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Category: Weekly Podcast News

July 26, 2021 – News Podcast


Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph.D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: Cal. Supreme Court Defines Correct Pay for Working Through Lunch. Purdue Pharma Threatens California With “Colossally Idiotic” Sanctions. Pharmacies Remain Opioid Litigation Targets in California Cases. Prime Healthcare Resolves California Kickback Claims for $37.5M. Injured Landscaper Pleads Guilty in Exaggerated Injury Case.DWC Restores Limited Services in Local Offices. CDI Lowers WC Advisory Premium Rates for 11th Time.Claim Frequency Increasing for Cal. Private Self-Insureds. WCRI Study Shows No Pandemic Related Treatment Delay. New Award Recognizes Injury Prevention through Design.

July 19, 2021 – News Podcast


Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph.D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: Physician Not Protected by Anti-SLAPP in Allstate’s Fraud Action. Pfizer to Pay $345M to Resolve Price Gouging Claims. Napa Doctor Arrested for Fake COVID Vaccination Cards. Prison Inmate to Serve 5 More Years for EDD Fraud.Orange County Man Indicted $3M Fake Protective Gear Scam. Owner of Trucking Companies Faces PPP Loan Fraud Charges. L.A. County Reinstates Mask Mandate After 700% COVID Increase. NCCI Publishes 2nd Edition of Medical Trends Dashboard. UCSF Brain Implant Allows Paralyzed Man to Speak. CDC Reports 45.9% Increase in California Drug Overdose Deaths.

July 12, 2021 – News Podcast


Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph.D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: WCAB Clarifies 20 Day Time Limit to Schedule Medical Appointment. 15 States Withdraw Objections to $4.2B Purdue Opioid Settlement. Solakyan Guilty of $250M Comp Fraud After 8 Day Trial. B of A Abruptly Ends Lucrative Debit Card Deal with EDD. Santa Ana Presiding Judge Announces Limited Office Access. Study Shows MTUS Low Back Pain Guideline Improves RTW. LA County COVID Cases Increasing Over Last Two Weeks. Vaccinated Countries Safer as WHO Declares a “Two-Track Pandemic”.

July 5, 2021 – News Podcast


Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph.D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: Exclusions to Comp Policy Requires an Explicit Endorsement. NY Resolves Opiod Litigation With J&J for $230M. Second-Largest CA Nursing Facility Pays $450K in Fraud Claim. L.A. Jury Convicts Four Defendants For COVID Loan Fraud. WCIRB Reviews Medical Cost Trends at Actuarial Meeting. NCCI Reports $6000 Average COVID Claim Costs in 38 States. DWC Updates MTUS Drug List. 3M Healthcare Information Systems Improves Patient Care. Delta COVID Variant Spreading in California’s Unvaccinated. Drugmakers Target Parkinson’s and Alzheimers in $2.2B Deal.

June 28, 2021 – News Podcast


Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph.D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: U.S. Supreme Court Rules Against California Union Organizers. Injury While on Personal Errand in “Mobile Office” is AOE-COE. Riverside County DA to Lead EDD Fraud Task Force. Convictions Show EDD Fraud a Decade Before Pandemic Began. Owner-Builder Requires Contractor License and WC Insurance. San Francisco First City to Mandate Employee Vaccinations. Employers Face “Hairball” of Post Pandemic Safety Rules. California Approves 100M Bailout for Failing Cannabis Industry. Research Shows New COVID Variant Spreading in US. Poorly Organized Ortho Surgical Trays Drive up Costs.

June 21, 2021 – News Podcast


Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph.D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: Medical Evidence Required to Add Rather Than Use CVC. Texas Trucker Loses 5th Circuit Battle Over Cal/OSHA Jurisdiction. Indictment Adds Details to Illegal Comp Referral Prosecutions. Spine Device Makers Resolve Sunshine Act Kickback Cases. Fresno P-D Unit to Review Long Term Industrial Claim Absences. Feds Sue Vacaville Nursing Facilities for Illegal Kickbacks. Relaxed Cal/OSHA COVID Standards Effective Today. California Fentanyl Overdose Deaths Jump 2100% in 5 Years. Experts Petition FDA to “Slow Down” Full Vaccine Approval. NSC and, Amazon Team Up to Address Workplace Injuries.

June 14, 2021 – News Podcast


Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph.D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: Psyche Symptoms Before Award Does Not Preclude Reopening. Waiver Signed Injured Worker on Volunteer Job Limits Liability. New WCAB Tool – “Commissioner’s Settlement Conference.” Ninth Circuit to Decide Fate of DEA 49 Year Old Cannabis Ban. Jury Convicts Chiropractor for $2.2M Health Insurance Fraud. Traffic Stop Leads to Arrest of 24 Year Old for $600K EDD Fraud. Cal/OSHA Abruptly Withdraws COVID Safety Standards Phase Out. Consumer Interest in Telemedicine Increased From 11% to 76%. Merck’s COVID-19 Treatment in Phase 3 Trials.

June 7, 2021 – News Podcast


Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph.D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: Lyft Employee Classification Suit Favors State Over Federal Law. WCAB Panel Allows New QME to Review Retired QME Reports. Jacoby & Meyers Referral Attorney Faces 26 Counts of Insurance Fraud. 7 Businesses Cited for $1.4M Wage Theft From 107 Workers. Owner of Construction Co. Faces $25M Premium Fraud Charge. No End in Sight to EDD Fraud Prosecutions. 7 Defendants Face $330K SJDB Fraud and Kickback Indictments. Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants Expand in California.

May 31, 2021 – News Podcast


Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph.D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: WCAB Reversed for Ignoring Supreme Court COLA Case. Federal Judge Rejects $2B California Roundup Cancer Case Settlement. Injury by Unauthorized Homeless Person Conflict Compensable. WCAB Declines Jurisdiction Over UR/IMR Dispute. California Leads Nation in COVID Civil Litigation Claims. So.Cal. Orthopedist to Serve 15 Months for $623K In Kickbacks. DOJ COVID – Health Care Fraud Coordinated Law Enforcement Actions. Cal/OSHA Delays Changes to Emergency Temporary Standards. Foster Farms and Staffing Agencies Cited for COVID Violations. Physician Dispensed Pain Dermatologicals New Cost Driver.

May 24, 2021 – News Podcast


Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph.D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: 9th Circuit Affirms $25M Roundup Pesticide Award in California Case. Worker’s Injury Suit Against Employer Dismissed. Flooring Co. Owners Face $3.8M Premium Fraud Charges. California Black Market Drugs Sold to Prescription Drug Customers. San Diego County Targets Employers for Labor Violations. New Medical-Legal Fee Schedule Predicted to Cost $270M. WCIRB Quarterly Report Mostly Good News Despite Pandemic. WCRI Releases 13th Edition of Medical Price Index. Alabama Becomes the 37th Medical Marijuana State. SCIF to Install 150 Solar EV Charging Stations at 7 Facilities.