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Category: Weekly Podcast News

January 25, 2021 – News Podcast

WorkCompAcademy

Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph.D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: Supreme Court Rules Dynamax Decision Applies Retroactively. Lowe’s Faces Class Action for Sick Pay Miscalculation. 5,000 California Prison Inmates Filed Fraudulent Unemployment Claims. Fresno Construction Worker Charged With Comp Fraud. Former Firefighter to Serve 90 Days and Pay $130K for Comp Fraud. NCCI Economic Briefing Shows Slow Comp Premium Growth. DWC Reviews IBR Performance of 2018-2019. Gallagher Acquires Atlas General Insurance Services in California.

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January 18, 2021 – News Podcast

WorkCompAcademy

Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph.D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: Union Asks Supreme Court to Invalidate Prop 22 Gig Measure. Staffing Company Sues for Fraudulent Comp Insurance. WCAB Significant Panel Decision Evaluates Remote Trials. Man Arrested for $3.5M N95 Mask Fraud with Bay Area victims. Camarillo Insurance Brokers Face $687K Premium Fraud Charges. Public Hearing Set for Adoption of COVID-19 Treatment Guideline. CWCI Report Shows COVID Comp Claims Tripled Prior Months. April QME Examination Now In-home by Computer. California COVID Vaccine Distribution Faces Logistical Issues. Martin Brady Appointed CHSWC Chair for 2021.

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January 11, 2021 – News Podcast

WorkCompAcademy

Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph.D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: Unapproved Comp Policy Arbitration “Side Agreements” Unenforceable. PhRMA Loses Challenge to California Drug Transparency Law. Ohio AG Claims OptumRX Knowingly Overcharged State. Irvine Diagnostic Lab Pays $358K to Resolve False Claim Charges. Union Head to Serve 12 Years for Stealing Health Plan Funds. DWC Allows Walk-Through Documents at Local Offices. Workplace Deaths (Non-Pandemic) Rose 2% in 2019. L.A. and San Francisco Order $5/hr “Hero Pay” for Grocery Workers. Cal-SARA – a New Non-Profit – Seeks Staffing Agency Reform. SCIF Says Happy New Year With $39M Dividend.

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January 4, 2021 – News Podcast

WorkCompAcademy

Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph.D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: Injured Worker $575K Discrimination Jury Verdict Affirmed. EDD Remains Easy Fraud Target – Even From Prisoners. Sacramento Cleaning Company Owner Faces Premium Fraud. Surgeon Facing $29M Fraud Released After Positive COVID Test. Cal/OSHA Targets Meatpacking and Food Processing Employers. 2021 Mileage Reimbursement Rate Declines to 56 Cents. Virtual 28th Annual DWC Educational Conference Date Set. Gig Companies Launch “Prop 22” Type Initiatives in Key States. Feds Approve “Surprise Medical Bill” Ban. Duration of COVID Vaccine Immunity Remains Speculatory.

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December 21, 2020 – News Podcast

WorkCompAcademy

Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph.D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: U.S. Supreme Court Allows States to Regulate PBM Drug Prices. WC Claim, and CalPERS Retirement Defeats FEHA Claim. WCAB En Banc Limits Walk-Through Orders. Riverside Woman Learns $500K EDD Fraud Scheme on YouTube. 16 Pharmacies Admit Health Care Fraud Schemes. Pain Medicine QME Pays $153K to Resolve Opioid Charges. Mitchell International Releases 4th Quarter Comp Trends Report. DWC Responds to Increasing COVID Infection Rates. New NCCI Report Tracks COVID-19 Impact on Comp Claims. OSIP Publishes Public Self-Insured Annual Summary.

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December 14, 2020 – News Podcast

WorkCompAcademy

Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph.D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: Constitutionality of California Employer Arbitration Ban Argued. Applicant Attorney Arrested For Adelante Interpreting Inc. Scam. Former Ventura County Firefighter Guilty of $148K Comp Fraud. Simi Valley Contractor Convicted for $176K Premium DIR, DWC Publish IMR 2019 Annual Review Progress Report. OSHA Announces $2,851,533 in Coronavirus Violations. New CMS Final Rule “Modernizes” Anti-Kickback” Law Implementation. Feds Approve Telemedicine Opiate Prescribing – For Now. “V-Day” – First Person Now Vaccinated for COVID. Hackers and Anaphylactoid Reactions Tarnish Vaccine Launch.

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December 7, 2020 – News Podcast

WorkCompAcademy

Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph.D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: “Equitable Tolling” Doctrine Applies to Appeal of Cal/OSHA Citation. Another COVID-19 Employee Tort Case Pending Against Cal. Employer. Sheriff’s Failure of Fitness-for-Duty Test Not a Psychological “Injury”. Oxnard Roofer Faces 5 Felonies for $4M Premium Fraud. Ventura Farm Labor Contractor Faces Comp Fraud Charges. 14 Charged in So. Cal. $22M SJDB Fraud Scheme. So. Cal. Edison Electrician Charged with 63K Comp Fraud. Cal/OSHA Emergency COVID-19 Regulations Now in Effect. CDI Decreases 2021 Advisory Pure Premium Rate by 19.4%. Lack of Surgical Implant Price Transparency Doubles Costs.

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November 23, 2020 – News Podcast

WorkCompAcademy

Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph.D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: California Leads the Nation in COVID-19 Civil Lawsuits Filed. Compromise and Release Resignation Letter Bars FEHA Claim. Huntington Park Clinic Owners Face $2.5M Fraud Charges. CMS Webinars Clarify WCMSA Appeal Process. CMS Reports Aggressive Efforts Reduce Fraud by $15 Billion. DWC Corrects Outpatient/Ambulatory Fee Schedule. CDC Research Grant to Study Industrial Robots for Better Safety. Remote Workers Less Likely to Take Sick Time When Sick. Amazon Launches Game Changing Online Pharmacy. Pfizer Starts COVID Vaccine Pilot Delivery Program.

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November 16, 2020 – News Podcast

WorkCompAcademy

Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph.D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: October Workers’ Comp COVID-19 Claim Count Dwindles. Opioid Drugmaker Pays $2 Billion to Resolve Criminal Charges. Claimant Faces Felonies for Lying About Pain History. Woman Sentenced to 2.5 Years for $374K EDD Fraud. NCCI MPN Cost and Outcome Study – Not All Good News. CWCI Study Shows 36.2% Drop in Hospitalizations. Employers Increase Deep Cleaning and Sanitizing Stations. COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate 90% Effective in Phase 3 Study. Stunning Public Mistrust in COVID Vaccine May Limit Protection. Travelers Launches Global Companion Plus+ for Foreign Risk.

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November 9, 2020 – News Podcast

WorkCompAcademy

Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph.D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: App-based Rideshare Companies Win Exemption from AB5. Comp Policy Rates Cannot be Altered by Oral Prior Assurances. Fraudulent Drug Treatment Program Owners Plead Guilty. Owner of Janitorial Service Faces $2.5M Fraud Charges. DME Company Resolves Fraud Claims for $566K. Memorial Health Services Resolves $31.5M Overbilling Dispute. DWC Posts 2019 Audit Report. WCIRB Publishes 2020 Geo Study. Benefit Rates Set to Increase in 2021. 1 in 5 California Comp Spine Surgeries Require Readmission.

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