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Access over workers' compensation decisions, including En Banc, Significant Panel Decisions, and writ-denied cases.

Case No. GOL 96757
Regular
Jun 10, 2008

SA YANG LO vs. CUSTOM SENSORS & TECHNOLOGIES, INC., STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied reconsideration of a prior award, upholding the application of the 2005 Permanent Disability Rating Schedule. The Board found that exceptions allowing for the 1997 Schedule did not apply, as the applicant's temporary disability indemnity extended beyond January 1, 2005, and no qualifying pre-2005 reports indicated permanent disability. Furthermore, the Board found the applicant's vocational expert's opinion regarding diminished future earning capacity unpersuasive, thus affirming the initial 9% permanent disability rating.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardSA Yang LoCustom Sensors & TechnologiesInc.State Compensation Insurance FundGOL 96757Opinion and Order Denying ReconsiderationFindings and AwardWorkers' Compensation Administrative Law JudgeWCJ
References
Case No. ADJ4673406 (ANA 0403334) ADJ4233924 (ANA 0376527)
Regular
Sep 29, 2009

Joseph Vella vs. Hitchcock Automotive, State Compensation Insurance Fund

This case concerns a dispute over the reasonableness of a lien claimant's billing for outpatient surgery services. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration and rescinded the original award, finding the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) erred by concluding the lien claimant met its burden based solely on its usual billing practices without a proper analysis of reasonableness. The Board remanded the case to the ALJ to determine a reasonable fee considering all evidence, including the lien claimant's and defendant's submissions, as outlined in *Kunz* and *Tapia*. The decision emphasizes that the lien claimant bears the affirmative burden to prove the reasonableness of its fee.

Kunz doctrinelien claimantreasonable feerebuttal evidenceTapiabillingmedical treatmentoutpatient surgeryinpatient hospitalDRG
References
Case No. FRE 0222651
Regular
Jul 15, 2008

CHRISTOPHER HUNT vs. MADERA COUNTY ROAD DEPARTMENT

The Appeals Board granted reconsideration of a WCJ's decision that limited a lien claimant's facility fees to the Official Medical Fee Schedule. The Board found the WCJ erred by not applying the correct *Kunz* standard for determining the reasonableness of outpatient surgery facility fees, which considers factors beyond the fee schedule. The case is remanded for further proceedings to properly develop the record according to *Kunz*.

KunzOfficial Medical Fee Scheduleoutpatient surgery facility feeslien claimantreconsiderationen banc decisionreasonableness of feesusual feegeographical areacontractually negotiated fees
References
Case No. VNO 0396976
Regular
Feb 01, 2008

MARIA MARTINEZ vs. STATE OF CALIFORNIA, DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

The Appeals Board granted reconsideration, rescinded the prior order, and returned the case to the trial level. The WCJ erred by applying the 2004 Outpatient Surgery Center Fee Schedule; instead, the court must determine a reasonable fee based on the *Kunz* precedent. This requires developing the record to consider factors like the provider's usual fees and geographic area rates, not solely the fee schedule.

KunzSB Surgery Centerlien claimantreasonable feeoutpatient surgery center fee scheduleprima facie evidenceWCJAppeals Boardpermanent disabilityfuture medical treatment
References
Case No. LAO 0832662
Regular
Mar 18, 2008

RIVALDO CASTILLO vs. BENTLEY-SIMONSON, STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration and rescinded the prior award, remanding the case to the trial level. The WCJ erred by applying the Official Medical Fee Schedule to a 2003 surgery and failing to consider the *Kunz* factors for reasonableness when determining the lien claimant's facility fees. The Board will allow the WCJ to determine the reasonableness of the lien claimant's charges under *Kunz*, with the OMFS as one factor.

