No Catastrophic Injury? No Psychiatric PD | Workers Compensation Columns | WorkCompCentral

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December 29, 2014

No Catastrophic Injury? No Psychiatric PD

by Matthew G. Markham
State: California

For injuries on and after Jan. 1, 2013, there shall be no increase in impairment ratings for the compensable consequence of a physical injury resulting in psyche, sleep, or sexual dysfunction or any combination thereof, an exception thereto being catastrophic injury which includes but is not limited to loss of a limb, paralysis, severe burn, or severe head injury.

Clearly the legislature, in enacting Senate Bill 863, continues the march to restrict psychiatric claims. This should reduce what now appears to be a routine of some physicians who report compensable consequence psychiatric injury, but the Labor Code and regulations are silent as to what constitutes catastrophic injury and, as we all know, this breeds mischief.

What is the reach of restricting indemnity for psychological injuries flowing from physical injuries under SB 863?

Newly enacted Labor Code §4660 1 C (1) states in pertinent part that except as provided in paragraph (2), there shall be no increases in impairment ratings for sleep dysfunction, sexual dysfunction, or psychiatric disorder, or any combination thereof, arising out of a compensable consequence injury. Nothing in this section shall limit the ability of an injured employee to obtain treatment for sleep dysfunction, sexual dysfunction or psychiatric disorder, if any, that are a consequence of an industrial injury.

A stated exception to the new rule barring increase permanent impairment in compensable psyche injuries flowing from physical injuries is spelled out in Labor Code §4660 1 C (2) which states that an increased impairment rating for psychiatric disorder shall not be subject to paragraph (1) if the compensable psychiatric injuries resulted from either applicant being a victim of violent act or direct exposure to a significant act within the meaning of Labor Code §3208.3 (b) or a catastrophic injury including but not limited to loss of a limb, paralysis, severe burn, or severe head injury.

This newly enacted provision specifically uses the term “catastrophic injury” as opposed to “catastrophic event.”

Microchips completes development, clinical demonstration of drug delivery platform – Pharmaceutical Business Review

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Published 16 December 2014

“Unlike traditional drug delivery platforms, Microchips Biotech’s implant is capable of responding to wireless signals, which can activate, deactivate or modify the frequency or dose of the drug, without requiring removal.”

Pain Medicine News – Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment

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ISSUE: DECEMBER 2014 | VOLUME: 12(12)

“At least 50,000 new cases of CRPS are diagnosed in the United States annually.1 Although the incidence rate is subject to debate, a large epidemiologic study from The Netherlands involving 600,000 patients suggests an incidence of 26.2 per 100,000 individuals.”

Treating Pain That Won’t Go Away – Ithaca Times : Family And Health

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Posted: Thursday, December 4, 2014 12:03 pm

By Bill Chaisson

“There are two types of CRPS. Type 1, which accounts for 90 percent of documented cases, according to the Mayo Clinic, is marked by nerve pain when no nerve damage was involved in the initial injury. Type 2 is a more explicable development of regional pain after damage to the nerves.”

Spinal Modulation Completes Enrollment of Its Landmark U.S. Pivotal Trial Evaluating the Axium Neurostimulator System for Chronic Pain | Business Wire

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The ACCURATE study enrolled 152 patients at 22 centers throughout the United States. This represents the largest neuromodulation study to be conducted in patients suffering from nerve injuries (peripheral causalgia) or complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS, also known as RSD) to date.

“Approximately 10-50% of patients who undergo common procedures like hernia repair, knee surgery, and other lower limb surgeries will suffer from chronic pain resulting from nerve injury2. These conditions have historically been difficult to treat with currently available technology,” said Dr. Timothy Deer, co-study lead and CEO and President of the Center for Pain Relief in Charleston, West Virginia. “The ACCURATE trial is a landmark study that could change the way we treat these chronic pain conditions. Results from prior European studies have been promising, and we are hopeful that the ACCURATE trial will continue to substantiate the effectiveness of this therapy for our patients.”

Stress-Related Inflammation May Increase Risk for Depression

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Released: 20-Oct-2014 2:05 PM EDT

“Inflammation is the immune system’s response to infection or disease, and has long been linked to stress. Previous studies have found depression and anxiety to be associated with elevated blood levels of inflammatory molecules and white blood cells after a confirmed diagnosis, but it has been unclear whether greater inflammation was present prior to the onset of disease or whether it is functionally related to depression symptomology.”

BBC News – People asked to blog about their mental health illness

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People with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety or schizophrenia are being asked to write about their lives online.

via BBC News – People asked to blog about their mental health illness.

(Pressed)

Health News – First Hospital to Implant Latest Spinal Cord Stimulator for Pain Relief

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30/10/2014 20:27:00

ALBANY, N.Y. — Albany Medical Center recently was the first hospital in the nation to implant the latest device in spinal cord stimulator technology to address chronic pain in backs and legs, among other areas.

Health News – First Hospital to Implant Latest Spinal Cord Stimulator for Pain Relief.

(Pressed Post)