New Employee Pamphlet (Effective as of January 1, 2013 - Includes DWC-approved SB 863 updates)

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Basic information about coverage, benefits and medical care under the workers' compensation program. Approved by the Administrative Director of the Division of Workers' Compensation for complying with statutory provisions of Labor Code Section 3551 and California Code of Regulations Sections 9880 and 9883 (Spanish), which require employers to furnish all new employees with state-approved, written notice of their right to workers' compensation benefits. Includes DWC-approved language reflecting changes enacted in the 2012 workers' compensation reform legislation (SB 863), including updated information regarding PD, SJDB, the Return to Work Fund and physician predesignation. New hire pamphlet, effective January 1, 2013.

Injured Worker Pamphlet (non-mandatory pamphlet. Includes SB 863 updates, may be used for workers with injury dates on or after January 1, 2013)

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Information explaining coverage, the nature of benefits and how they are secured, the medical treatment system and what to do if a problem arises. Designed to provide written information to injured workers about their rights and obligations under California workers' compensation. Includes language updated for 2013 to reflect changes enacted in the 2012 workers' compensation reform legislation (SB 863), including updated information regarding PD, SJDB, the Return to Work Fund and physician predesignation, as well as the new TD rates for injuries on or after 1/1/13. Can also be used to meet Ins. Code 1871.8 notice requirement on fraudulent receipt of TD and LC 3553 notice requirement for victims of workplace crime.

Posting Notice (Effective January 1, 2013. Includes DWC-approved SB 863 updates)

We are now shipping.

Posting notice containing the general workers' compensation benefit information required by state law, with DWC-approved language reflecting changes enacted in the 2012 workers' compensation reform legislation (SB 863), including updated information for 2013 regarding PD, SJDB, the Return to Work Fund and physician predesignation. This posting notice has been approved by the Administrative Director of the DWC for satisfying employer notice requirements of California Labor Code Section 3550 and California Code of Regulations Sections 9881 and 9883. Posting Notice, effective January 1, 2013.

NOTE:

Claim Form/NOPE (Effective October 8, 2010 --- Note: will not be updated to reflect SB 863 changes until the state amends the current regulations)

The form that injured workers, their dependents or agents use to file a claim for workers' compensation benefits in California (LC 5401, CCR 10139.). This form was revised by the state in June 2010 to include changes on the Notice of Potential Eligibility related to Medical Provider Notices as well as other technical revisions and updates to the Spanish translation. California law requires employers to provide employees with the DWC-1 form and notice of Potential Eligibility within one working day of receiving notice or knowledge of a work injury or illness (beyond first-aid). The 5-part form is printed in English and Spanish, with the state-mandated Notice of Potential Eligibility printed as a cover sheet attached to four copies of the claim form printed on NCR paper: one as the employee's temporary receipt when they first file the claim; and one each for the employer and the claims administrator, and one as the employee's final copy that should be signed and dated by the employer after completing their portion of the form. (5-part claim forms, effective October 8, 2010.)

The training manual from CWCI's seminar on SB 863, the 2012 California workers' comp reform bill, much of which takes effect in 2013. Manual sections cover key statutory provisions including changes affecting indemnity benefits; medical utilization and independent medical review (IMR); independent bill review (IBR); new and revised fee schedules and issues related to medical payments and disputes; the AME/QME process; liens; Medical Provider Networks; and miscellaneous provisions of the bill. Supplementary materials include sample Permanent Partial Disability ratings for pre- and post-2013 injuries; an updated PD indemnity chart; a glossary of IMR terms and lists of IMR notice and document production requirements; summaries of issues for discussion following each section; issue specific excerpts from SB 863; a spreadsheet of the statutory timeframes for SB 863 provisions; and a copy of the final bill with changes and deletions highlighted. Companies looking to do in-house training may also purchase a diskette of the PowerPoint slides used at the seminar. (Manual, 10/12)

A diskette containing the PowerPoint presentations from CWCI's October 2012 training seminar on SB 863, the 2012 California workers' compensation reform legislation. Complements the seminar manual for companies wishing to do in-house training. (PowerPoint Diskette)

Each year, CWCI conducts a California workers' compensation case law seminar that reviews how recent trends in decisional law impact workers' compensation defense and negotiation strategies. The goal of the programs is to help workers' comp professionals gain a better understanding of the changes and practical implications of case law and to sharpen their strategic thinking and negotiation skills so they can work more effectively with their counsel in defending claims.

The price of each manual is $15 for CWCI members, $20 for nonmembers.

CWCI publishes both bulletins highlighting the latest research results and significant regulatory decisions affecting the California workers’ compensation community.  This subscription combines both the Bulletins and CWCI Research Reports subscription with the Significant Decisions subscription and is available to nonmembers on a yearly basis.

CWCI publishes Bulletins highlighting the latest research results and addressing current issues and events affecting the California workers’ compensation community. Bulletins and CWCI research reports are available to nonmembers on a yearly subscription basis.

