ut Some Claims Stricken in Dispute Between Company's Founding Partners By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Wed, 28 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0700 A California appellate court ruled that some claims in a dispute between the founding partners of a factoring company should have been dismissed. In 2010, Ari Resnick and Dr. Ismael Silva Jr. Full Article
ut Subcontractor Can't Demand Payment for Work Done Without Comp Coverage By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Wed, 04 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0700 A California appellate court ruled that a subcontractor on a construction project was not entitled to pursue payment for its work because it failed to maintain workers’ compensation coverage. Case: American Building Innovation LP… Full Article
ut WCAB Consolidates Cases in Attorney Fee Dispute By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Thu, 05 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board issued an en banc decision Wednesday consolidating five cases to resolve a dispute over how to split fees between an injured worker’s current and former… Full Article
ut Statute of Limitations Bars Worker's Medical Malpractice Claim By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Thu, 12 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0700 An injured worker’s 2023 medical malpractice action was time-barred because more than three years had passed since she underwent the physical therapy that allegedly caused the additional injuries, a California… Full Article
ut Employer Gets Relief From Default in Dispute Over Comp Premiums By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Thu, 26 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0700 A California appellate court ruled that an employer was entitled to relief from its default in a dispute over allegedly unpaid workers’ compensation premiums. Case: Creditor’s Adjustment Bureau Inc. v. Bathe,… Full Article
ut Court Vacates $27.9M Restitution Order Over Lack of Offsets for Valid Services By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Tue, 01 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0700 For the second time, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals said a Southern California judge failed to consider the fair market value of services provided in ordering restitution or… Full Article
ut Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee Meets Oct. 16 By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Fri, 04 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The California Division of Workers’ Compensation Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee is meeting virtually on Oct. 16. The 2015 bill that directed the DWC to create a prescription drug formulary also created… Full Article
ut Court Upholds Finding of Partial Disability, Remands Dispute of Claimed Overpayment By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Thu, 06 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Michigan Court of Appeals ruled that a worker was partially disabled by carpal tunnel syndrome and the Workers’ Disability Compensation Appeals Commission should address whether she received an overpayment… Full Article
ut Report: Man Accused of Selling Insurance Without License By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The owner of a Georgia tax preparation business was charged with 23 counts of insurance fraud and two counts of deceptive practices for allegedly selling workers’ compensation insurance without being… Full Article
ut AppliedVR Names Michael Marsau Executive Director, Workers' Compensation By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Thu, 20 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0700 AppliedVR appointed Michael Marsau as its executive director of workers’ compensation. Michael Marsau Marsau is overseeing the launch of the company’s flagship RelieVRx prescription therapeutic into the workers’ compensation market, the… Full Article
ut DOL Proposes Indoor, Outdoor Heat Safety Rules By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Mon, 08 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The U.S. Department of Labor released a proposed rule that would require employers to develop an injury and illness prevention plan to control heat hazards in workplaces affected by excessive… Full Article
ut Crowdstrike Outage Hits Comp Agencies By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Fri, 19 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0700 EDITOR’S NOTE: The New York State Workers Compensation Board said Friday afternoon that the majority of online services should now be restored. “Users may still experience lingering issues with some applications,”… Full Article
ut Comp Agencies Report Disruptions From Tech Outage By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Mon, 22 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The software update that grounded airplanes and disrupted hospitals worldwide Friday also wreaked havoc on workers’ compensation regulators in some states. Officials from Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York,… Full Article
ut Berkshire Names Marj Hutchings CIO By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Thu, 25 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Workers’ Compensation Division of Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Cos. appointed Marj Hutchings as its chief information officer. Marj Hutchings Hutchings brings 35 years of technology experience, 27 of which are in… Full Article
ut CompIQ, Bardavon Launch Automated Referral Process By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Wed, 18 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0700 CompIQ Solutions and Bardavon announced a partnership to create an automated referral process for injured workers who need specialized care. The companies said they were integrating CompIQ’s IQSymphony claims portal with… Full Article
ut Carrier Not Contributing Assessments to Trust Fund Can Still Get Reimbursements By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Mon, 15 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Massachusetts Appeals Court ruled that an insurance company that was not contributing any assessments to the Workers’ Compensation Trust Fund was still eligible for reimbursement for benefits paid to… Full Article
