Press Release
THE CITY OF LONG BEACH ESTABLISHES NEW PUBLIC SAFETY WORKERS’ COMPENSATION PROCESS TO LOWER COSTS AND INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY Feb 05, 2008
Adams, Ferrone & Ferrone, representing the Long Beach Peace Officer’s and Fire Fighter’s Associations, negotiated with the City of Long Beach to create their own process for resolving work comp disputes
Westlake Village, Calif.— February 5, 2008, The Law Offices of Adams, Ferrone & Ferrone today announced that its labor and workers’ compensation law firm successfully negotiated with the City of Long Beach to establish a new Worker’s Compensation Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process for public safety. The City of Long Beach is the first city in California to implement a labor-management workers’ compensation agreement, creating an ADR process for workers’ compensation claims for police officers and firefighters.
On November 13, 2007 the Administrator’s Director of the State of California officially granted Long Beach the right to create a separate system outside the State workers’ compensation system to handle claims for injured workers. The City of Long Beach, the Police Officer’s Association and the Fire Fighter’s Association are making a paradigm shift in California by protecting workers from the current delays and uncertainty of litigation in workers’ compensation.
“We expect this new process to increase morale, lower costs, increase productivity, dramatically shorten the life of a claim, and resolve disputes faster” said, Michael Alio, Risk Manager, Human Resources/Risk Management/Safety, for the City of Long Beach. “We have received favorable support from the local medical community which has committed to providing appointments within 30 days and resolution within 60 days. The system has been frustrating for both employees and the City because of long delays created by the current resolution process,” he added.
Some public safety officers in Long Beach have experienced lengthy delays in receiving medical treatment because of the “utilization review” process required under the current Workers’ Compensation system, which has prolonged medical treatment disputes. As a result, the current system has contributed to increased costs and lost productivity for the City, which is required to cover 100% of employee salaries while care and disabilities are being reviewed, determined, administered and resolved.
“We have seen frustrated police officers who have faced delays and disruptions to their work life under the current system, said, Steve James, President, Long Beach Police Officers Association. “The City is moving from a no-win situation of costly delays and unproductive disputes to a win-win for our members by saving time, money and resources. The new process will help our members get their lives back to normal faster following an unfortunate injury.”
“The City of Long Beach is watching out for us by taking a leadership role to ensure that we get the timely healthcare that we deserve,” said Richard Brandt, President, Long Beach Fire Fighters Association. “This new system will smooth the process for injured fire fighters, helping them get back to serving the community.”
The Commission on Health and Safety in Workers' Compensation has recommend adjunct systems, (also called “carve outs”), as a better way resolve work place injury claims under California Law because of widely known problems with the current workers compensation process. “The California workers’ compensation system has become increasingly complicated. Delays, disputes, and costs in the system have been excessive,” the commission report states, while instructing employers and unions how to create alternatives to the state system.
About Adams Ferrone & Ferrone
Adams Ferrone & Ferrone actively pursues legal remedies for public safety professionals throughout the State of California. Adams, Ferrone & Ferrone provides committed and thorough representation in the areas of labor negotiations, internal affairs investigations, workers' compensation, critical incidents, personal injury and retirement.
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Adams, Ferrone & Ferrone
John A. Ferrone, Attorney-at-Law
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805-373-5900
