Bored

[chrischris]

from being inactive, so to amuse myself this weekend I read all 407 pages of "California Commission on Health and Safety
and Workers’ Compensation 2010 Report". Surprisingly I found it interesting.

[1171]

http://www.dir.ca.gov/chswc/chswc.html
they were formed in the early 90's to help direct changes to the califonia comp system by becoming an independent/stakeholders source of information and solutions.
unfortunately they didn't/couldn't avert or stop the meltdown and market collapse that occurred from 2001 to 2003 and consequently the major reforms of 2004 and after were done largely without their input.

anything in the report a surprise to you ?

what things do you know now that you wished you knew when you were first injured?

[chrischris]

1171, I do want to answer your questions, but tomorrow. Right now I'm deep in wiring my Bose to my bedroom TV, and downloading a movie on Ipod to watch on same TV tonight. Having a hard time with attaching components to Bose. I'm using standard RCA connections but they don't want to work. I think my Bose is too old. One of the first versions. Oh what fun we come up with when bored. LOL!

Hope you are well and off to a good start in 2011. My case is right where it was the last time I posted. Waiting waiting waiting. LOL!!!!!!!

[chrischris]

Back to you 1171.

Were you a roundtable participant on any of the panels?

“anything in the report surprise to you?”

What surprised me is the complexity of the WC system as a whole. I’m surprised over and over by this! And a couple of things I listed below.

“what things do you know now that you wished you knew when you were first injured?”

Like the average injured worker, I was clueless about the system. Most injuries don’t require a WC101. I’ve learned as time went on. Labor Codes, CCC’s, Case Law….. I do wish I knew about the guides for injured workers which are a very good starting place. Not that it matters but I think every California IW should be given information on how to access CA DWC; along with an ankle monitor because once you turn in that DWC-1 form, you become a prisoner in the system. (Maybe a little dramatic!) LOL!!!!

Can't stress it enough. The best defense is knowledge. Learn the rules and regulations of your State, if your injury is serious or you think you be involved in litigation; either pro per or with an Attorney.

Areas which were of most interest to me were:

1. Occupational and non-occupational integrated care (Special report)
a. I agree on so many levels that this would be much more efficient. Being an IW with non-industrial consequences and having to be treated by different drs. for the same issue, different body parts. (UE and LE). The funny part about this is my employers MPN is the same as my group insurance. What a waste!
2. I found it interesting that the Self Insured Groups have so many strong regulatory systems in place due to “other” states problem area, yet still need more to manage the risk of defaults.
3. I take it back, I was surprised by the number of Illegally Uniinsured Employers and the process by which their claims are handled. I’m now curious to see how the pilot program at the Salinas I&A office works to identify illegally uninsured employers and at the same time better help the Injured Workers. According to this report, out of 3,100 cases that come thru the I&A offices statewide, 1,700 become UEBTF claims. WOW!!!!!!
4. I found a TYPO on page 260. Kennan & Associates should be Keenan & Associates. LOL!!!!!
5. On Insolvency Issues, I was surprised that AGAIN reference is being made to Ogilvie and Almaraz/Guzman decisions. All about the AMA and how it is interpreted to determine PD totals.
6. Interesting that 12.5% of all Panel QME’s are Psychologists or Psychiatrists. IMHO, SB899 created this problem by only allowing one PQME. This subject in itself caused great friction between myself and my claims examiner.
7. Embargo on Supplemental Report Requests to prevent obtaining a supplemental report to clarify or correct the initial QME report “, reflects an effort to equalize the power of the claims administrator and the unrepresented injured worker. An underlying concern is that claims administrators sometimes improperly influence a QME’s conclusions without the worker having the knowledge or resources to resist those tactics”. LOVE THIS as quoted from report.

8. The issue of underreporting of injuries suggests that 21-25% of injuries where time was lost by the injured, is conservative. It could be as many as up to 40% of injuries not being reported. Hummmmmm, I wonder why??????

OK that's it for now. So did I bore you to death?????? I made the comment recently to my psychologist that I am not like a lot of women and before I could finish my statement, he added, "you aren't like a lot of people period!" LOL!!!!!!