com
---------------------------------------------------
A summary of news about workers' compensation provided 22 times per year
consistent with the publication of our printed newsletter. See information
at the end to learn how to subscribe to both the electronic and full
newsletter versions. Also all the legal stuff. YOU MAY FREELY forward this
document, provided you forward it in its entirety, as per the copyright
notice below.
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Here's a preview of stories that will appear in the Nov. 28 edition of the
California Workers' Compensation Advisor.
NEWS:
IMC APPROVES FINAL RBRVS STUDIES: Despite a state budget crunch, the
Industrial Medical Council votes to approve several studies to finish work
on conversion of the Official Medical Fee Schedule to a Resource-based,
Relative Value System.
LABOR GROUP QUESTIONS QME DISCIPLINE: A local chapter of the Service
Employees International Union says the Industrial Medical Council is too
lenient on wayward QMEs.
QME APPLICANTS PERFORM POORLY ON TESTS: Only 57 percent of doctors who took
the Sept. 15 QME license examination passed, causing some Industrial Medical
Council members to question whether dismal scores are part of a long-term
trend or an anomaly connected to the Sept. 11 attacks.
SHOULDER INJURIES NOT GETTING A FAIR SHAKE: A study by Rand Corp. suggests
that workers suffering shoulder injuries are unfairly compensated, compared
to workers who suffer injuries to their wrists or elbows.
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And that, as we in the news business say, is -30-
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Workers' Comp Headlines for the California Workers' Comp Advisor are
what you've just finished reading and are delivered to you by means of
EARTHMAILT E-Delivery Service (http://www.earthmail.com).
It is written
by Jim Sams (jsams@wcadvisor.com) and J
Dale Debber (creator@wcadvisor.com)
Voice: 530-470-7500,
Fax: 530-470-7600.
