CWCI Schedules Workers’ Comp Reform Seminars

The California Workers’ Compensation Institute will hold a 1-day seminar in early June in San Francisco, Irvine and Universal City to educate industry professionals on the provisions and practical implementation issues related to SB 899, the landmark workers’ compensation reform signed April 19 by Governor Schwarzenegger. The 2004 reform bill, hammered out in closed door sessions between representatives of the governor’s office and legislative leaders, contains some of the most significant reforms to the California workers’ compensation system in years. The bill was passed by the Legislature as an urgency measure, so many provisions are already in effect, while others must be implemented in the coming months, making it imperative that workers’ compensation professionals immediately become familiar with the changes, rules, requirements and timelines.

The CWCI seminar, “SB 899: Getting Up to Speed on the 2004 Workers’ Compensation Reforms” will review key provisions of the bill, educate members of the community on the nature, scope and timing of the changes, and provide practical information and insights needed to develop effective, appropriate policies and strategies for delivering benefits in the restructured system. The program is appropriate for claims administrators, medical case managers, UR specialists, attorneys, hearing reps and rehab professionals — anyone who needs to understand how the revamped system is supposed to work. Continuing education units will be available for claims examiners, attorneys, hearing reps and registered nurses. The seminar will cover the following areas:

Medical care issues, including first-day authorization for treatment; the new Labor Code 4600 definition of medical care, the strengthening of utilization review guidelines, changes in physician predesignation and the presumption of correctness, and new medical reimbursement requirements.

Medical networks, with a review of the structural requirements, medical control issues, the independent medical review process, and new research comparing outcomes of occupational medicine and non-occupational medical providers.

Medical-Legal reforms that introduce new QME processes for represented and unrepresented injured workers.

Temporary disability payment caps

Return-to-work issues, including voc rehab requirements for pre-2004 injuries and the new RTW incentives.

Permanent disability changes such as the new rating schedule mandate, use of AMA impairment guides, consideration of future earning capacity, the shift in benefits from minor to major PDs, and apportionment and the link to causation.

Penalty revisions that alter LC 5814 amounts and establish a new $400,000 penalty for using unreasonable delays/denials as a general business practice.

Clean-up and other issues including elimination of the PTP presumption, reinstatement of user funding, the reform savings study, alternate dispute resolution, and modifications to the injury and illness prevention program requirements.

CWCI will present the seminar from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, June 4 at Hotel Nikko in San Francisco; Monday, June 7 at the Irvine Marriott; and Tuesday, June 8 at the Universal City Sheraton. Preregistration is required, as space is limited and reservations will be taken in the order received. Payment must be received by May 21 to qualify for the early-bird tuition, which is $295 for CWCI nonmembers, $195 for CWCI members and $175 for CWCI member employees who register 3 or more attendees together with a single payment. If payment is received after May 21, the registration can only be accepted if space permits and will be charged a $100 late fee. Details and registration forms are available online at www.cwci.org or by calling Mel Long at 510-251-9470.

Topics Workers' Compensation