Comp News - Media Advisories

Christine Baker Appointed Director of DIR

2011-12-12T18:41:00Z

CAAA is pleased with the appointment of Christine Baker to the position of Director of DIR.

We will continue to work with Director Baker and her staff to solve the problems caused by the failed policies of the prior Administration. We will continue to seek out solutions that provide needed savings to employers while increasing benefits, including access to medical treatment and indemnity.

We are encouraged by the Governor's willingness to fill vacant positions and look forward to additional appointments in the near future.

Brad Chalk, President of California Applicants Attorneys Association

For the full article from Workers' Comp Executive, click here

Ronnie Caplane has been appointed chair of the WCAB

2011-12-07T21:52:00Z

Governor Brown Announces Appointments

Ronnie Caplane, 63, of Oakland, has been appointed chair of the Workers Compensation Appeals Board, where she has served as a member since 2003. She was a freelance writer and columnist for the Piedmonter and the Montclarion from 1992 to 2006. Caplane was a partner at Bruynell and Caplane from 1983 to 1985 and a trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Division from 1979 to 1982. Caplane received her Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. Click here for CA.Gov article

Nancy Bargman, 50, of Long Beach, has been appointed deputy director of the community services division at the Department of Developmental Services. Bargman has been the executive director at Home Ownership for Personal Empowerment, Inc. since 2010. Written by Imperial Valley News

Two-Year Temporary Disability Limit Harms Severely Injured Workers

2011-05-04T21:45:00Z

Two-Year Temporary Disability Limit Harms Severely Injured Workers:

Extend Insurance for the Seriously Injured; Assembly Insurance Committee to Consider AB 947 (Solorio)

Temporary Disability insurance frequently ends before recovery from serious work

injury is complete. Workers who sustain severe injuries requiring surgeries often

take more than two years to heal. But after two years, even when not healed, these

injured workers lose the temporary disability insurance payments that are to

provide minimum income until they can return to work. On Wednesday, May 4,

Assemblymember Solorio will ask the Assembly Insurance Committee to extend

temporary disability insurance to the most seriously injured.

“I worked as a truck driver for 36 years. I injured my left shoulder in 2008 as I

tried to stop a steel rack from hitting me in the face. It jerked my shoulder and I felt

a sudden pop,” said David Cook, injured trucker. “After surgeries on both

shoulders, I am still in constant pain and have limited range of motion. Neither of

my shoulders is healed. My Temporary Disability has run out due to the 2-year

cap, yet I cannot return to work as a truck driver.”

AB 947 (Solorio), sponsored by the California Applicants Attorneys’ Association

(CAAA), would add injuries that require treatment that cannot medically be

completed within 104 weeks to specified injuries that could qualify for no more

than 240 compensable weeks of temporary disability within a period of 5 years

from the date of injury.

WHO: Injured Workers’ Advocate Linda Atcherley, CAAA; San Diego Injured worker David Cook

WHEN: Wednesday, May 4, 2011; 9:00 am

WHERE: Assembly Insurance Committee, State Capitol, Room 437

Learn more...

Media Advisory: Injured Workers, Labor, Doctors, Consumers to Oppose Workers Compensation Insurance Rate Increase

2009-06-05T17:36:00Z

Monday, June 8, 2009

Contact: Steve Hopcraft, 916/457-5546; Steve@hopcraft.com

Injured Workers, Labor, Doctors, Consumers to Oppose Workers Compensation Insurance Rate Increase

Leaders of labor unions, consumers, injured workers and their advocates, and doctors who treat injured workers have called a Monday, June 8, news conference to oppose the insurance industry/s request for a 23% premium rate increase. The news conference will occur in conjunction with a hearing called by the Insurance Commissioner to examine the insurance industry/s claim that medical costs require such an unprecedented rate increase.

Todd McFarren, president of the California Applicants Attorneys Association (CAAA), opposes the insurance industry/s proposed 23% increase in workers compensation premiums because "the insurance carriers/ rate hikes would not go to medical treatment for injured workers, but to profits or to pay the skyrocketing cost of denying medical care and permanent disability compensation."

WHO: Todd McFarren, CAAA president
          Emily Clayton, California Labor Federation
        Jesse Ceniceros, president, VotersInjuredatWork.org
        Steve Cattolica, Ca. Society for Industrial Medicine & Surgery
    Richard Holober, Consumer Federation of California
WHEN: Monday, June 8, 2009; 12:15 pm
WHERE: 1500 Capitol Mall, Building 172, Room 72.154 Sacramento
PHONE: 1-800-920-7487, Participation Code: 36453871#

http://viaw.org/
www.DenialofCare.org

Click here to download the advisory.

