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Appeals Court Revives FEHA Claim Dismissed Under SLAPP Law
April 28, 2025 | MedLegalNews.com – Appeals…
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California Janitorial Services Owner Sentenced for Insurance Fraud, Tax Evasion
April 28, 2025 | MedLegalNews.com – Sacramento,…
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DWC Launches Pharmacy Fee Calculator for Public Testing
April 25, 2025 | MedLegalNews.com – Oakland,…
AB 1329: California Moves to Reform SIBTF and Curb Soaring Workers’ Comp Costs
April 23, 2025 | MedLegalNews.com — California lawmakers are advancing Assembly Bill 1329 (Ortega)
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Casey Gallagher Appointed to California’s Interagency Apprenticeship Committee
Jennifer BauderApril 25, 2025 | MedLegalNews.com – Oakland — The California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) and Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS) have announced the appointment of Casey Gallagher to the Interagency Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship (IACA). Gallagher, who will serve as an Employee Representative, brings over a decade of experience…
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Insurance Committee Passes SIBTF, IBR Bills
April 24, 2025 | MedLegalNews.com – Sacramento — The California Assembly Insurance Committee advanced two bills this week that could significantly impact the administration of workers’ compensation claims: AB 1329, which reforms the Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund (SIBTF), and AB 1870, which modifies the Independent Bill Review (IBR) process…
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Foreign MDs Find Path to US Residency Placement in Med-Legal Industry
Sacramento, CA – The Guardian Group, LLC, a Med-Legal Exam firm based in California, has embraced an innovative staffing model; it employs foreign-trained medical doctors in support roles. Although these roles are temporary, they offer international doctors a crucial stepping stone toward a career in US medicine. Consequently, this mutually…
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Lawmaker Amends Bill to Limit Subrogation Rights of First Responders’ Employers
April 23, 2025 | MedLegalNews.com – Sacramento, CA – Lawmaker Amends Bill: California Assemblymember Liz Ortega has amended AB 1329 to restrict when public employers can recover workers’ compensation costs in lawsuits brought by first responders. Under the proposed changes, cities, counties, and other public employers would lose their subrogation rights if a first responder’s…
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CA WCIRB Announces September 2025 Pure Premium Rate Filing
CA WCIRB Announces: Proposed Rate Hike of 11.2% Reflects Increased Costs and Claim Frequencies Oakland, CA – April 22, 2025 – CA WCIRB Announces: The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California (WCIRB) Governing Committee has authorized the submission of a September 1, 2025, Pure Premium Rate Filing to the California Insurance Commissioner. This filing…
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Employers Hold the Wheel: New Webinar Urges Shift from Distracted to Focused Driving
Sentry Insurance Spotlights Employer Responsibility in Preventing Work-Related Collisions April 21, 2025 – MedLegalNews.com – Employers Hold the Wheel: Distracted driving remains a leading cause of workplace injuries, legal claims, and costly vehicle accidents. Yet according to a new on-demand webinar from Sentry Insurance, many employers overlook their role in creating a safer driving culture.…
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CWCI Reports 16% Increase in QMEs, 17% Jump in Panel Requests
Jennifer BauderApril 15, 2025 | MedLegalNews.com – CWCI Reports: The number of Qualified Medical Evaluators (QMEs) in California’s workers’ compensation system increased by 16% in 2023, according to a new report released by the California Workers’ Compensation Institute (CWCI). At the same time, requests for QME panels surged by 17%, highlighting…
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April 15, 2025 | MedLegalNews.com – CWCI Reports: The number of Qualified Medical Evaluators (QMEs) in California’s workers’ compensation system…
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Worker Loses Appeal on AWW, Benefit Termination, and Doctor Change Request
Jennifer BauderApril 21, 2025 | MedLegalNews.com – Worker Loses Appeal on AWW: A California worker’s challenge to the calculation of their average weekly wage (AWW), the termination of workers’ compensation benefits, and a request to change treating physicians has been rejected by the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB). WCAB Supports Employer’s…
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California Licensing Boards Warn of Blackmail Scam Targeting Medical Professionals
April 19, 2025 | MedLegalNews.com – California Licensing Boards: Healthcare professionals across California are once again being targeted by a sophisticated blackmail scam, prompting a renewed joint warning from the Medical Board of California, the California Board of Chiropractic Examiners, and the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN). This latest iteration follows similar extortion attempts…
