|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NEWS RELEASES ARCHIVES
|
|
|
| |
|
| Dec 5,
2004 |
Gov.
Schwarzenegger Didn’t “Fix”
Workers Comp., Injured Workers Can’t
Get Care or Compensation, Rates Still
Too High SACRAMENTO – Injured workers,
their doctors and advocates today
charged that Governor Schwarzenegger did
not “fix” workers’ compensation
insurance as promised in last year’s
State of the State address. “The state
of California’s injured workers is
desperate, worse than at any time in the
past thirty years,” said California
Applicants’ Attorneys Association
(CAAA) President David Schwartz. “No
previous governor, not Pete Wilson, nor
George Deukmejian, much less Jerry
nor Pat Brown, nor Gray Davis would ever
have cut injured workers’ compensation
by 70 percent...read more |
| |
|
| Nov 29,
2004 |
INJURED
WORKERS' ADVOCATES CALL FOR 24% RATE CUT: STATE FUND TO REDUCE RATES
JUST 5% The State Fund insures more than half of California's
employers, and those employers will barely notice this measly
reduction," said Schwartz. "Injured workers' compensation and
medical care have been gutted, but insurers continue to conduct business
as usual."...read more |
| |
|
| Nov 18, 2004 |
COURT
INVITES INJURED WORKERS TO REFILE SUIT AFTER THEY LOSE THEIR DOCTORS:
Taking Away Injured Worker’s Doctor Delays Healing, Costs the Public
SACRAMENTO
- Injured workers and their advocates responded to the Third District Court
of Appeal’s decision today not to take up their lawsuit to stop the State
of
California
from taking away their treating doctors until an injured worker has actually
been ordered to change doctors. Injured workers and their advocates vowed to
refile the lawsuit as soon as possible...read more |
| |
|
| Nov
17, 2004 |
INJURED
WORKERS' ADVOCATES CALL FOR 24% RATE CUT: INSURANCE INDUSTRY FAILS TO
REDUCE RATES SACRAMENTO - The California Applicants Attorneys
Association (CAAA) today called for a 24% cut in workers’ compensation
insurance premiums for January 2005 to reflect billions of dollars in
cuts to injured workers’ medical and disability benefits. “Two
rounds of cuts have transferred billions from already-strapped injured
workers into the pockets of insurance companies,” David Schwartz,
president of CAAA said in response to the Insurance Commissioner’s
recommendation for a 2.2% decrease...read more |
| |
|
| Nov 17, 2004 |
GOVERNOR
DRASTICALLY CUTS INJURED WORKERS' DISABILITY COMPENSATION: ROLLS BACK
MOST BENEFITS TO LOWER THAN 1983 LEVELS SACRAMENTO - Injured
workers’ advocates charged today that the Schwarzenegger
Administration’s proposed new permanent partial disability
compensation schedule “severely reduces permanent disability benefits
to injured workers...read more |
| |
|
| Nov 10, 2004 |
INJURED WORKERS SUE TO KEEP THEIR DOCTORS:
Taking Away Injured Worker’s Doctor Delays Healing, Costs Public SACRAMENTO - Injured workers and their advocates today filed a lawsuit in the Third District Court of Appeal to stop the State of California from taking away their treating
doctors...read more |
| |
|
| Nov 10, 2004 |
INJURED WORKERS TO ANNOUNCE LAWSUIT: Taking Away My Doctor Delays Healing, Costs Public Injured workers and their advocates will announce a major lawsuit against the State of California for taking away their treating
doctors...read more |
| |
|
| OCTOBER
2004 |
|
| |
|
| Oct
14, 2004 |
INJURED
WORKERS' DEATH TOLL MOUNTS: "INJURED WORKERS ARE TREATED THAN
PRISON CONVICTS" SACRAMENTO - Connie Cardinalli, the widow of John
Cardinalli, Jr., an injured electrician who committed suicide in despair after fighting unsuccessfully to get the care needed to recover from his work injuries, told a State Capitol news conference today that “the workers’ comp system treats injured workers worse than convicts in prison...read
more |
| |
|
| AUGUST
2004 |
|
| |
|
| Aug
30, 2004 |
INSURANCE COMPANY PROFITS
UP, INJURED WORKERS’ CARE DOWN Injured workers can’t get care, employers can’t get relief Why Aren’t Employers Paying Attention? SACRAMENTO, CA – Amid widespread refusals of needed medical care for injured workers, insurance companies are reporting huge profits. “Injured workers’ care has been tied in knots,” said California Applicant Attorneys President Art
Azevedor...read more |
| |
|
| Aug 16, 2004 |
 “WORKERS
COMP KILLED MY HUSBAND”: WIDOW OF INJURED WORKER TO BLAST LACK OF CARE
THAT DROVE INJURED WORKER TO SUICIDE Thousands of Injured workers
are being denied care
The widow of an injured worker who was refused medical treatment, and
killed himself in despair on July 23rd, has placed the blame for her
husband’s death squarely on the shoulders of
California
’s workers’ compensation system...read more |
| |
|
| Aug 4, 2004 |
INJURED
WORKERS’ HORRORS CONTINUE: LACK OF CARE DRIVES INJURED WORKER TO
SUICIDE Thousands of Injured workers are being denied care
ANTIOCH
,
CA
