Court Upholds Limits on Workers’ Comp Benefits in California
On Monday, a state appeals court upheld a series of limits on the number of treatments Californians can receive through the state workers' compensation insurance system, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) enacted the limits as part of larger workers' comp reform measures in 2003 and 2004. The legislation aimed to reduce workers' comp insurance costs for businesses.
The ruling by the First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco upheld provisions of the law that limit workers to no more than 24 physical therapy or occupational therapy treatments for an injury.
Advocates for workers' compensation claimants argued that the limits were unconstitutional and that medical professionals should determine how many treatments were needed to address a workplace injury (Egelko, San Francisco Chronicle, 6/3).