ut Report: Lawmaker Failed to Report Outside Employment While Collecting Comp By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Thu, 13 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Connecticut Insider on Wednesday reported that a state lawmaker received more than $100,000 in workers’ compensation benefits despite having three outside sources of income that he never disclosed. Sen. Paul… Full Article
ut Statute of Limitations Ends Inquiry Into Senator's Comp Claim By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Mon, 15 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice said it ended an inquiry into a state senator who allegedly did not disclose that he was working while collecting workers’ compensation benefits, saying… Full Article
ut NCCI Proposes Rate Cuts for 2025 By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Mon, 30 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The National Council on Compensation Insurance recommended an average 6.1% cut in voluntary loss costs for Connecticut in 2025. NCCI also proposed a 6.2% average reduction in the assigned risk market… Full Article
ut Firefighter's Aortic Aneurysm Constitutes Presumptively Compensable Heart Disease By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Tue, 16 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Virginia Court of Appeals upheld a determination that a firefighter with an aortic aneurysm had presumptively occupational heart disease. Case: Hanover County v. Moore, No. 0715-23-2, 07/09/2024, unpublished. Facts: Scott Moore… Full Article
ut Board Errs in Finding Worker Not Entitled to More Benefits for Second Amputation By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Fri, 09 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The West Virginia Intermediate Court of Appeals ruled that the Workers’ Compensation Board of Review erred in finding that a worker who lost part of his leg was not entitled… Full Article
ut Supreme Court Upholds Authorization of Pain Management Consultation for Worker By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Tue, 20 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The West Virginia Supreme Court upheld the authorization of a pain management consultation for an injured worker. Case: Murray American Energy Inc. v. Stapel, No. 22-923, 08/01/2024, published. Facts: Sean Stapel worked… Full Article
ut Exclusivity Doesn't Bar Worker From Suing Employer's Auto Insurance Carrier By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Wed, 02 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Colorado Supreme Court ruled that when a worker is injured in the course of his employment by the acts of an underinsured third-party tortfeasor, workers’ compensation exclusivity does not bar him… Full Article
ut Split Court Upholds Dismissal of Widow's Intentional Tort Claims Arising from Out-of-State Accident By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Tue, 04 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0700 A divided Texas appellate court upheld the summary dismissal of a widow’s intentional tort claims arising from her husband’s fatal motor vehicle accident in Oklahoma. Justin Schneider worked for QES Pressure… Full Article
ut DWC Seeks Input on Legislative Recommendations By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Thu, 11 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation posted an online survey seeking input on legislative recommendations to include in the upcoming 2024 biennial report to the state Legislature. The division said it… Full Article
ut Court Rejects Constitutional Challenge to Deadline for Contesting MMI Date By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Fri, 19 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0700 A Texas appellate court rejected a worker’s constitutional challenge to the 90-day deadline for contesting a previously assessed maximum medical improvement date. Case: Engel v. Texas Department of Insurance, No, 03-23-00077-CV, 07/17/2024,… Full Article
ut ICT Sets Webinar on Social Media in Claims Resolution By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Fri, 02 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Insurance Council of Texas is holding a webinar Aug. 12 that will cover the use of social media when resolving workers’ compensation claims. Marci Reading, vice president of business development… Full Article
ut DWC Seeks Comments for Routine Rule Review By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation is accepting comments on three sections of the Texas Administrative Code as part of a periodic review of its rules and regulations. The division is… Full Article
ut DWC Announces Dates for 'Brown Bag' Meetings on Dispute Resolution By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Fri, 30 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation announced that it will hold a series of “brown bag” meetings in September and October to discuss the latest updates in dispute resolution. Agenda topics… Full Article
ut DWC Seeks Input on 2025 Medical Audit Plan By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Tue, 29 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation is accepting comments on the 2025 Medical Quality Review Annual Audit Plan through Nov. 22. The annual plan establishes priorities for the Medical Quality Review… Full Article
ut Court Upholds Restitution Order Against Convicted Fraudster By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Fri, 07 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Alaska Court of Appeals upheld the restitution order against a convicted workers’ compensation fraudster. Scott Abraham Groom was convicted of taking more than $10,000 in state funds by “false or fraudulent pretense,… Full Article
ut Court Dismisses Dispute Over Whether Worker Qualifies as Public Safety Employee By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Thu, 23 May 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Maryland Appellate Court rejected a dispute over whether an injured worker qualified as a public safety employee due to a lack of jurisdiction. Case: Clifton T. Perkins Hospital v. Frierson, No. Full Article
