News and comment about California Workers' Compensation — Page 12

Thank goodness, the reforms are working, Zenith has doubled its fourth quarter profits compared to 2003! Results are here >>> (link unavailable)

From Donald Kottler: "You asked where all the savings are going. Swartznegger is just like Bush. The savings will go to whoever donates the most $$$$ to his cause. And now that he is going to ask for more $$$$ from special interests across the country, I feel he has lost touch with the people he is supposed to represent. Signed an injured worker-6...

Via WorkCompCentral: "Stan Zax, CEO of Zenith National Insurance Co. and vice chair of the Little Hoover Commission, angrily denounced Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's plan to eliminate 88 state boards as "revolting" and "ridiculous," in a Little Hoover Commission hearing."

Apparently even an insurance executive realizes you can go too far with "reform".

State Compensation Insurance Fund, California's largest workers' compensation insurer has unveiled its medical provider network which includes physicians from Blue Cross, Kaiser and others. Spokespersons claim that physician choices will not be curtailed. See the Sacramento Bee article here >>> (archived)

Voters Injured at Work has joined with the California Applicant's Attorney Association to file suit to stop implementation of the proposed permanent disability evaluation schedule. It seems the courts will be left to decide. There is apparently no political will left in the legislature to deal with the draconian cuts the administrative director, Andrea Hoch, is proposing.

Workers' compensation insurance premiums have dropped in the double digits in the last six months according to the article posted here >>> (link unavailable)
These drops are not deep enough, or quick enough to please governmental officials and employers. One question that keeps coming to mind: Why should California's workers' compensation costs be anything less than the highest in the nation? I know this...

One of the ways the Governor will cut state expenditures is by changing the public pension program from defined benefit to defined contribution. This simply means that retiring public employees will receive lower pension benefits, making state jobs less attractive. This isn't always clear from the news reports. Read an article on the subject here >>> (archived)

The governor has proposed 30% increases in the State's workers' compensation budget over the next two years. Is this an example of the savings and efficiency he is bringing to California government? See the full article here >>> (link unavailable)

Draft Michael Douglas, or Martin Sheen for governor in 2006. Or what do you think, would Rob Reiner have a chance?

A recent study conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California says that the cause of the alleged workers' compensation crisis is neither a sudden jump in claims, nor a windfall in benefits to workers. For the entire article click here >>> (link unavailable)

Reforms are helping some employers and injured workers and hurting others. You can read more here >>> (archived)