Allow us to begin today’s blog with a quick history lesson. It was the year 2002. The California Department of Insurance was literally swamped with complaints from employers concerning the cost of workers’ compensation insurance. In addition, injured workers complained about poor claims adjuster performance, while physicians squawked about medical bill reviewers improperly applying the state’s …
Education Certificates: A 60-Second Seminar in Workers’ Compensation Claims HandlingRead More
It seems incomprehensible but for the past twenty years our workers’ compensation system has failed to acknowledge a paradox that exists regarding death benefits. The purpose of today’s blog is to explain the paradox to allow our readers to decide on the interpretation of their choice. We believe it is safe to state that most …
The Death Benefit Paradox: A 60-Second Seminar in Workers’ Compensation Claims HandlingRead More
Surprisingly, workers’ compensation claims professionals continue to encounter problems administering the three-day temporary disability waiting period. One misunderstanding concern whether the waiting period is applied or waived when an injured worker returns to work on light duty at half-days immediately following an injury. In our blog today we will tackle some of the basic questions …
The Waiting Period: A 60-Second Seminar in Workers’ Compensation Claims HandlingRead More
In a previously published blog, entitled “Physicians Who Quit Comp,” we cautioned the claims industry that a campaign was being conducted encouraging medical providers to withdraw from the workers’ compensation system. Specifically, we said: “Currently, an educational campaign is being waged within the medical community where physicians are being encouraged to leave workers’ compensation under …
Why Physicians Quit Comp: A 60-Second Seminar in Workers’ Compensation Claims HandlingRead More
Have you ever asked yourself, “Can medical treatment be streamlined by allowing the claims examiner to authorize medical services instead of involving Utilization Review (UR)”? Under current law examiners may authorize requested medical services but are not allowed to deny or modify treatment requests based on medical grounds. The examiner may only deny or delay …
Streamlining UR: A 60-Second Seminar in Workers’ Compensation Claims HandlingRead More
Even though many examiners work remotely on a full-time basis, they are still under the threat that an irate and potentially violent injured worker might become aware of their day-to-day whereabouts. Not only does this make the examiner fearful for their personal safety but also for that of their family and co-workers. Memories of a …
