Shows / Workers’ Comp Unwrapped
Workers’ Comp Unwrapped
Workers' Comp Unwrapped with Aniq is your go-to podcast for uncovering the complexities of the workers' compensation system. Join Aniq, an experienced industry professional, as he breaks down the latest trends, tips, and case studies in workers' comp, making it easier for business owners, HR professionals, and employees to navigate. From understanding your rights to exploring key legal developments, Anique unwraps the essential information you need to know, all in an engaging and…
Episodes
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped Episode 523: AI in Workers' Comp 2026: What's Actually Delivering Results 18 Months After the Hype
Send us Fan Mail In Season 4 we introduced AI tools for drafting requests for authorization and predicting denials, and the promises were big. Eighteen months…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped Episode 524: Q3 Debrief: The Biggest Regulatory Shifts, Billing Wins, and Takeaways from Summer 2026
Send us Fan Mail Summer 2026 was one of the busiest stretches California workers' comp providers have seen in years. The April utilization review overhaul had…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped Episode 521: Billing for Traumatic Brain Injury in California WC: The Complete RFA-to-Rehab Revenue Pathway
Send us Fan Mail Last episode we built a decision tree for sorting disputes into the right track. This episode is about building the kind of claim that rarely…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped Episode 522: The MPN Trap: When Network Restrictions Block Patient Care — and the Legal Tools to Fight Back
Send us Fan Mail Last episode we followed a brain injury case from the emergency room to rehab, and the first thirty days of that pathway depended on a rule…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped Episode 519: Q3 Revenue Leakage Audit: The 10 Billing Gaps That Are Quietly Draining Your September Collections
Send us Fan Mail Last episode we looked at where the system's dollars go. This episode is about the dollars that never reach your practice for reasons you can…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped Episode 520: IBR, IMR, or Direct Appeal? How to Pick the Right Dispute Track After the 2026 UR Overhaul
Send us Fan Mail Last episode we audited ten billing gaps. This episode is about what to do when a dispute is already on your desk and you need to pick the…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped Episode 517: Your Front Office Shield: How the Updated CA DWC Intake Form Stops Automated Rejections Before They Start
Send us Fan Mail Most billing problems don't start in billing. They start at the front desk, in the first ten minutes of a new injured worker's first visit. In…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped Episode 518: Where Your WC Dollars Go: Why CA Providers Are Paid 31% Less While Middle Networks Take 46% More
Send us Fan Mail California employers pour a lot of money into workers' comp, yet providers keep asking the same question: where does it go? The Workers…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped Episode 515: The Claims Nobody Talks About: Billing for Agricultural and Seasonal Worker Injuries in California
Send us Fan Mail Agricultural and seasonal worker injuries are some of the hardest claims to document and some of the easiest to lose in the gap between the…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped Episode 516: Mental Health Claims Are Rising: What California's 2026 Psychiatric WC Reforms Mean for Your Billing
Send us Fan Mail Mental health is now a routine part of workers' comp conversations, and it is one of the areas where documentation and billing mistakes are…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped Episode 514: Electronic Signatures in California WC: What's Now Legal, Required, and How to Go Paperless Correctly
Send us Fan Mail A claim form has to be signed. A notice has to be acknowledged. A settlement agreement has to be executed. For decades, each of those meant…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped Episode 513: The DWC Is Watching: How Labor Code §5814 Penalties Are Escalating and What to Document Now
Send us Fan Mail A payment sits unpaid past the point where it should have been resolved. No dispute has been raised, no explanation has been given, and the…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped Episode 512: AB 1293 QME Templates: How Standardized Reports Are Changing Med-Legal Billing Accuracy
Send us Fan Mail A QME report gets written, submitted, and billed. Weeks later, the payment is reduced or disputed, not because the medicine was wrong, but…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped Episode 511:Authorized but Never Paid: How Payers Are Exploiting MPN Arguments to Deny Legitimate Claims
Send us Fan Mail A provider gets a treatment authorized in writing. The treatment happens. Weeks later, the payment doesn't. Instead, a denial letter arrives…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped Episode 509: SIBTF Reform Is Coming: What California Providers Treating Pre-Existing Condition Patients Must Do Now