Media Advisory: Most of Workers’ Comp Premium Dollar Going to Insurers, Not to Injured Workers’ Medical Care or Disability Compensation

2009-03-28T04:56:00Z

SACRAMENTO, CA – Todd McFarren, the president of the California Applicants' Attorneys Association (CAAA), whose members represent Californians injured on the job, said today that the workers’ compensation insurance companies’ proposed rate increase would go to "denying injured workers the medical care they need."

McFarren responded to an insurance industry research group's proposed rate hike by noting that, "Since 1994, when SB 899 was enacted, the largest portion of employers' premiums has gone to insurers' profits, not to injured workers' care or compensation for their permanent disabilities. And much of this proposed increase, supposedly due to higher medical costs, is actually going to pay for insurers' expenses to review, and usually deny, requests for medical care, rather than providing the care injured workers need so that they can return to work."

McFarren pointed out that, "Insurers have pocketed record profits since the Schwarzenegger reforms took effect 5 years ago, and injured workers' compensation has fallen to among the lowest in the nation. The insurance carriers' rate hikes would not go to injured workers, but most of it would be profits or the cost of denying medical care and permanent disability compensation."

The attached chart shows where California employers' workers’ compensation premium dollars have gone since the Schwarzenegger changes took effect.

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Media Advisory: DeSaulnier Bill Prohibits Insurers from Penalizing Ethnic Minorities, Women, Older Workers Bill Responds to Dollar Tree, Other Bias Cases

2009-03-28T04:52:00Z

On Wednesday, March 25th, Sen. Mark DeSaulnier will present to the Senate Industrial Relations Committee his SB 145, sponsored by the California Applicants Attorneys Association (CAAA) to ban race, gender and age discrimination in awarding disability compensation to workers injured on the job. SB 899, Governor Schwarzenegger's workers' compensation bill, is being interpreted to permit discrimination against California workers based on their age, race and gender. The measure allows insurers and doctors to reduce permanent disability compensation awards based on gender, race and age. Compensation to disabled workers has been cut by millions each year due to this discrimination.

"SB 145 would ban reducing disability compensation based on factors such as age, race and gender. Currently, insurers and doctors are reducing permanent disability insurance payments based on age, race and gender. Discrimination has reduced compensation to disabled workers by millions of dollars," said Sue Borg, Legislative Chair for CAAA, whose members represent those injured at work. "It's past time to ensure that all injured workers are treated equally by insurers in compensating permanent disabilities from work injuries."

For more information download PDF:(Please visit the site to view this media)

Media Advisory: Injured Workers Advocate Highly Irregular, Inappropriate Pressure to Deny Disabled Workers’ Fair Compensation

2009-03-28T04:45:00Z

Sacramento, CA - Injured workers' advocates today questioned the Schwarzenegger Administration's "highly irregular and inappropriate" attempts to influence the outcome of a pending Workers Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) decision allowing injured workers to challenge the administration's permanent disability rating schedule.

"The WCAB's recent decisions are necessary clarifications of the 2004 statutory changes. The letter from John Duncan, a political appointee of the governor, to the WCAB commissioners, who are also all (except one) appointees of the governor, smacks of an attempt to interfere with the judicial process by exerting improper political pressure on the board to change their unanimous decision interpreting the law," said Todd McFarren, president of CAAA, whose members represent workers injured on the job.

McFarren said the board's recent decisions in the combined Almaraz/Guzman cases and the Ogilvie case "allow judges to fairly assess injured workers' actual permanent disabilities and lost wages, because the decisions allow the court to look at all the factors of disability."

To read the entire story download PDF:(Please visit the site to view this media)

Media Advisory: Injured Worker’s Family to Lose Temporary Disability: Insurance Carrier’s Delays of Medical Care to Put Sacramento Family Out in the Cold

2008-12-23T04:50:00Z

News Media Advisory:
Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Contact: Steve Hopcraft 916/457-5546;
steve@hopcraft.com

Injured Worker’s Family to Lose Temporary Disability: Insurance Carrier’s Delays of Medical Care to Put Sacramento Family Out in the Cold

An injured Sacramento operating engineer and advocates on his behalf have called a news conference to announce that due to insurance company delays in medical care, and the governor’s restrictions on Temporary Disability, he and his family are losing their Temporary Disability income during Christmas Week.

A motorcyclist hit Richard Chance at work and Richard was thrown 35 feet. Richard will detail his injuries, the delays in approving medical care, and the financial impacts on his family from being cut off of Temporary Disability this week.

