California Workers' Comp

CA: Med-Legal Makes More Financial Sense Than Treatment
Jan 30, 2024
CA: Med-Legal Makes More Financial Sense Than Treatment
California physicians must come to terms with an uncomfortable fact: financially, a physician’s time is much better spent conducting Medical-Legal evaluations than actually t...
Sedgwick Is Only Getting Worse
Jan 24, 2024
Sedgwick Is Only Getting Worse
When regulators allow payers to disregard workers’ compensation laws and regulations with impunity, providers cannot help but view the system as rigged against ...
CorVel Adjuster &  Attorney Ignore CA Law (Part 1)
Jan 22, 2024
CorVel Adjuster & Attorney Ignore CA Law (Part 1)
Getting paid for treating injured workers can be highly challenging for providers. And sometimes, claims administrators and their representatives can be just plain mean. ...
CorVel Adjuster &  Attorney Ignore CA Law (Part 2)
Jan 22, 2024
CorVel Adjuster & Attorney Ignore CA Law (Part 2)
In the prior installment of this troubling story, a Corvel Senior WC Specialist became belligerent in response to a provider’s inquiry about payment for six bil...
Obituary: Palomar Urgent Care (for Injured Workers)
Jan 18, 2024
Obituary: Palomar Urgent Care (for Injured Workers)
California workers’ comp has lost yet another sizable medical practice, in another unmistakable sign of the ongoing breakdown of the system.Palomar Health Medical Grou...
CA OMFS 2024: DMEPOS Fee Schedule Update
Jan 16, 2024
CA OMFS 2024: DMEPOS Fee Schedule Update
California’s Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) updated the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) fee schedule, effective for services...
CA OMFS 2024: Pathology, Clinical Lab Fee Schedule Update
Jan 15, 2024
CA OMFS 2024: Pathology, Clinical Lab Fee Schedule Update
On January 4, 2024, California’s Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) updated the Pathology and Clinical Laboratory portion of the Official Medical Fee Schedule (OMFS), ef...
Athens Pays Interpreter More Than Physician For Evaluation
Jan 10, 2024
Athens Pays Interpreter More Than Physician For Evaluation
Once again, a claims administrator — with the help of a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) — offers a perfect example of what makes treating injured workers financially un...
Albertsons Employee's Post-Amputation UR Nightmare
Jan 9, 2024
Albertsons Employee's Post-Amputation UR Nightmare
Two days before Christmas in 2022, an Albertsons Companies employee suffered “traumatic amputations” of three toes in a work accident. This worker lived alone on the t...
UR Data Supports CA Legislators' Fears
Dec 15, 2023
UR Data Supports CA Legislators' Fears
As early as 2016, California legislators were aware of potential abuse of the Utilization Review (UR) process. These legislators attempted to address the problem by en...
AmTrust Pays Physician FAR Less Than Interpreter
Dec 13, 2023
AmTrust Pays Physician FAR Less Than Interpreter
Why do California doctors refuse to treat injured workers? Today’s story offers a giant, unmistakable clue.For the same encounter with an injured worker, AmTrust North...
CA Interpreters, Submit Those Second Bill Reviews!
Nov 21, 2023
CA Interpreters, Submit Those Second Bill Reviews!
Many providers of interpreter services in California are forgoing their legal right to correct reimbursement, potentially leaving large amounts of revenue on the table. Becau...