ut Court Upholds Commission's Method for Determining Worker's AWW but Vacates Calculation By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Tue, 01 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Maryland Appellate Court ruled that the state Workers’ Compensation Commission used an appropriate methodology to calculate a worker’s average weekly wages but miscalculated the amount by relying on an improper… Full Article
ut Court Strikes Down Statutory Prohibition on Workers Posting Recordings of IMEs Online By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Wed, 14 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Washington Court of Appeals held that a law prohibiting injured workers from posting to social media recordings of their independent medical examinations is an unconstitutional prior restraint on free… Full Article
ut Almaraz/Guzman: Past, Present & Future (2 of 3) By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Tue, 19 Aug 2014 09:04:51 -0700 This one-hour session will provide an overview and analysis of recent case law focused on Almaraz/Guzman ratings. Full Article
ut Medical Billing Reimbursement, Documentation and Dispute Resolution By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Thu, 18 Dec 2014 10:29:38 -0800 Learn what constitutes proper billing, how to find and use fee schedules, documentation requirements and dispute resolution. Attendees will achieve a better understanding of the requirements for getting paid under… Full Article
ut The Prosecution and Defense of Psychiatric Injuries By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Wed, 11 Mar 2015 11:55:53 -0700 This training will provide attorneys and physicians with everything you need to know about the medical-legal issues involved in "psyche" cases - from the initial diagnosis through the discovery process to the separate… Full Article
ut Understanding Permanent Disability Rebuttal and Apportionment By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 11:07:25 -0700 This six hour course will cover the Burden of Proof on Causation of Disability and includes the ultimate checklist for handling a Guzman rebuttal case. Full Article
ut 2017 Outpatient Surgery Center Fee Schedule Update By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Wed, 04 Jan 2017 11:26:00 -0800 In this program, Suzanne Honor-Vangerov discusses changes to payment methodology, changes to definitions, and changes to payment multipliers as well as updated tables. Workers' compensation professionals who work with the… Full Article
ut Liens, Costs & Med-Legal Disputes By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Wed, 08 Mar 2017 15:04:05 -0800 New for 2017 - learn all pertinent laws, skills and tools for lien issues starting January 2017. Specific focus will be applied to liens, costs and med-legal disputes in… Full Article
ut Fraud Update: SIU Referrals and Prosecution By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Mon, 08 May 2017 16:44:01 -0700 This program will provide detailed instructions and skillsets to students for the successful SIU referral and prosecution thereof. The instructors will focus on red flags for fraud, identifying and documenting… Full Article
ut Work Comp Matters - Free Weekly Podcast - Episode 48: Net Neutrality By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Fri, 01 Dec 2017 08:34:19 -0800 "Work Comp Matters" - the central location for all your workers' compensation, employment and labor law matters. Steve Appell hosts this weekly podcast from sunny southern California - presenting some… Full Article
ut Work Comp Matters - Free Weekly Podcast - Episode 49: Indecent but Not Obscene By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Fri, 08 Dec 2017 12:50:15 -0800 "Work Comp Matters" - the central location for all your workers' compensation, employment and labor law matters. Steve Appell hosts this weekly podcast from sunny southern California - presenting some… Full Article
ut Work Comp Matters - Free Weekly Podcast - Episode 56: Government Shutdown By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Mon, 26 Feb 2018 11:39:12 -0800 "Work Comp Matters" - the central location for all your workers' compensation, employment and labor law matters. Steve Appell hosts this weekly podcast from sunny southern California - presenting some… Full Article
ut 2018 Liens, Costs and Med-Legal Disputes By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Wed, 20 Sep 2017 14:35:34 -0700 This program provides updates for all pertinent laws, skills and tools for lien issues starting January 2018. Instructors will focus on liens, costs and med-legal disputes. This course will support… Full Article
ut Work Comp Matters - Free Weekly Podcast - Episode 86: Bail Me Out By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Fri, 31 Aug 2018 16:30:03 -0700 In this episode of Work Comp Matters, Steve talks about California’s cash bail being eliminated for the 1st time in any State in the nation’s history. Whatever you… Full Article
ut Work Comp Matters - Episode 115: Call Me Dr. Slutzker By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Thu, 02 May 2019 12:26:01 -0700 This week on Work Comp matters, Steve cries out for help from Dr. Michael Slutzker to give him a call regarding one of his patients who is also Steve's client. Full Article
ut State Didn't Have Jurisdiction Over Truck Driver's Out-of-State Accident By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Tue, 29 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0700 A New York appellate court ruled that the state workers’ compensation system did not have jurisdiction over a truck driver’s claim based on injuries he sustained in an out-of-state accident… Full Article
ut Insurance Division Approves 4.3% Loss Cost Cut By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Thu, 31 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Colorado Division of Insurance announced a 4.3% average loss cost decrease for workers' compensation policies incepting in 2025. Loss costs are the average cost of lost wages and medical payments… Full Article
ut Court Awards Worker Benefits for Back Injury, Authorizes MRI By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Thu, 31 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0700 West Virginia’s Intermediate Court of Appeals upheld a finding that a worker was entitled to benefits for a back injury, and that he was entitled to a magnetic resonance imaging… Full Article