IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Bills Signed into Law/Passed without a Veto

AB 378: Requires physicians to bill for compound medications at the ingredient level and would limit reimbursement to 120% of the documented costs of the compounding pharmacy rates in the Medi-Cal data base, or 83% of the average acquisition cost of the drug.

AB335: Requires the Division of Workers' Compensation to prepare a booklet outlining the claims process. 

AB1168: Requires the Division of Workers' Compensation to have in place by Jan 1, 2013, a fee schedule for services and testimony provided by vocational experts.

SB826: Authorizes the Division of Workers' Compensation to assess fines up to $5000 per year against claims administrators who do not comply with the Workers' Compensation Information System reporting requirements.

SB457: Provides that a self-insured employee welfare benefit plan may recover from an employer or workers' compensation insurer more than the amount for medical expenses provided by the Official Medical Fee Schedule when treatment is originally denied and then subsequently accepted after a WCAB finding of injury or illness.

Are you confused who to call when you have a question:

If you have a questions about the POPP program:  Call Erin at x111

Questions regarding Fitness for Duty evaluations:  Call Melody at x114

Questions regarding an Ergonomics evaluation:  Call Will at x107

Return to Work Program FAQs

For Workers’ Compensation

What is the RTW Program?  The RTW Program is designed to assist employees in returning to work quickly and safely after a work related injury or illness.  With the RTW Program, temporary accommodation of medical restrictions will be provided, if available, until you are able to return to full duty or up to 12 weeks whichever comes first.  Although you may have temporary work restrictions which prevent you from performing your regular job tasks you can often do temporary modified or alternative work while recovering.

How does the Return to Work Program work?  Once you have been seen by one of the Occupational Health Providers a “work status slip” is provided to you.  If there are temporary work restrictions coordination between your Workers’ Compensation District contact and RESIG’s RTW Specialist takes place.   An Interactive Process will be held with you to determine if a temporary modified duty job is available for you.  Once in the program ongoing communication will take place between your employer, yourself, your doctor and RESIG.  

Here are some things that you can do to ensure success in the program:

Perform your work safely, observing all temporary work restrictions.

Communicate with your supervisor or the RTWS at RESIG if you:

• Experience difficulty performing your assignments. 
• If you miss time due to scheduled physical therapy and/or medical appointments. 
• If you are unable to report for your RTW assignment.   

Be an active participant in your return to work and rehabilitation. 

No one else can do your recovering for you.

 Make the most of your treatment. 

Do your prescribed exercises/stretches. 

Support communication and attend all medical appointments as scheduled. 

You are the boss of your own recovery.

For more information contact Kelly Cook, CSHE, Return to Work Specialist ext. 108 or kcook@resig.org

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