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WCIRB Proposes 11.2% Hike in Workers’ Comp Pure Premium Rates
April 15, 2025 | MedLegalNews.com – WCIRB Proposes 11.2% Hike in advisory pure premium rates, citing rising claims costs and changing industry dynamics. The California Department of Insurance (CDI) will review the recommendation in an upcoming public hearing. What Is Changing and Why It Matters The pure premium rate serves as a benchmark for insurers,…
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Appeals Court Revives FEHA Claim Dismissed Under SLAPP Law
April 28, 2025 | MedLegalNews.com – Appeals Court Revives FEHA Claim: A California appeals court has ruled that a plaintiff’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) claim can proceed, despite an earlier dismissal under the state’s anti-SLAPP law. The case stems from a workplace retaliation lawsuit. Initially, the trial court granted a special motion to…
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Appeals Court Revives FEHA Claim Dismissed Under SLAPP Law
April 28, 2025 | MedLegalNews.com – Appeals Court Revives FEHA Claim: A California appeals court has ruled that a plaintiff’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) claim can proceed, despite an earlier dismissal under the state’s anti-SLAPP law. The case stems from a workplace retaliation lawsuit. Initially, the trial court granted a special motion to…
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California Janitorial Services Owner Sentenced for Insurance Fraud, Tax Evasion
April 28, 2025 | MedLegalNews.com – Sacramento, CA — California Janitorial Services Owner: On April 23, 2025, Martha Toro, owner of MT Janitorial Services, pled no contest to felony charges of insurance fraud and tax evasion. The Honorable David Bonilla sentenced her to 270 days in county jail and two years of formal probation for…
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DWC Launches Pharmacy Fee Calculator for Public Testing
April 25, 2025 | MedLegalNews.com – Oakland, CA — DWC Launches Pharmacy Fee Calculator for Public Testing. This tool previews how future pharmacy reimbursements will be calculated under California’s workers’ compensation system. Designed for Simplicity and Transparency The new calculator is built on a proposed pharmacy fee schedule that reflects legislative changes. It simplifies the…
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Casey Gallagher Appointed to California’s Interagency Apprenticeship Committee
April 25, 2025 | MedLegalNews.com – Oakland — The California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) and Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS) have announced the appointment of Casey Gallagher to the Interagency Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship (IACA). Gallagher, who will serve as an Employee Representative, brings over a decade of experience expanding workforce development programs in…
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Insurance Committee Passes SIBTF, IBR Bills
April 24, 2025 | MedLegalNews.com – Sacramento — The California Assembly Insurance Committee advanced two bills this week that could significantly impact the administration of workers’ compensation claims: AB 1329, which reforms the Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund (SIBTF), and AB 1870, which modifies the Independent Bill Review (IBR) process for medical billing disputes. AB…
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Foreign MDs Find Path to US Residency Placement in Med-Legal Industry
Sacramento, CA – The Guardian Group, LLC, a Med-Legal Exam firm based in California, has embraced an innovative staffing model; it employs foreign-trained medical doctors in support roles. Although these roles are temporary, they offer international doctors a crucial stepping stone toward a career in US medicine. Consequently, this mutually beneficial arrangement leads to high-quality…
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Lawmaker Amends Bill to Limit Subrogation Rights of First Responders’ Employers
April 23, 2025 | MedLegalNews.com – Sacramento, CA – Lawmaker Amends Bill: California Assemblymember Liz Ortega has amended AB 1329 to restrict when public employers can recover workers’ compensation costs in lawsuits brought by first responders. Under the proposed changes, cities, counties, and other public employers would lose their subrogation rights if a first responder’s…
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CA WCIRB Announces September 2025 Pure Premium Rate Filing
CA WCIRB Announces: Proposed Rate Hike of 11.2% Reflects Increased Costs and Claim Frequencies Oakland, CA – April 22, 2025 – CA WCIRB Announces: The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California (WCIRB) Governing Committee has authorized the submission of a September 1, 2025, Pure Premium Rate Filing to the California Insurance Commissioner. This filing…
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Employers Hold the Wheel: New Webinar Urges Shift from Distracted to Focused Driving
Sentry Insurance Spotlights Employer Responsibility in Preventing Work-Related Collisions April 21, 2025 – MedLegalNews.com – Employers Hold the Wheel: Distracted driving remains a leading cause of workplace injuries, legal claims, and costly vehicle accidents. Yet according to a new on-demand webinar from Sentry Insurance, many employers overlook their role in creating a safer driving culture.…