CWCI publishes reports concerning significant regulatory decisions affecting the California workers’ compensation community.  This subscription makes the Significant Decisions subscription available to nonmembers on a yearly basis.

An Employers' Guide to California Workers' Compensation.

A 20-page booklet that gives employers a basic, easy-to-understand explanation of California workers' comp coverage and benefits, and reviews key issues they need to know in dealing with work injury claims or shopping for coverage. The guide explains how premiums and rates are established under open rating -- including information on advisory rates, ex mods, and reserves. It also covers employer reporting requirements, identifies key cost drivers, and offers practical tips to help employers control costs. The guide fits in a #10 envelope for easy mailing.

Each year, CWCI conducts a California workers' compensation case law seminar that reviews how recent trends in decisional law impact workers' compensation defense and negotiation strategies. The goal of the programs is to help workers' comp professionals gain a better understanding of the changes and practical implications of case law and to sharpen their strategic thinking and negotiation skills so they can work more effectively with their counsel in defending claims.

The syllabus outlines the various levels of authority and list significant rulings (including case citations and notes) affecting various areas in workers' compensation. The 2011 syllabus looks at what's new in California case law, and includes sections on decisions related to Ogilvie, Guzman, Settlements, Medical & Utilization Review, and Liens. In addition, a 17-page summary of WCAB panel decisions citing Guzman.

The Institute's Case Law Defense/Negotiation Training Syllabus is available as a reference tool for those responsible for administering and defending claims, and for companies wishing to provide in-house training. The price of each manual is $15 for CWCI members, $20 for nonmembers.

Each year, CWCI conducts a California workers' compensation case law seminar that reviews how recent trends in decisional law impact workers' compensation defense and negotiation strategies. The goal of the programs is to help workers' comp professionals gain a better understanding of the changes and practical implications of case law and to sharpen their strategic thinking and negotiation skills so they can work more effectively with their counsel in defending claims.

The training manuals from these programs outline the various levels of authority and list significant rulings (including case citations and notes) affecting various areas in workers' compensation. The 2010 manual looks at what's new in California case law, and includes sections on decisions related to Utilization Review, Apportionment, PD rating and Medicare Issues. In addition, the manual includes summaries of significant decisions prepared by the Institute's general counsel, as well as related articles.

The Institute's Case Law Defense/Negotiation Training Manuals are available as a reference tool for those responsible for administering and defending claims, and for companies wishing to provide in-house training. The price of each manual is $35 for CWCI members, $40 for nonmembers.

Provider Experience and Volume-Based Outcomes in California Workers’ Compensation: Does “Practice Make Perfect?” An analysis of 1.1 million claims that measures the relationships between a predominant medical provider’s experience in the California workers’ compensation system and claim outcomes, as quantified by medical and indemnity benefit payments; length of disability; proportion of medical-only, indemnity and permanent disability cases; and the level of attorney involvement. The study also looks at differences in outcomes by provider experience for two kinds of musculoskeletal claims: medical back conditions without spinal cord involvement and upper and lower extremity fractures. (Report to the Industry, 02/03)

A study based on prescription drug data from more than 166,000 California work injury claims for back conditions with no spinal cord involvement which finds that higher levels of opioid use are associated with higher claim costs, as well as a higher prevalence of other adverse outcomes such as increased likelihood of lost time from work, delayed recovery and increased attorney involvement. The 16-page analysis adds to scientific literature that suggests that at higher levels of use, opioids can have an adverse impact on both activity levels and on self-efficacy, and that prolonged administration of pain medication may impede, rather than facilitate, injured workers' recovery from occupational back injuries. (Report to the Industry, 06/08)

A comprehensive study tracking changes in injured worker access to medical-legal and medical care providers following the enactment of reforms designed to control the utilization and cost of forensic medicine and treatment in the California workers’ compensation system. The study used data from more than 900,000 work injury claims from accident years 1993 to 2005 and tracking software that measures distances between two given locations to determine the average distance injured workers needed to travel to access the three closest primary care physicians (family medicine, general practice and occupational medicine providers), the three closest specialty providers (orthopedists, chiropractors, neurologists/neurosurgeons), and the three closest med-legal report writers, both before and after the reforms were implemented. The report also notes changes in the proportion of California injured workers who fell within the access standards of three primary care providers within 15 miles of the worker’s home, and three specialty providers and three forensic physicians within 30 miles. Appendices provide primary care, specialty care and forensic medical provider access data for each of California’s 58 counties as well as statewide results. (Report to the Industry, 08/06)

An indepth look at various characteristics of California workers’ compensation claims that involved attorneys during the 8-year period of 1993 through 2000. Based on an analysis of more than 1.7 million claims from the Institute’s ICIS database, the 12-page report provides background on the causes and growth of litigation in California workers’ compensation, and a comprehensive analysis that examines the level of attorney involvement by type of claim, average legal and benefit costs of those claims, the timing of attorney involvement and the method of resolution. The study also reviews the impact of variables such as industry group, employer size, level of permanent disability, and geographic region on the level of attorney involvement and litigation costs.