WHAT: Protest the loss of temporary disability for injured worker
WHO: Injured Operating Engineer Richard Chance;
Sue Borg, Legislative Chair, CA. Applicants Attorneys
Assoc. (CAAA)
VotersInjuredatWork
WHEN: Tuesday, December 23, 2008, 10:00 a.m.
WHERE: 1127-11th Street, 8th floor conference room, Sacramento

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Media Advisory: Are You Angry About The Way Your Permanent Disability Is Being Compensated?

2008-07-19T23:32:00Z

Do You Want To Help Yourself And Others So That They Will Get What’s Fair? Well, Here Is Your Chance.

The Administrative Director of the Division of Workers’ Compensation, the person
who is responsible for changes in the way disabilities are calculated is holding a
public hearing to permit all interested persons the opportunity to hear what is
being done to correct the situation, and/or present statements either orally or in
writing, about the proposed changes.

The hearing will be held at the following time and place:
Date: Monday, July 21, 2008
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or conclusion of testimony
Place: Ronald Reagan State Building – Auditorium
300 South Spring Street
Los Angeles, California 90013

Date: Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or conclusion of
testimony
Place: Elihu Harris State Office Building – Auditorium
1515 Clay Street
Oakland, California 94612

THIS MAY BE YOUR LAST CHANGE TO HAVE YOUR VOICE HEARD
BEFORE YOUR RIGHT TO COMPENSATION IS FIXED.

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Media Advisory: ASSEMBLY INSURANCE COMMITTEE TO VOTE ON DISABILITY BENEFITS BIAS BAN, PERMANENT DISABILITY COMPENSATION; Senate Rules Committee to Hear DWC Chief Nomination

2008-06-25T20:01:00Z

NEWS MEDIA ADVISORY FOR:
Wednesday, June 25, 2008 Steve@hopcraft.com

Contact: Steve Hopcraft, 916/457-5546;
Steve@hopcraft.com

ASSEMBLY INSURANCE COMMITTEE TO VOTE ON
DISABILITY BENEFITS BIAS BAN,
PERMANENT DISABILITY COMPENSATION;
Senate Rules Committee to Hear DWC Chief Nomination

On Wednesday morning, June 25, the Assembly Insurance Committee will vote on
Sen. Carole Migden’s SB 1115 to ban race, gender and age discrimination in
awarding disability compensation to workers injured on the job, and on Sen. Don
Perata’s SB 1717, to restore compensation to permanently disabled workers.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Senate Rules Committee will consider the
nomination of Carrie Nevans as Administrative Director of the Division of
Workers Compensation. Injured workers and their advocates have expressed
concerns that Ms. Nevans has not restored compensation to permanently disabled
workers. The prior administrative director made deep cuts to permanent disability
compensation not based on the law or any empirical studies.

WHAT: Assembly Insurance Committee
WHEN & WHERE: Wednesday, June 25, 2008; 9:00 am
State Capitol, Room 437
WHAT: Senate Rules Committee Hearing on Carrie Nevans
WHEN & WHERE: Wednesday, June 25, 2008; 1:30 pm
State Capitol, Room 113

Media Advisory: San Diego Union Tribune: State Senate alters limits on workers' comp

2008-03-11T12:04:00Z

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Contact: Steve Hopcraft,
916/457-5546; Steve@hopcraft.com

San Diego Union Tribune
State Senate alters limits on workers' comp

ASSOCIATED PRESS
March 11, 2008

SACRAMENTO – The state Senate approved legislation yesterday that would
prohibit doctors from considering age, race or genetic factors in determining the
size of workers' compensation benefits for employees who suffer job-related
disabilities.

The bill by Sen. Carole Migden, D-San Francisco, would alter a key provision of
the sweeping workers' compensation changes promoted by Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger and employers in 2004.

Among other things, the reforms require doctors to determine what “other factors”
besides a job-related injury contributed to a worker's disability. Benefits can be cut
if the physician decides that an earlier injury or a medical problem contributed to
the disability.

Critics say the 2004 legislation has led to awards that discriminate based on a
worker's age, race, gender, national origin or genetic predispositions.

In one case, a physician in San Diego concluded that the workers' comp benefits
for a cook should be cut in half because he was black and therefore had a genetic
CAAA Release: State Senate alters limits on workers' comp, 3.11.2008, page 2
predisposition to have high blood pressure or hypertension.

In several other cases, women have had their benefits slashed because physicians
have decided women are more likely than men to develop carpal tunnel syndrome,
supporters of the Migden bill say.

They say the measure would require doctors to base their assessments on medical
evidence, not risk factors.

Opponents say it could result in employers being unfairly charged for that portion
of a disability not caused by a job-related injury.
A 23-13 vote sent the measure to the Assembly.

