Minnie Byrd — ADJ10857876, ADJ10857882

Applicant Minnie Byrd, a former crossing guard for the City of Los Angeles, was receiving UR-authorized home healthcare services provided by her daughter Myra Shaw and caregiver Jadon (Da'Jon) Armstrong for assistance with activities of daily living. In March 2022, defendant unilaterally replaced these providers by switching to a new agency, Comfort Care, sending an unfamiliar caregiver to applicant's home without notice. The WCJ found applicant was entitled to choose her home healthcare providers and ordered defendant to pay Ms. Shaw; defendant sought reconsideration. The Board rescinded the F&O and substituted findings that defendant failed to meet its burden of demonstrating a change in circumstances or condition showing the services were no longer reasonably required to cure or relieve under Patterson v. The Oaks Farm. The Board ordered defendant to forthwith pay Ms. Shaw and overruled defendant's objection to exhibits 12 and 13, returning the matter to trial level.