January 8, 2025 – Cal/OSHA is reminding employers to take necessary steps to safeguard workers from unhealthy air caused by wildfire smoke. The Palisades Fire is currently affecting air quality in the Pacific Palisades area, and updates on the fire’s status, road closures, and evacuation orders can be found on the California Department of Forestry […]
January 7, 2025 – The Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) and its California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) have cited Safeway with $182,000 in proposed penalties for significant safety violations. These violations endangered approximately 1,700 workers at Safeway’s Tracy Distribution Center, their largest warehouse in the nation. Largest Warehouse in Tracy Cal/OSHA issued
Cal/OSHA Cites Safeway for Exposing Workers to Hazards at Largest Warehouse in Tracy Read Post »
January 6, 2025 – The Justice Department recently announced that a physician from an Inland Empire medical company has agreed to plead guilty to conspiring to defraud California’s workers’ compensation fund of millions of dollars. The physician, who had been suspended due to a prior health care fraud conviction, continued to work on workers’ compensation
CA Doctor to Plead Guilty to Conspiring with Attorney to Defraud SIBTF of $3 Million Read Post »
January 6, 2025 – The Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) has revised the Official Medical Fee Schedule provisions to govern the maximum reasonable fee for pharmaceuticals dispensed to injured workers starting July 1, 2025. These updated regulations align the fee schedule with changes in the Medi-Cal methodology and additional Labor Code provisions that regulate physician-dispensed
Updated Pharmaceutical Fee Schedule Effective July 1, 2025, Adopted by CA DWC Read Post »
January 4, 2025 – Farmworker Protections: Governor Gavin Newsom recently vetoed Senate Bill 1299 at the end of September, sparking widespread concern, particularly among advocates for stronger protections for farmworkers against the escalating dangers of extreme heat. Democratic Senator Dave Cortese authored the bill. It was supported by the California Applicants’ Attorneys Association (CAAA) to
January 3, 2025 – Claims administrators must ensure timely submission of the Annual Report of Inventory (ARI) in early 2025, covering claims reported during the calendar year 2024. This reminder emphasizes the importance of adhering to regulations to avoid penalties and ensure compliance. Regulatory Requirements for Annual Report Submission Under Title 8, Section 10104 of
Clinics and Laboratories in Southern California Settle Allegations of Fraud December 29, 2024 – WASHINGTON – Southern California healthcare providers, including Dr. Mohammad Rasekhi, Sheila Busheri, Southern California Medical Center (SCMC), and Universal Diagnostic Laboratories (UDL), have agreed to pay $10 million to resolve serious allegations. The claims involved submitting false Medicare and Medi-Cal bills
Allegations of Fraud and Illegal Kickbacks December 28, 2024 – A former Van Nuys physician, a medical center he founded, a laboratory he co-owned, and an executive at these entities have agreed to pay $15 million to resolve allegations of submitting false claims to Medicare and Medi-Cal. The claims stem from illegal kickbacks and self-referrals,
Southern California Clinics and Owners Settle $15 Million Fraud Allegations Read Post »
Overview of Bird Flu Cases in the Workplace December 27, 2024 – The Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) is urging California’s workers’ compensation community to remain vigilant for occupational cases of bird flu. Recent cases have been detected among dairy farmworkers in California, while similar outbreaks have been reported in commercial poultry workers across other
December 27, 2024 – California Health Care Legislative Update: Governor Gavin Newsom signed more than 1,300 bills and vetoed nearly 190 during 2024. As in prior years, California’s legislative actions have introduced significant changes to the health care sector. These reforms—ranging from regulations on artificial intelligence (AI) to health plans and providers—demand proactive efforts to
California Health Care Legislative Update: Winter 2024 Read Post »
