TWO CASES RE: MEDICAL REPORTING AND SJDB VOUCHERS
Two recent WCAB panel decisions discussed medical evidence used to pursue SJDB/vouchers after the cases were resolved by C&R. In Singerman v. Nike (2021 Cal. Wrk. Comp. P.D. LEXIS 81) the PTP report was inadequate in addressing the voucher, so the applicant was allowed post-C&R to obtain a QME med-legal report.
Conversely, in Garcia v. Riverside Magnolia Corp. (2021 Cal. Wrk. Comp. P.D. LEXIS 69), the "Return To Work Report" issued by the PTP after a C&R was deemed sufficient for a voucher, despite the PTP having never issued a final report.
[COMMENT: in short, an applicant can rely upon either a PTP or AME/QME report to get a voucher, whether the report is obtained before or after the case was resolved.]
HEWS NEWS:
"Workers' Compensation Quarterly"
has published the "cheat sheet survey" of residential employee cases and statutes written by H. Neal Wells IV of our Calabasas office. A copy can be found on the HEWS website. [The firm has a one-hour presentation available on the basics of handling homeowner's cases, for which inquiries can be sent to Neal Wells at hnw@hmplc.com]
- Editor: H. Neal Wells IV