On Friday, a study was relaeased that medical costs have been on the rise by at least 9% since 2007.  The reforms in 2002 ansd 2004 were intended to decrease the amount of money spent on workers’ compensation claims including medical expenses and permanent disability settlement amounts.  Although these costs remained low for the first few years, there has been a jump specifically in medical costs believed to be caused by hospital services.

https://www.workcompcentral.com/1/news/news_print.htm?token=CE606B93C40AD889C9ED4173E5AC7040B148687E6B23C00CF64E61CB40004553&state=CA&id=fc1dab8efacd558723c09d92b14c1bfag

On December 31,2009 a ruling was made against  Governor Schwarzenegger stating that the state mandated furlough days were considered illegal.  The Governor implemented Furlough days for two fridays a month forcing state employees to not work and not get paid.  He then implemented an additional day later on in 2009.  The furlough days were intended to save money from the general fund; however, the employees forced to take furlough days were not paid from the general fund.

Employees affected by this decision come from the Division of  Workers’ Compensation, the state’s Department of Insurance, the Departmentof Motor Vehicles, the Public Utilities Commission and the Transportation Commission.

Employees are now demanding back pay for forced unpaid time off.  A decision has not been made yet.

So if yo have a Worker’s Compensation case, be on the look out for your court date to possibly fall on a Friday!

For more information go to : http://www.workcompcentral.com/1/news/news_print.htm?token=C8730EC60C04B56D6A642D08717377AC1D3E7CD0585373B5E1DEEAA4BF2CAE8D&state=CA&id=0ff472b118a9665b462bf2320996d3eeg