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Tag: 2023 Podcasts

December 18, 2023 – News Podcast


Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph.D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: Exclusive Remedy Applies to City, and Related Political Entities. Google to Pay Workers $27M – the Largest PAGA-Only Settlement to Date. Jury Awards Ex-Kaiser Nurse $41.49 Million in Retaliation Suit. Police Officer Fired for Cause Found Ineligible for Disability Retirement. LA-area Poultry Plants to Pay $3.8M for Child Labor Law Violations. $1.1M in Wages Recovered for Workers on a Public Works Project. QME With 3,005 WCAB Liens worth $29.4 M Faces 40 Fraud Charges. New Emergency Temporary Standard to Protect Workers from Silicosis. Hospitals Failing to Comply with Price Transparency Law. Trusted Medical Records Exchange Framework (TEFCA) is Now Operational.

December 11, 2023 – News Podcast


Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph.D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: Felon on Probation is Not Employee of Rehabilitation Center. McDonalds Prevails in PAGA Claim Over Providing Employees Seats. Employers Sexual Harassment Defense Verdict Reversed. Culver City Man Embezzled $10.2 M From His Insurance Carrier Employer. Woman to Serve 15 Years for $24M DME Sales & Repair Fraud. DWC Announces Move of Stockton Office to Lodi. Feds Voice Concern About Quality of Foreign Manufactured Generics. CVS Plans Overhaul of Pharmacy Reimbursement Model.

December 4, 2023 – News Podcast


Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph.D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: Pervasive Bullying by U.C. Berkeley Women’s Soccer Coach Violates Unruh Act. Cal AG Files Amicus in SCOTUS Transportation Workers’ Arbitration Case. County of Ventura Prevails in Employee Overtime Pay Class Action. Exclusive Remedy Bars Suit for Worker’s Fatal Injuries on Business Trip. Labor Commissioner Reaches $1 Million Settlement in Wage Theft Case. Cal//OSHA May Obtain Search Warrant but Must Show Probable Cause. DWC Proposes Changes to QME Regulations. Decline in SAWW Means No TD/PD Rate Increases for 2024. Researchers Report on Healing Potential of Living Biobots and Anthrobots. UCLA Launches New Degree in Disability Studies.

November 27, 2023 – News Podcast


Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph.D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: Two Former Tustin Police Officers Face $188K Comp Fraud Charges. San Joaquin County Pharmacy to Pay $1M in Civil Penalties. Nursing Facilities Owner Resolves Kickback Case for $45.6M. 32 Legislators Concerned About Insurance Commissioner. California Plans $1.2 B Overhaul of EDD Into “EDDNext”. Employer’s Must Reimburse Costs of Food Handler Training. Setting Reserves? Life Expectancy for Men Continues to Decline. New Federal Rules on PBMs Backfires on Small Pharmacies. Nationwide Shortage of Physical Therapists is Especially High in California. AI is Revolutionizing The Workers’ Compensation Industry.

November 13, 2023 – News Podcast


Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph.D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: Indictments Unsealed in $500M Moscow Based Telehealth Fraud. Farm Owner Charged with Manslaughter for Worker’s Death. Bay Area Restaurant Owner Pleads Guilty to 8 Felony Counts. Second Owner of Fresno Sleep Clinic Pleads Guilty. Lawyer Sentenced for $2.2 M Kickbacks & Corrupt Litigation Scheme. Mixed Industry Reaction to President Biden AI Executive Order. DWC Audit and Enforcement Unit Publishes 2022 Audit Results. NCCI Publishes 2023 Physician Service Utilization-A Multistate Review. New Law Reins in the High Cost of Ambulance Surprise Bills. Four California Hospitals Score “F” in Hospital Safety Evaluation.

November 6, 2023 – News Podcast


Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph.D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: Appellate Court Affirms AOE-COE Ends at Employer’s Property Line. Cal Supreme Ct. Set to Review Neutral Time-Rounding Rules. Owners of Catalina Island Businesses Indicted for $1M Wage Theft. Jury Convicts Oakland Doctor in Kickback and Fraud Case. Bakersfield Attorney Pleads No Contest in Insurance Fraud Scheme. Consumer Watchdog Critical of DOI Closed Door Deal with Carriers. NCCI Reports Robust Workers Compensation Economic Outlook. WCIRB Releases 2023 Geo Study with Interactive Map. New VA Study Shows Paxlovid Not Effective Against Long COVID. After 2 Decades of Study – Medical Errors Continue to Increase.

October 30, 2023 – News Podcast


Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph.D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: SIBTF Application Filed 19 Years After DOI May Not Be Too Late. Attorney Incivility During Trial Justifies Reduction in Fees Awarded. Investigation of Employee Complaints is Protected by Anti-SLAPP. O.C. Insurance Agent Faces 27 Felonies for Comp Premium Theft. Court Refuses to Reduce Employer’s Comp Fraud Felony Convictions. Sacramento Contractor to Serve 210 Days for $170K Fraud. DIR Raises Threshold for Software Employees Overtime Exemption. NLRB Publishes New Final Joint Employment Status Rule. Fresno Based TPA to Transition to Klear.ai SaaS Platform. JAMA Publishes Study of Traditional Chinese Medicine Compound.

October 23, 2023 – News Podcast


Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph.D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: Arbitration Award Vacated for “Impression of Possible Bias”. Silicon Valley Man to Serve 8 Years for $77M Medical Fraud. Temecula Man Sentenced For Health Care Kickback Conspiracy. Fresno Distributor Arrested for Selling Non FDA Approved Test Kits. Hyatt Regency to Pay $4.7M for Right to Recall Law Violation. WCIRB Publishes 2024 Experience Modification Data. Teamsters Condemn Gov. Gavin Newsom’s “Veto Spree”. Restaurant Self-Insured Group Recovers From $80M Deficit. CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid Are Closing Thousands of Stores. New Law Signed Friday Increases Healthcare Minimum Wage.

October 16, 2023 – News Podcast


Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph.D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: Claim Examiner Tips on Selecting Hip and Knee Replacements. Accrued Vacation Pay Immediately Due Upon Temporary Layoff. Tree Trimming Co. Charged For Premium Fraud/Wage Theft. Charges Filed Against Business Owner Under New Wage Theft Law. Gov. Newsom Vetoes CAAA Sponsored TD Extension – AB 1213. Senators Announce False Claims Amendments Act of 2023. New Law Assists Carriers to Detect Contractor Premium Fraud. Newsom Signs New Law to Reduce Pharmacy Errors. Walgreens to Launch On-Demand Virtual Care This Month. Study of 200K Claims Shows AI Reduces Legal Involvement by 15%.

October 9, 2023 – News Podcast


Rene Thomas Folse, JD, Ph.D. is the host for this edition which reports on the following news stories: Felon’s De-facto Control of Mesa Pharmacy Supports Lien Stay. Uber/Lyft Denied Arbitration in Labor Commissioner, AG Actions. Grand Jury Charges Orange County Doctor for $150M Fraud. Mobile Phlebotomy Owners Sentenced for $7.5M Fraud. Employers Face New Law for Harassment in the Workplace. Newsom Vetoes Unemployment Benefits for Striking Workers. WCIRB Publishes Second Quarter 2023 Experience Report. Dept of Insurance Fines Insurtech Related Insurance Carrier $2.1M. NSC Releases New Research on Technology to Reduce Work Injury. Federal Medical Cost Reduction Initiative – 10 Year $5.4B Epic Fail.