California DWC posts ethics and audit reports on its Web site

Sacramento, CA (WCNPC) - The Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) has posted the 2005 workers' compensation ethics advisory committee report and the 2005 DWC Audit Unit annual report on its Web site. The ethics advisory report details complaints made against workers’ compensation administrative law judges and what actions were taken in regard to those complaints. The Audit Unit annual report provides information on how claims administrators audited by the DWC performed and includes a ranking report.

The ethics advisory committee (EAC) is a state committee charged with reviewing and monitoring complaints of misconduct filed against workers’ compensation administrative law judges. After its review of complaints, the committee makes recommendations to the administrative director and the DWC court administrator. The committee reviews all complaints anonymously and does not learn the names of either the complainant or the judge complained against. The EAC is assisted in carrying out its functions by an attorney and secretary on the staff of the DWC.

The 2005 Audit Unit annual report details the results of audits conducted in 2004 and includes the name of each insurer, self-insured employer and third-party administrator audited during that time. For each claims administrator audited, the report specifies the total number of files audited, the number of violations found by type and amount of compensation, interest and penalties payable and the amount collected for each violation. The report also includes a list ranking all claims administrators audited during the period according to their performance.

Find the ethics advisory committee report at http://www.dir.ca.gov/dwc/ethrpt05.pdf. The Audit Unit report can be found at http://www.dir.ca.gov/dwc/audit.html.