Oakland, CA – The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California (WCIRB) has released its Quarterly Experience Report based on statewide workers’ compensation insurer loss and premium experience through December 31, 2018. The major findings of the report include: California written premium for 2018 is 4 percent below that for 2017 and 6 percent below… [Read more]
Top Stories
FAIR Health Elects Lynn B. Nicholas and Rob Parke to Board of Directors
New York, NY – FAIR Health, Inc., recently announced that it has elected Lynn B. Nicholas, LFACHE, and Rob Parke, FIA, ASA, MAAA, to its Board of Directors. A national, independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing transparency to healthcare costs and health insurance information, FAIR Health is governed by a Board comprising leaders from all… [Read more]
NY Woman Charged with Stealing Dead Grandmother’s Workers’ Comp Benefits
Albany, NY – New York State Workers’ Compensation Fraud Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott recently announced the arrest of a City of Rochester woman on charges that she defrauded the Workers’ Compensation system by more than $5,000 by signing and cashing benefit checks sent to her deceased grandmother. Brandy R. Sheppard of Rochester was arraigned… [Read more]
The RxProfessor: The Complexities of Tapering Polypharmacy Regimens
By Mark Pew, Senior VP, Preferred Medical This week I want to share two articles about the complexities of tapering polypharmacy regimens that include opioids. The first article is about using a mix of alternative methods to help treat chronic pain while also reducing the use of opioids. The second article examines the myths surrounding… [Read more]
FDA Issues Statement on New Labeling to Help Providers with Opioid Tapering
Silver Spring, MD – Douglas Throckmorton, M.D., Deputy Center Director for Regulatory Programs in FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, recently released a new statement on opioid analgesic labeling changes to give providers better information for how to properly taper patients who are physically dependent on opioids: As the Department of Health and Human… [Read more]
John Sells Appointed Chief Information Officer for SUNZ Holdings
Bradenton, FL – SUNZ Holdings, LLC recently announced it has appointed John Sells to the position of Chief Information Officer. Mr. Sells will set the vision and roadmap for IT initiatives and enterprise systems with a focus on digital transformation and deep usage of data analytics. The appointment reflects SUNZ’s recognition of the importance of… [Read more]
CA Neurosurgeon Charged with Insurance Fraud and Theft in $500,000 Scheme
Sacramento, CA – Dr. Laura Anderson, a neurosurgeon from Carmichael, has been charged with multiple counts of medical insurance fraud, workers’ compensation fraud, and grand theft after allegedly submitting over $500,000 in fraudulent medical services reimbursement claims to the State Compensation Insurance Fund. Dr. Anderson was arrested and booked on these charges at the Sacramento… [Read more]
CA DWC Posts Progress Report on Independent Bill Review Program
San Francisco, CA – The Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) and its Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) posted a progress report today on the department’s Independent Bill Review (IBR) program. IBR is a process used to resolve billing disputes for medical treatment and medical-legal services provided to injured workers. The “2018 Independent Bill Review (IBR)… [Read more]
LWCC Board of Directors Declares $51 Million Dividend
Baton Rouge, LA – LWCC’s board of directors has declared a $51 million dividend for 2018 that will be distributed to over 20,000 policyholders in mid-April. This amount represents one-fourth of the premium LWCC earned in 2018. “As a mutual insurance company, we are able to share profits with our policyholders when we have strong… [Read more]
FL AG Moody Pushes Back Against Loosening CDC Opioid Prescription Guidelines
Tallahassee, FL – Attorney General Ashley Moody recently pushed back against a dangerous federal proposal to loosen opioid prescribing guidelines. Attorney General Moody and 38 other attorneys general are expressing concerns about a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services pain management draft report. The Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force Draft Report deviates… [Read more]