Wilshire SurgicenterOpinion and Order Granting ReconsiderationFindings and AwardLien ClaimantOutpatient Surgery Facility FeesOfficial Medical Fee ScheduleKunz v. Patterson Floor CoveringLabor Code section 4600Reasonableness of Facility FeeUsual Fee
References
Case No. LAO 0807776
Regular
Jan 08, 2008

Mason Dow vs. COMMERCIAL INTERIOR RESOURCES, STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration and rescinded a prior award, returning the case to the trial level for further proceedings. The Board found that the Administrative Law Judge erred by improperly applying the Official Medical Fee Schedule to a lien claimant's surgical facility fees incurred prior to its adoption. The case is remanded for the judge to determine the reasonableness of the lien claimant's charges, considering factors outlined in *Kunz v. Patterson Floor Coverings*.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardLien ClaimantReconsiderationFindings and AwardSurgical Facility FeesKunz v. Patterson Floor CoveringsReasonable FeeOfficial Medical Fee Schedule (OMFS)Outpatient Surgery CenterUsual Fee
References
Case No. MON 281887
Regular
Jul 11, 2007

ROBERT CAIN vs. VONS, INC.

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board rescinded a prior decision denying a lien claim and returned the case for further proceedings. The Appeals Board found that the administrative law judge erred by not applying the factors established in the en banc decision *Kunz v. Patterson Floor Coverings, Inc.* to determine the reasonableness of the outpatient surgery facility fee. The defendant failed to present sufficient rebuttal evidence under *Kunz*, and the case must now be re-evaluated based on that precedent.

Kunz v. Patterson Floor CoveringsOutpatient surgery facility feesReasonableness of feeMedicare reimbursementOfficial Medical Fee ScheduleLien claimantCompromise and releasePetition for reconsiderationFindings and OrderWorkers' Compensation Appeals Board
References
Case No. GOL 0090664, GOL 0090665
Regular
Jul 14, 2008

CLIAZAR CARDENAS vs. WEST COAST HARVESTING, STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

The Appeals Board granted reconsideration, rescinding the prior award to the lien claimant for outpatient surgery center fees and anesthesiology. The Board found that the lien claimant bore the burden to prove the reasonableness of its charges, and the WCJ erred in favoring the lien claimant's evidence over the defendant's rebuttal evidence. The matter is remanded for further proceedings to determine a reasonable fee based on all evidence presented.

WCABSCIFlien claimantreasonableness of chargesoutpatient surgery center feeanesthesiologist feesOMFSKunz v. Patterson Floor Coveringfacility feebill reviewer testimony
References
Case No. POM 263315, ANA 311660, ANA 322880
Regular
Jun 04, 2008

Marta Zarate vs. Blue Banner Company, State Compensation Insurance Fund

The Appeals Board granted reconsideration of a WCJ's decision that allowed a lien claim for outpatient surgery services in full, finding that the record lacked substantial evidence to prove the reasonableness of the fee. The Board rescinded the decision and returned the case to the trial level for further development of the record, emphasizing that the lien claimant bears the burden of proving the reasonableness of its charges. The parties are to present evidence consistent with the *Kunz* decision to establish a reasonable fee for the services.

KunzOfficial Medical Fee Schedulelien claimantreasonable feeoutpatient surgery centerburden of proofprima facie caseusual feegross disproportionateevidentiary record
References
Case No. ADJ3 176427 (AHM 0148942)
Regular
Feb 03, 2016

GILBERT LUNA vs. NATIONWIDE PHARMACY, LIBERTY MUTUAL

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board affirmed a prior decision finding that Nationwide Pharmacy and Liberty Mutual's payment of $52,481.40 for spinal surgery was reasonable. Lien claimant Monrovia Memorial Hospital sought reconsideration, arguing a higher fee was warranted and they were exempt from the Official Medical Fee Schedule. However, the Board found that while the hospital was exempt from the fee schedule, it still had the burden to prove the reasonableness of its charges. The lien claimant failed to meet this evidentiary burden by a preponderance of the evidence.

Monrovia Memorial HospitalLien claimantOfficial Medical Fee ScheduleOMFS exemptionReasonable feeUsual and customary reimbursementBurden of proofFacility feesLong term care hospitalTitle 42 Code of Regulations
References
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