WCPanelIQ
PanelQMELienDenied

Russell, Donate

DONATE RUSSELL, Applicant vs. PROVIDENCE HEALTH AND SERVICES permissibly self-insured, administered by SEDGWICK CLAIMS MANAGEMENT SERVICES, Defendants

ADJ number
ADJ12023298
Decision date
Oct 14, 2024
District office
Van Nuys
WCJ
Clint Feddersen
Claim administrator
Sedgwick Claims Management Services
Commissioners
—

Injury / body parts: right Achilles tendon, psyche, dental, insomnia, back

LC §5909LC §5900LC §5904LC §5313LC §4603.2LC §3202.5LC §4062CCR §10600CCR §10635CCR §9767.6

Summary

Lien claimant Dental Trauma Center petitioned for reconsideration of a July 12, 2024 Findings and Order that allowed its dental treatment lien in the amount of $5,499.07 (the value recommended by defendant's billing expert) rather than the $15,548.84 recommended by the lien claimant's billing expert. The dental services were not covered by the Official Medical Fee Schedule, so valuation had to be established by written evidence under Kunz v. Patterson and expert testimony. The WCJ found defendant's billing expert, Donald Hodge, more persuasive than lien claimant's expert, Manuel Fuentes, based on Hodge's greater experience, broader sourcing, more objective approach, and more detailed explanation of his Kunz study. The Appeals Board adopted and incorporated the WCJ's report, including a supplemental explanation curing any LC 5313 defect, and denied reconsideration. The decision also addressed timeliness of the Board's action under the amended Labor Code section 5909.

Issues

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Holding

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Analysis

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Applicant takeaway

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Defense takeaway

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Provider takeaway

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