– The widow of an injured worker who was refused medical treatment,
and killed himself in despair on July 23rd, has placed the blame for her
husband’s death squarely on the shoulders of
California
’s workers’ compensation system...read more |
| |
|
| JULY
2004 |
|
| |
|
| July 30,
2004 |
BUSINESS
OWNERS TO JOIN INJURED WORKERS: CALL FOR 30% RATE CUT & RATE
REGULATION
Blast
Insurance Industry for Seeking January Rate Hike
SACRAMENTO
,
CA
–
California
business owners today called for a 30% rate rollback and regulation of
excessive workers’ compensation rates at news conferences with injured
workers in
Sacramento
,
San Francisco...read more
|
| |
|
| July 12,
2003 |
GET
INJURED ON THE JOB – BECOME HOMELESS: INSURERS WON’T PAY FOR CARE Christine
de Ortega-Herrera is homeless because she was injured at work and
insurance carriers refuse to accept responsibility for her case...read
more |
| |
|
| July
7, 2004 |
EMPLOYER’S
CHOSEN PHYSICIAN COMMITS MALPRACTICE, LA WOMAN LOSES HER HEALTH, HER
CAR, HER LIFE AS SHE KNEW IT MARIA ADONICAN had a great life before
she was injured at work. Maria spent many years working for
California Children’s Services and the County of Los Angeles as a
medical case worker, helping the parents of disabled children work
through their housing and other social needs....read more |
| |
|
| JUNE
2004 |
|
| |
|
| June
10, 2004 |
NEW
LAW CUTS WORKER'S DISABILITY BY 70% - LARRY HILL Larry
Hill worked for the City of
Santa Rosa
for more than twenty years. He suffered on-the-job injuries to his knee
and back in 1996. Larry had also injured his knee in 1976...read more |
| |
|
| June 9, 2004 |
INJURED
WORKERS’ ADVOCATES OPPOSE ADDITIONAL WORKERS’ COMPENSATION CUTS; TWO
ROUNDS ARE HARMING INJURED WORKERS Insurance Carriers are Pocketing
the Savings
SACRAMENTO
,
CA
– Advocates for injured workers today opposed several bills before the
Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee that would further cut
already-reduced benefits for injured workers. “The very idea of
further reducing injured workers’ benefits is appalling...read more |
| |
|
| June 3, 2004 |
DENYING MEDICAL BENEFITS SB 899 was presented as a compromise that contained not only massive cuts to injured workers’ benefits (no debate here), but also new benefits. The premier benefit was supposedly “immediate” medical care for injured workers – up to $10,000. This provision was meant to insure that workers who had filed a claim would not be subjected to a delay in medical treatment during the time that the claim was being
investigated...read more |
| |
|
| June 3, 2004 |
TREATING DOCTOR'S DECISION IS OVERRULED BY INSURER George Binder is a 45-year-old worker for Waste Management Inc. in Redlands. George’s job was to pick up portable toilets and collect dumpsters. George was injured three years ago while lifting a portable toilet...read
more |
| |
|
| June 3, 2004 |
WHAT HAS SB 899 WROUGHT?
Experts to Analyze Implementation of cuts Five weeks into a new era, SB 899 is already affecting the lives of thousands of injured California workers. Cases have been placed on hold. “Apportionment” has been interpreted to cut off injured workers from benefits...read
more |
| |
|
| May 28, 2004 |
INJURED WORKERS’ ADVOCATE CALL FOR INSURERS TO CUT RATES BY 30%, RATE REGULATION SACRAMENTO, CA – Advocates for injured workers today called for workers’ compensation insurers to reduce premiums by 30% to pass on to employers billions of dollars from two rounds of cuts to injured workers’ medical care and benefits...read
more |
| |
|
| May 27, 2004 |
NEW LAW PENALIZES MOTHERHOOD
Thursday , May 27, 2004 Two rounds of cuts in compensation to injured workers are causing harm to California injured workers. Certain groups of injured workers will be harmed more than others. Believe it or not, injured workers who are MOTHERS are especially harmed by the new cutbacks that “apportion” the cause of the injury to pre-existing
conditions...read more |
| |
|
| May 13, 2004 |
INJURED WORKERS’ ADVOCATES CALL FOR INSURERS TO CUT RATES BY 25% SAN
FRANCISCO, CA – Advocates for injured workers today called for workers’ compensation insurers to reduce premiums by 25% pass on to employers billions of dollars from two rounds of cuts to injured workers’ medical care and benefits...read
more |
| |
|
| May 12, 2004 |
INJURED WORKERS' ADVOCATES CALL FOR AUDIT OF INSURERS, STUDY OF FRAUD STATS & ANTI-FRAUD PROGRAM SACRAMENTO, CA – Advocates for injured workers today called for an audit of insurance companies to confirm whether they have reported and remitted all of the fraud assessments they collect from
employers...read more |
| |
|
| APRIL
2004 |
|
| |
|
| Apr 12, 2004 |
INJURED WORKERS PROTEST AT GOVERNOR’S OFFICES:
Don’t Deal Away Workers’ Benefits Injured workers today picketed Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s offices across the state, calling upon the governor to withdraw his proposal to take away their choice of doctor, and cut temporary and permanent disability benefits...read
