The Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) has posted proposed “Chronic Pain Medical Treatment Guidelines” to its online forum. Members of the public may review and comment on the proposal online until Thursday, December 18.

“Chronic pain is a national concern. By issuing these guidelines, California continues to be on the forefront of providing appropriate care and improving outcomes,” said Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) Director Christine Baker. DWC is a division of DIR.

The current Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule (MTUS) Chronic Pain Medical Treatment Guidelines is based …

In a September 2014 study entitled Sinking Underground: The Growing Informal Economy in California Construction, misclassification of more than 39,800 construction workers is a key reason that the underground economy in construction is contributing to the low wages, difficulty in recruiting qualified craft workers and loss of wages and taxes in the State of California.

According to the study, released by the Economic Roundtable, a non profit research organization based in Los Angeles, in 2011 more than 143,900 construction jobs in the state were “informal” – code for …

The Sacramento region is adding construction jobs again. To be exact, 1,600 from July 2013 to last month.

But the growth rate is lower than seen in many other parts of California, according toTom Holsman, CEO at the Associated General Contractors of California. And despite the downtown arena, prospects don’t look good for much change here.

“It’s encouraging, but not really thriving,” Holsman said of the figures released Wednesday. “The Sacramento region is really kind of lagging where we expected it to be.”

Sacramento construction jobs grew by 4 …

The Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) has posted the 2013 ethics advisory committee’s annual report on its website. The workers’ compensation ethics advisory committee is a state committee independent from the DWC that is charged with reviewing and monitoring complaints of misconduct filed against workers’ compensation administrative law judges.

The ethics advisory committee is required to make a public report each year summarizing activities in the previous calendar year.

The 2013 annual report may be viewed or downloaded at the DWC website.

The Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) has posted an order adjusting the Official Medical Fee Schedule (OMFS) to conform to changes in the Medicare payment system as required by Labor Code section 5307.1.

The Physician and Non-Physician Practitioner Fee Schedule update Order adopts the following changes:

National Correct Coding Initiative April 2014 quarterly update of the Physician CCI Edits
Medicare Physician Fee Schedule April 2014 release updating the Physician Fee Schedule Relative Value File

The order adopting the OMFS adjustments are effective for services rendered on or after April …

Central Valley Business Times —  The Great Recession is over. The state is showing billions of dollars in revenue above the budget. So Central Valley Assemblyman Henry Perea, D-Fresno, says it’s time the weight fees paid by truckers are put back where they were intended: into fixing the roads.
“Redirecting truck weights fees back to their intended purpose will help California invest in our state highways and create about 18,000 good jobs,” says Mr. Perea. “These fees would provide funding for projects leading to a beneficial …

WASHINGTON — The IRS has received almost 100 million tax returns so far this year and expects to receive about 35 million more by the April 15 filing deadline. However, about 12 million taxpayers will have requested extensions by the filing deadline, giving them an extra 6 months to file.

The fastest and easiest way to get the extra time is through the Free File link on IRS.gov. In a matter of minutes, anyone, regardless of income, can use this free service to electronically request an …

A 37-year veteran of the LA Department of Building and Safety will continue to collect his annual pension of more than $72,000 despite being sentenced last month to prison in an FBI corruption case.

Samuel In pleaded guilty in 2013 to accepting more than $30,000 worth in bribes will working as a senior inspector for the department. He was accused of taking advantage of Korean-speaking business owners and was sentenced last month to two and a half years in prison.

Two years ago Governor Jerry Brown signed …

The California Department of Industrial Relations’ Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DIR/DOSH), also known as Cal/OSHA, is providing 2014’s notification to all employers to post the annual summary of all work-related injuries and illnesses (Form 300A). The form must be posted at their place of business from February 1 through April 30. 

The Form 300A is available for free download on DIR’s website. The form is a required workplace posting so that employees may have the opportunity to review any injury or illness that took place at …