Download the pdf: (Please visit the site to view this media)

Media Advisory: BILL WOULD BAN BIAS IN DISABILITY BENEFITS: Migden Bill to Prohibit Insurers from Penalizing Women, Ethnic Minorities, Older Workers; Millions of Dollars Deducted each Year

2008-02-12T12:59:00Z

NEWS MEDIA ADVISORY FOR:
Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Contact: Steve Hopcraft,
916/457-5546; Steve@hopcraft.com

BILL WOULD BAN BIAS IN DISABILITY BENEFITS:
Migden Bill to Prohibit Insurers from Penalizing Women,
Ethnic Minorities, Older Workers;
Millions of Dollars Deducted each Year

On Tuesday, February 12th, Sen. Carole Migden, VotersInjuredatWork.org, the
California Applicants Attorneys Association (CAAA) and supporters will unveil
legislation to ban race, gender and age discrimination in awarding disability
compensation to workers injured on the job. SB 899, Governor Schwarzenegger’s
workers’ compensation bill, is permitting discrimination against California workers
based on their age, race and gender. The measure allows insurers and doctors to
reduce permanent disability compensation awards based on gender, race and age.
Compensation to disabled workers has been cut by millions each year due to this
discrimination.

“Tuesday is Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, and on that day we will launch our effort
to ban discrimination based on genetic factors such as age, race and gender,” said
Sue Borg, president of CAAA, whose members represent those injured at work. “It
boggles the mind that in 2008 insurers and their doctors are allowed to penalize
women, minorities and the elderly. This measure will end such blatant bias and
injustice in awarding disability compensation.”

WHO: Sen. Carole Migden; Injured workers and their advocates
WHEN: Tuesday, February 12, 2008
10:00 am
WHERE: State Capitol, Room 113
DIAL-IN: 1-866-846-3997, PASSCODE: 389042

Download pdf: (Please visit the site to view this media)

Media Advisory: Appeals Court To Hear Discrimnation Case

2007-11-20T20:18:00Z

NEWS MEDIA ADVISORY FOR:
Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Contact: Steve Hopcraft, 916/457-5546;
Steve@hopcraft.com

Appeals Court To Hear Discrimnation Case
Injured workers, AARP: Insurers Penalizing Women, Older Workers, Millions of Dollars withheld each Year

On Tuesday morning, November 20th, the Third District Court of Appeal in
Sacramento will hear arguments from injured workers’ advocates, the AARP and
civil rights groups that Governor Schwarzenegger’s workers’ compensation laws
have led to discrimination against California workers based on their age and
gender. A state commission has estimated that compensation provided to disabled
workers has been cut by at least $40 million a year due to this change.

WHO: Injured workers’ and civil rights advocates
WHEN: Tuesday, November 20, session begins 9:30 am
(case is 5th on docket)
WHERE: Third District Court of Appeal
Library and Courts Building, 914 Capitol Mall, Sacramento

Download the pdf: (Please visit the site to view this media)

Media Advisory: What's Up with Worker's Comp? Injured Workers, Experts to Brief News Media

2005-06-09T21:11:00Z

NEWS MEDIA ADVISORY FOR:
Thursday, June 9, 2005

Contact:
Steve Hopcraft (916) 457-5546
Steve@hopcraft.com

What's Up with Worker's Comp?
Injured Workers, Experts to Brief News Media

After a year of misery, unprecedented in its harm to injured workers, experts will brief interested news media on how Gov. Schwarzenegger's laws are affecting the lives of injured California workers.

Permanent Disability cuts, court challenges, "apportionment" that is unfairly penalizing women and elderly workers, denial of medical care, doctors leaving workers' compensation treatment, record insurance carrier profits, and the AIG scandal will all be addressed.

WHO: Injured Workers' & Advocates, Insurance Experts

WHEN: Thursday, June 9 @ 1:00 pm Pacific

WHERE: Please join us by phone # 1-973/ 582-2958 Workers' Compensation Update call MEDIA CALLS ONLY

Media Advisory: SchWARzenegger’s Broken Promises to Injured Workers & Their Families

2005-04-19T21:21:00Z

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, April 19, 2005

Contacts:
Steve Hopcraft 916/457-5546, cell 916/956-4592

SchWARzenegger’s Broken Promises to Injured Workers & Their Families
PROTEST - 1 Year of Misery - Workers’ Memorial Day

VotersInjuredatWork.org will fight back, but we need your help. Workers, particularly immigrant workers, are getting killed on the job because of unsafe working conditions. Those who are injured can’t get the care they need.

Tuesday, April 19, 2005
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Speakers & Rally!

State Capitol, Sacramento
East Lawn - 12th & L Streets

Ronald Reagan State Building
300 South Spring Street, Los Angeles