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1. 14 WORKERS COMP from page 6 " " " " " " " " QUOTESfrompage5e••••••• ease ••• 2. Expand use of managed care and create independent medical reviews (SB 354 – Speier) 3. Require a listing of insurance carriers and their rates on the internet, expand the posting of insurer audit results and include enforcement data. 4. Allow collaboration between Administration and Department of Insurance regarding workers' compensation fraud. Also, authorize a workers' compensation insurer to have access to quarterly wage and withholding reports filed with the EDD if the information is used for the sole purpose of detecting workers' compensation insurance fraud on the part of employers. (AB 1099 – Negrete McLeod) and (AB 1215 –Vargas) 5. Increase penalties for worst offenders who fail to pay employee claims and reduce employer penalties for minor delays. 6. Encourage the use of generic drugs (SB 223 – Margett) 7. Certify medical bill review companies and claims adjusters (AB 1483 – Richman) 8. Expand carve outs with alternative dispute resolution to other unionized industries. 9. Make credits transferable for employers who help employees return to work (This proposal currently does not include public agencies. We are hoping that this will include public agencies in its final proposal). 10. Involve physicians earlier in the claims process. 11. Promote small business participation in workers' compensation medical cost savings. For information on these and other bills visit the League's Legislative Tracking section on the Web site at www.cacities.org /legtracking. suddenly find themselves in the power seats are twiddling their thumbs and playing reckless partisan politics." Sacramento Bee, 5/28103, Other View: Califor- nia, Heed Mess in Argentina. "Argentina's tragic ruin is full of colorful drama. But with less flair, California's leading actors are setting the stage for an equally unhappy ending." Oakland Tribune, 5/29/03, Only in Govern- ment is it Possible. "The purpose of budget -speak is budget deceit. They want you to think they mean one thing, when they really mean another." News Stories The Los Angeles Times, 5/22/03, Davis Tries to Rally Support for Budget. "Faced with record - low approval ratings, a recall movement and en- trenched legislative opposition to his budget, Gov. Gray Davis campaigned Wednesday for his spending plan at a town hall meeting of nearly 200 Californians moderated by ABC news anchor Peter Jennings." Sacramento Bee, 5/22103, Mandates Get Closer Scrutiny from the State. "Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson on Wednesday appointed a special commit- tee of lawmakers to study problems with a complex and growing area of state finance known as man- dates." Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, 5/24/03, Group Fights for Funds. "LOCAL, a loose -knit collection of cities, counties, pubic safety organizations and public - employee unions, formed last year in an effort to dissuade Gov. Gray Davis and the Legislature from balancing the budget — and eliminating a $24 billion deficit — on the backs of local governments." Riverside Press Enterprise, 5126103, The State Owes Hundreds of Millions for Laws Imposed on Local Governments. "Counties and cities, scrambling to balance their own budgets and avoid cutbacks in public services, are wondering whether a $700 million IOU promised by the debt - crippled state will ever materialize." The San Jose Mercury News, 5/26/03, Tax. cutting Prop. 13 Sent Chill Through Community Libraries. "Proposition 13 was not good for Califor- Continued on Page 8 Visit the League's Official Web Site-- www.cacities.org PRIORITY FOCUS /PAGE 7