GOVERNOR BROWN SLASHES CARE TO INJURED WORKERS -- AGAIN!

Governor Brown vetoed AB 2086 (Cooley), by and large for the same wobbly reasons that he vetoed AB 1542 last year, namely, that the bill "would create a unique lower standard" even though this specialty had already served the state and its injured workers well for 22 years before it was dissolved for undisclosed political reasons. The bill had no significant opposition in the legislature. This bill would have required the Division of Workers Comp to appoint qualified clinical neuropsychologists as QMEs (Qualified Medical Evaluators) to evaluate injured workers who sustained cerebral concussion and/or traumatic brain injury (TBI) for return to work placement. Impartial non-medical organizations supported the bill, for instance, organizations not representing either physicians or psychologists such as the California Alliance of Retired Americans (CARA) which told the governor in written communication that "TBI patients need all the help they can get." What is clear from the veto is that none of this help is going to be provided by Governor Brown.