more |
| |
|
| Apr 8, 2004 |
INJURED COPS & FIREFIGHTERS:
PROPOSAL CUTS INJURED WORKERS’ BENEFITS SACRAMENTO, CA – Injured cops and firefighters, their advocates and union leaders today blasted a reported proposal on cutting benefits to injured workers. The injured workers, their advocates and consumer advocates said the proposal would harm those who could least afford it, the injured workers whom the system is supposed to protect...read
more |
| |
|
| Apr 7, 2004 |
DEADLINES: THE REAL, THE PHONY AND THE ALOHA There has been a great deal of commentary that the Legislature has failed to meet “deadlines” that the governor and others have claimed must be met for workers’ compensation insurance rates to fall...read
more |
| |
|
| Apr 7, 2004 |
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION RATE REGULATION IS ESSENTIAL AND WORKABLE Without proper regulation of workers’ compensation insurance rates, cuts to injured workers’ benefits go mostly into the pockets of some of the nation’s largest corporations. Last year’s reforms should have reduced rates by
20%...read more |
| |
|
| MARCH
2004 |
|
| |
|
| March 31,
2004 |
|
| |
|
| March 29,
2004 |
FARMWORKERS, COPS, DOCTORS: PROPOSED CUTS WOULD HARM THEM, REPEAL CESAR CHAVEZ’S LEGACY IN CALIFORNIA SACRAMENTO, CA – On the holiday that memorializes Cesar Chavez’s accomplishments, injured
farmworkers, cops and their doctors said that proposed cuts to injured workers’ compensation would repeal Cesar Chavez’s legacy in
California...read more
|
| |
|
| March 24,
2004 |
INSURANCE COMPANY BACKS UP TRUCK TO BANK: RUNS OVER INJURED WORKERS’ RIGHTS SACRAMENTO, CA – Two rounds of cuts to injured workers’ medical and disability benefits have transferred billions of dollars from already-strapped injured workers into the fattening pockets of huge insurance companies. No rate regulation of any kind has been included in the rounds of cuts, leaving insurers free to add to already-historic profit levels from 2003...read
more |
| |
|
| March 24,
2004 |
CONSUMER LEADERS CALL FOR WORKERS’ COMPENSATION INSURANCE RATE FREEZE, ROLLBACK, REGULATION; SEN. ALARCÓN: REGULATION KEY TO SOLUTION SACRAMENTO, CA - Consumer leaders and a key state senator today called for regulating California’s workers’ compensation insurance system. The Foundation for Consumer and Taxpayer Rights called for applying the same remedies to workers’ compensation insurance that have been successful in saving California consumers tens of billions of dollars in auto
insurance...read more |
| |
|
| March 16,
2004 |
GOVERNOR’S PROPOSAL ELIMINATES WORKPLACE DISCRIMINATION PROTECTIONS SACRAMENTO, CA - As part of a controversial overhaul of the workers compensation system in California, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed changes to workers compensation laws that limit the rights of California
workers...read more |
| |
|
| March 8,
2004 |
Fatal Flaws in Workers’ Comp Initiative: Removes Choice of Doctor, Right to 2nd Opinion Real Reform Means Regulating Workers’ Comp Insurance Rates Injured workers, their doctors, and their advocates today protested an initiative that would force injured workers to be treated by a Company-chosen doctor and take away their right to a second medical opinion...read
more |
| |
|
| FEBRUARY
2004 |
|
| |
|
| Feb 27 |
INCREASE PENALTIES ON LATE-PAYING INSURERS: Insurers unreasonably delay paying injured workers’ benefits Current penalties are not sufficient to deter late payments One of every four audited claims has late payments of benefits to injured workers SACRAMENTO, CA – Injured workers’ advocates today called for increasing penalties on insurers and employers who unreasonably delay paying injured workers’ benefits. “Insurance company misconduct is a major scandal...read
more |
| |
|
| Feb 9 |
INSURERS REPORT RECORD 2003 PROFITS: Pocket millions while pushing to cut injured workers’ benefits SACRAMENTO, CA – Insurance companies are reporting that 2003 was the fattest year on record, while they push to cut meager benefits to injured workers. Many of the insurers writing worker’s compensation policies in California reported “record net income and underwriting income in 2003,” figures in line with other companies’ banner
profits...read more |
| |
|
| JANUARY
2004 |
|
| |
|
| Jan 7, 2004 |
INJURED WORKERS’ ADVOCATE RESPOND TO GOV. SCHWARZENEGGER’S STATE OF THE STATE
Cut costs without cutting benefits to injured workers SACRAMENTO, CA – Injured workers’ advocate and California Applicants’ Attorneys Association
(CAAA) President Art Azevedo responded today to Governor Schwarzenegger’s State of the State address and his attack on California’s injured workers...read
more |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