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AB 1329: California Moves to Reform SIBTF and Curb Soaring Workers’ Comp Costs
April 23, 2025 | MedLegalNews.com — California lawmakers are advancing Assembly Bill 1329 (Ortega) to confront the mounting challenges facing the Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund (SIBTF). With costs skyrocketing and inconsistent standards driving litigation, the bill aims to strengthen oversight, tighten eligibility rules, and ensure the Fund’s future viability. Why SIBTF Needs Urgent Reform…
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Appeals Court Revives FEHA Claim Dismissed Under SLAPP Law
April 28, 2025 | MedLegalNews.com – Appeals Court Revives FEHA Claim: A California appeals court has ruled that a plaintiff’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) claim can proceed, despite an earlier dismissal under the state’s anti-SLAPP law. The case stems from a workplace retaliation lawsuit. Initially, the trial court granted a special motion to…
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California Janitorial Services Owner Sentenced for Insurance Fraud, Tax Evasion
April 28, 2025 | MedLegalNews.com – Sacramento, CA — California Janitorial Services Owner: On April 23, 2025, Martha Toro, owner of MT Janitorial Services, pled no contest to felony charges of insurance fraud and tax evasion. The Honorable David Bonilla sentenced her to 270 days in county jail and two years of formal probation for…
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DWC Launches Pharmacy Fee Calculator for Public Testing
April 25, 2025 | MedLegalNews.com – Oakland, CA — DWC Launches Pharmacy Fee Calculator for Public Testing. This tool previews how future pharmacy reimbursements will be calculated under California’s workers’ compensation system. Designed for Simplicity and Transparency The new calculator is built on a proposed pharmacy fee schedule that reflects legislative changes. It simplifies the…
-
Casey Gallagher Appointed to California’s Interagency Apprenticeship Committee
April 25, 2025 | MedLegalNews.com – Oakland — The California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) and Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS) have announced the appointment of Casey Gallagher to the Interagency Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship (IACA). Gallagher, who will serve as an Employee Representative, brings over a decade of experience expanding workforce development programs in…
-
Insurance Committee Passes SIBTF, IBR Bills
April 24, 2025 | MedLegalNews.com – Sacramento — The California Assembly Insurance Committee advanced two bills this week that could significantly impact the administration of workers’ compensation claims: AB 1329, which reforms the Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund (SIBTF), and AB 1870, which modifies the Independent Bill Review (IBR) process for medical billing disputes. AB…
-
Foreign MDs Find Path to US Residency Placement in Med-Legal Industry
Sacramento, CA – The Guardian Group, LLC, a Med-Legal Exam firm based in California, has embraced an innovative staffing model; it employs foreign-trained medical doctors in support roles. Although these roles are temporary, they offer international doctors a crucial stepping stone toward a career in US medicine. Consequently, this mutually beneficial arrangement leads to high-quality…
-
Lawmaker Amends Bill to Limit Subrogation Rights of First Responders’ Employers
April 23, 2025 | MedLegalNews.com – Sacramento, CA – Lawmaker Amends Bill: California Assemblymember Liz Ortega has amended AB 1329 to restrict when public employers can recover workers’ compensation costs in lawsuits brought by first responders. Under the proposed changes, cities, counties, and other public employers would lose their subrogation rights if a first responder’s…
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CA WCIRB Announces September 2025 Pure Premium Rate Filing
CA WCIRB Announces: Proposed Rate Hike of 11.2% Reflects Increased Costs and Claim Frequencies Oakland, CA – April 22, 2025 – CA WCIRB Announces: The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California (WCIRB) Governing Committee has authorized the submission of a September 1, 2025, Pure Premium Rate Filing to the California Insurance Commissioner. This filing…
-
Employers Hold the Wheel: New Webinar Urges Shift from Distracted to Focused Driving
Sentry Insurance Spotlights Employer Responsibility in Preventing Work-Related Collisions April 21, 2025 – MedLegalNews.com – Employers Hold the Wheel: Distracted driving remains a leading cause of workplace injuries, legal claims, and costly vehicle accidents. Yet according to a new on-demand webinar from Sentry Insurance, many employers overlook their role in creating a safer driving culture.…
-
AB 1329: California Moves to Reform SIBTF and Curb Soaring Workers’ Comp Costs
April 23, 2025 | MedLegalNews.com — California lawmakers are advancing Assembly Bill 1329 (Ortega) to confront the mounting challenges facing the Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund (SIBTF). With costs skyrocketing and inconsistent standards driving litigation, the bill aims to strengthen oversight, tighten eligibility rules, and ensure the Fund’s future viability. Why SIBTF Needs Urgent Reform…