June 6, 2025 | San Jose, CA – MedLegalNews.com — San Jose workers compensation fraud has led to the sentencing of a local business owner, who pleaded guilty in a $3.4 million wage misreporting scheme. The case underscores the legal risks for employers who attempt to manipulate wage reporting to reduce insurance premiums. Wage Misreporting […]
San Jose Employer Sentenced in $3.4M Workers’ Comp Fraud Case Read Post »
June 5, 2025 |Sacramento, CA– MedLegalNews.com — California DWC fee schedule 2025 changes are now in effect as of June 1, 2025, bringing key updates to the Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule (MTUS), physician billing codes, and pharmaceutical reimbursement rates. These changes reflect the state’s ongoing commitment to modernizing workers’ compensation treatment and aligning it with
California Enacts 2025 DWC Revisions to MTUS and Fee Schedules Read Post »
June 4, 2025 | Sacramento, CA – MedLegalNews.com – California is taking decisive action to address the long-standing problem of inconsistent and often inadequate Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME) reports within its workers’ compensation system. These QME report standards are crucial for determining benefits and resolving disputes, but they have frequently fallen short of the “substantial
CA Seeks to Improve QME Reports in Workers’ Compensation System Read Post »
May 21, 2025 | Los Angeles, CA — MedLegalNews.com – QME Replacement WCAB Ruling: The Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) has issued an en banc ruling in Vazquez v. Inocensio Renteria, clarifying that a party is not automatically entitled to a QME replacement panel if a Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME) cannot schedule an appointment within
WCAB Clarifies: No Automatic QME Replacement for Appointment Delays Read Post »
May 19, 2025 | Oakland, CA — MedLegalNews.com – Pure Premium Rate WCIRB Filing: The California Department of Insurance (CDI) will hold a virtual public hearing on June 10, 2025, at 1:00 PM PT to review the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California (WCIRB) Pure Premium Rate Filing, which proposes changes effective September 1,
Pure Premium Rate: CDI Sets June 10 Hearing on WCIRB Filing Read Post »
May 19, 2025 | Fresno, CA — MedLegalNews.com — Prevent Heat Illness: With temperatures rising across California, Cal/OSHA is reminding employers of their legal duty to protect workers from heat-related illness at both indoor and outdoor worksites. Heat illness can lead to serious medical conditions and even death if not properly prevented. The need to
Prevent Heat Illness: Cal/OSHA Urges Action as Temperatures Rise Read Post »
May 16, 2025 | Los Angeles, CA — MedLegalNews.com — Reproductive Toxicity Claim: A California appellate court in Los Angeles has upheld the denial of a worker’s claim that solvent exposure at work caused reproductive harm, citing a lack of substantial medical evidence to support the allegations. This ruling underscores the legal standard that workers
Reproductive Toxicity Claim Rejected in Solvent Exposure Lawsuit Read Post »
May 16, 2025 | Sacramento, CA — MedLegalNews.com — Heart Presumption Expansion: A key California legislative committee in Sacramento has advanced a bill that would extend the heart trouble presumption to state hospital workers. At the same time, the committee placed several other workers’ compensation proposals on the suspense file, delaying their progress pending fiscal
Heart Presumption Expansion Bill Advances for California State Hospital Workers Read Post »
May 15, 2025 | Fresno, CA — MedLegalNews.com — Marijuana Use Disputed: A California appellate court has affirmed the denial of workers’ compensation benefits for a roofing worker who tested positive for marijuana after falling from a rooftop. The worker failed to prove that the drug did not contribute to the accident, keeping the issue
Marijuana Use Disputed in Rooftop Fall Injury Claim Read Post »
May 15, 2025 | San Francisco, CA — MedLegalNews.com — California workers’ compensation faces new financial concerns as the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB) forecasts the state’s highest combined ratio in over a decade. The projected 116% combined ratio for 2024 signals challenges ahead for insurers and employers, raising alarms about the system’s long-term
WCIRB Projects Highest Combined Ratio in 14 Years Read Post »
