tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489363879633129568.post7050382290442564348..comments2023-11-13T11:54:56.769-08:00Comments on DePaolo's World: CA's Brown Message - Reform in Total, or Don'tAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446191842560064784noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489363879633129568.post-32967178779656847602011-10-11T16:29:34.806-07:002011-10-11T16:29:34.806-07:00According to DePaolo, "Jerry says it's ab...According to DePaolo, "Jerry says it's about California, not partisan politics." <br /><br />Work Comp Central adds a few pithy comments to DePaolo's assessment.<br /><br />In its WCC release on 2011-10-10 we learn that "Brown's signature on the compound drugs bill and his vetoes of AB 211, AB 584, AB 947 and AB 1155 brought an immediate accolade from the Association of California Insurance Companies." <br /><br />Why not? Brown saved their bacon this year just as Schwarzenegger did last year. Every bit of legislation that would have improved the lives of injured workers was tossed overboard. <br /><br />Schwarzenegger and Brown both tilted heavily in favor of the insurance companies in ignoring the opinion of the Medical Board of California which said that utilization review is part of the practice of medicine. It turns out that accountants, dentists, lawyers, nurses, physicians and technologists are obliged to adhere to the opinions of their respective licensing boards. <br /><br />The Govenor claims to have relied on Knox-Keene legislation in opposing any and all legislative changes that would have eased the lives of injured workers. In a September 2011 letter to the Governor, the California Society of Industrial Medicine and Surgery stated that "merely because some Knox-Keene companies may be engaging in illegal activity without being prosecuted is not sufficient basis to condone it in workers' comp."<br /><br />We're unaware of attempts by Gov. Brown to assert prosecution against non-workers comp companies that violate Knox-Keene. So far what he has opposed is improving the lives of injured workers. It appears that both Schwarzenegger and Brown have cast their votes in a manner that appeases the insurance industry. They both earned and deserve the accolades bestowed upon them by the Association of California Insurance Companies. <br /><br />Robert L. Weinmann, MD, Editor, www.politicsofhealthcare.comRobert Weinmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06207543223165842066noreply@blogger.com