California Workers’ Compensation Laboratory Payment Changes Begin October 1

California Workers’ Compensation Laboratory Payment Changes Begin October 1

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October 19, 2026 | Sacramento, CA — MedLegalNews.com — The laboratory fee schedule governing California workers’ compensation medical payments entered a new reimbursement period on October 1, 2026, following a September 24 order issued by the Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC). The order incorporates Medicare’s fourth-quarter updates into the Pathology and Clinical Laboratory section of

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California Workers’ Compensation Outpatient Surgery Payment Rates Updated

California Workers’ Compensation Outpatient Surgery Payment Rates Updated

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October 16, 2026 | Sacramento, CA — MedLegalNews.com — Outpatient surgery reimbursement in California’s workers’ compensation system is undergoing another quarterly adjustment following the Division of Workers’ Compensation’s adoption of updated Medicare payment information. On October 7, 2026, the DWC announced revisions to the Hospital Outpatient Departments and Ambulatory Surgical Centers portion of the Official

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California Workers’ Compensation Medical Equipment Reimbursement Updated for October 2026

California Workers’ Compensation Medical Equipment Reimbursement Updated for October 2026

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October 14, 2026 | Sacramento, CA — MedLegalNews.com — Medical equipment reimbursement in California’s workers’ compensation system is subject to updated payment requirements following the Division of Workers’ Compensation’s adoption of fourth-quarter Medicare changes. On October 5, 2026, the DWC announced an update to the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) portion of

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California Workers’ Compensation Physician Fee Schedule Changes Take Effect in October

California Workers’ Compensation Physician Fee Schedule Changes Take Effect in October

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October 12, 2026 | Sacramento, CA — MedLegalNews.com — Workers compensation physician fees in California are subject to a new fourth-quarter update following action by the Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) to incorporate recent Medicare payment changes into the state’s Official Medical Fee Schedule (OMFS). The adjustment became effective October 1, 2026, and applies to

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Access to Workers’ Compensation Medical Care Varies Across California Regions

Access to Workers’ Compensation Medical Care Varies Across California Regions

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October 9, 2026 | Sacramento, CA — MedLegalNews.com — Workers compensation medical access varies substantially across California, with new research showing that an injured worker’s geographic location can influence provider availability, travel distance and the time required to reach certain types of care. An August 2026 RAND study commissioned by the California Department of Industrial

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California Employers Face New Questions About Workers’ Compensation Coverage After Policy Disputes

California Employers Face New Questions About Workers’ Compensation Coverage After Policy Disputes

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October 7, 2026 | Sacramento, CA — MedLegalNews.com — Workers compensation insurance coverage can become a significant legal issue when an employer fails to provide payroll records required for an insurance audit and an insurer subsequently attempts to cancel the policy. A recent California Court of Appeal decision illustrates how disputes over premium audits, cancellation

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California Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board Decisions Highlight Emerging Claim Issues

California Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board Decisions Highlight Emerging Claim Issues

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October 5, 2026 | Sacramento, CA — MedLegalNews.com — Workers compensation disputes continue to evolve as the California Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board issues new panel decisions addressing evidence, temporary disability, apportionment, compensability and procedural questions. A review of WCAB decisions dated August 28, August 31 and September 1, 2026, shows how individual cases can expose

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Workers’ Compensation Insurance Costs Rise as New California Rate Takes Effect

Workers’ Compensation Insurance Costs Rise as New California Rate Takes Effect

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October 2, 2026 | Sacramento, CA — MedLegalNews.com — Workers compensation rates in California are changing against a backdrop of rising system costs, and the latest advisory benchmark gives employers, insurers, claims professionals and injured-worker advocates a new data point to watch. Effective September 1, 2026, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara adopted an average advisory pure

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Critical 2026 Flood Related Workplace Injuries Raise Workers’ Compensation Questions

Critical 2026 Flood Related Workplace Injuries Raise Workers’ Compensation Questions

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September 30, 2026 | Oakland, CA — MedLegalNews.com — California’s increasing exposure to severe weather is creating new occupational-medicine questions involving flood related workplace injuries, particularly when employees are required to work during or after torrential rain and flooding. On September 1, the Commission on Health and Safety and Workers’ Compensation (CHSWC) announced that its

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Critical 2026 Wildfire Smoke Workers Compensation Claims Raise New Risks

Critical 2026 Wildfire Smoke Workers Compensation Claims Raise New Risks

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September 28, 2026 | Oakland, CA — MedLegalNews.com — California’s growing exposure to wildfire smoke is creating an increasingly important occupational-medicine issue for employers, physicians, claims administrators and injured workers. The Commission on Health and Safety and Workers’ Compensation (CHSWC) highlighted wildfire smoke as one of several emerging weather-related workplace hazards in a September 1

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