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Highlights of Accomplishments to Date
A summary of tasks undertaken and the results obtained
CWCIA submitted an appeal to the Administrative Director for relief from extra-legal payment reductions being taken by State Fund in four categories. Results to date: Two of the issues addressed remain unresolved with CWCIA pressure continuing.
  July 2003, and On-Going
Demands for extraneous information not required by other payers or statute made By State Fund were quietly withdrawn and policy restoring the statutory minimum for interpreter payments implemented.
  September 2003
Hosted first CWCIA Autumn Seminar, "SB228: ITEMS OF POTENTIAL INTEREST TO THE INTERPRETER COMMUNITY", by David L. Keyes of Keyes and Kerkorian. Attended by more than one hundred fifty.
  November 2003
Initiated formal contact with State Fund seeking areas of common motivation that might help reduce interpreter lien volume going to the boards. (Brief face-to-face talks were held in San Francisco on March 11, with more formal talks suggested by State Fund for a later date.
  November 2003 and On-going
Organized "GET OUT THE LIENS", a lien filing effort prior to the effective date of new Labor Code Section 4903.05, (re: lien filing fees). Over 9000 liens were filed against SCIF for Title 8 CCR, Section 9795.3(b)(2) violations.
  December 2003
Successfully lobbied to change L. C. Section 4903.05 (the Alarcon Amendment to SB899) to exclude interpreters and copyists from the list of medical providers subject to lien filing fees. (But recent action by the Administrative Director has the potential to negate this amendment).
  January 2004
First formal meeting of the Central California (Fresno) CWCIA Chapter. Attendees from the local area, Sacramento, Bay Area, Central Coast, and Southern California were present for this organizing meeting.
  March 2004
Held initial meetings with CPS to propose a joint CPS/CWCIA study and analysis of a single issue with two faces: Are there enough Certified Interpreters actually available and able to cover all med-legal assignments generated by the needs of injured workers now in the system? If so, are there also enough to cover treating assignments as well?
  March 2004
CWCIA submitted oral and written arguments supporting the Alarcon Amendment on March 11, at public hearings held in San Francisco as part of the rule making process that would confirm the changes wrought by the Alarcon Amendment. The CWCIA position (in favor) was among the overwhelming majority (ten oral submittals in favor, one opposed. All but one of the written submittals were in favor, State Fund opposed). But after his review of public hearing submittals, this AD overrode this consensus and reinstated filing fees for interpreters. This occurred the day before the Governor fired him. There is no news yet on what Andrea Hoch, the new Administrative Director, will have to say about this, but other issues are holding up implementation.
  March 2004 and On-going
First annual CWCIA DAY AT THE CAPITOL, April 27. Events included a hosted breakfast at the Capitol, lunch and dinner meetings with guest speakers from the Senate and Assembly, and Jose Sigala, our legislative advocate. Assemblyman Marco Firebaugh, Chairperson of the California Latino Legislative Caucus, held a briefing on SB899 for us in the Assembly Chambers, dwelling on the many next steps about which we should be aware. Following this, we met with Ralph Romo, Assistant Chief Clerk of the State Assembly, who briefed us on "How a Bill Becomes Law", Next, we broke into three teams for meetings scheduled with eighteen legislators, Senators and Assemblymen, and key staff.
  April 2004
A meeting was held bringing together CPS staff and State Personnel Board (SPB) representatives with members of the CWCIA IP&O committee. Its purposewas to establish parameters and set methodology for a (proposed) Certified Interpreter Availability Study. As now envisioned, it will include a CWCIA task team, CPS and SPB management.
  April 2004 and On-going
Follow-up contacts are continuing for the purpose of exchanging information data, and agendae between CWCIA staff and staff members of key legislators, legislative committees, and representatives other state agencies with Interests in the Workers Compensation System.
  April 2004 and On-going


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