October 23, 2006

Source: Workers' Comp. Executive, California Workers' Compensation Forum, WorkInjury.com
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According to Mark Webb, vice president at Employers Direct Insurance Company, we should expect quite a few workers' compensation fix-it measures as the new legislative session begins next year.

At a recent California Workers Comp. Forum in Orange County, he pointed out at least two "unintended consequences" of SB 899 that we should expect to hear about when the new Legislature convenes: The 2-year TD cap and the provision allowing the 15% reduction in permanent disability benefits when a timely job offer is made by the employer.

The problem with the TD cap (although many would argue it was not so "unintended" nor unanticipated) is that it's taking so long for many medical issues to get resolved that it's just not realistic.

And the problem with the job offer issue is how to handle situations where the injured worker is an illegal alien, in which case how can the employer legally offer a job?

At the same conference, the WCAB Deputy Administrative Director, Carrie Nevans, also spoke about the possibility that primary treaters' fees have a good chance of being raised (by regulation). This would be the first fee increase for the doctors since 2003!

To read about some of the conference highlights discussed, from the copyrighted news source credited at the top of this article, PLEASE CLICK HERE.*

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