Obtaining authorization for treatment has become problematic in light of the restrictions created by the Covid 19 Pandemic. Often adjusters are working remotely and do not have the resources to adequately monitor their cases. This means approvals are late. For one case in Ukiah I have had to go to court three times on treatment issues. First to get a list of doctors. Then to get authorization for a doctor, and finally to get authorization for surgery. Because I filed a penalty petition for each incident, I can now request the court to consider if there is a pattern of delay. If so I can request an audit, which can generate substantial fines for a WC carrier. However, this doesn’t make life better for my client who is in pain and needs surgery. Personally it’s time to overhaul the WC system. The fixes from 2004-2008 have not yielded the expected results. If you need help with a WC claim or have questions, please contact me during office hours