Send us Fan Mail Governor Newsom's veto of AB 1329 last October didn't kill SIBTF reform, it redirected it. Instead of a narrower legislative fix, the Governor…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped Episode 510: SB 216 Expanded the WC Pool: How to Bill for Licensed Contractor Injuries in California
Send us Fan Mail SB 216 has been rolling out in stages since 2023, and it's already put a population of licensed contractors under workers' comp coverage for…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped Episode 507: Virtual Courtrooms 2.0: What Every California Provider Must Know About WCAB Hearings on CourtCall
Send us Fan Mail Since March 3, 2025, every status conference, mandatory settlement conference, priority conference, and lien conference at the WCAB has been…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped Episode 508: Summer Surge: Billing for Heat Injuries and Outdoor Worker Claims Under California WC in 2026
Send us Fan Mail Every California summer brings the same seasonal spike — outdoor workers going down with heat exhaustion or heatstroke, and the claims that…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped Episode 505: Cumulative Trauma in California: What's Driving the Volume Surge and How to Build Airtight Billing
Send us Fan Mail CT claims now account for more than one in four indemnity claims in California — and in 2025, they crossed into 31.6%, more than double their…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped Episode 506: The 10.4% Premium Push: How the WCIRB's Proposed Rate Hike Is Already Reshaping Payer Behavior
Send us Fan Mail The WCIRB asked the California Department of Insurance for a 10.4% increase in advisory pure premium rates for September 1, 2026. The…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped Episode 503: MTUS Drug List v.14 Is Live: What Changed, What's Out, and How to Bill It Correctly in WC
Send us Fan Mail Two episodes ago it was the UR and IMR overhaul. Last episode it was the 10-day IMR clock for formulary drug disputes. In this episode, Aneeq…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped Episode 504: Getting Paid for DME in 2026, What the New Medicare Q2 Fee Alignment Means for Your WC Billing
Send us Fan Mail The DWC's April 1, 2026 DMEPOS update didn't grab headlines the way the UR overhaul did — but for any provider billing durable medical…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped Episode 502: The 10-Day IMR Deadline: How to Protect Drug Authorization Before the Clock Runs Out
Send us Fan Mail Last episode we covered the full scope of the April 1, 2026 UR and IMR overhaul. This episode, Aneeq and Angela go deep on one piece of it…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped Episode 501: The April 2026 UR Overhaul: How the New Rules Change Every RFA You File in California
Send us Fan Mail Season 5 opens with the biggest regulatory shift utilization review has seen in years. In this episode, Aneeq and Angela break down the DWC's…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped Episode 425: 2026 So Far: Biggest Workers’ Comp Billing Trends and What’s Next
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Workers Comp Unwrapped, Aneeq and Angela take a mid-year look at the biggest workers’ compensation billing trends shaping…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped Episode 426: Mid-Year Compliance Check: What WC Providers Should Review Before Q3
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Workers Comp Unwrapped, Aneeq and Angela deliver a practical mid-year compliance check for workers’ compensation providers…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped Episode 424: Denial Trends in Mid-2026: What’s Driving Approvals & Delays Right Now
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Workers Comp Unwrapped, Aneeq and Angela provide a mid-year analysis of the workers’ compensation landscape, examining the…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped Episode 422: Combating Workers’ Comp Fraud: What Payers Flag in 2026
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Workers Comp Unwrapped, Aneeq and Angela explore one of the most sensitive and closely monitored areas in workers’…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped Episode 423: 2026 Tech Stack for WC Providers: Tools That Actually Help
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Workers Comp Unwrapped, Aneeq and Angela take a practical look at the 2026 tech stack for workers’ compensation providers…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped Episode 420: Coordinating Multiple Providers Without Triggering Denials
Send us Fan Mail Managing workers’ compensation cases involving multiple providers can quickly become complicated. When physical therapists, chiropractors…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped Episode 421: Navigating OSHA Compliance for Medical Practices in WC
Send us Fan Mail OSHA compliance is becoming a much bigger focus for medical practices handling workers’ compensation cases in 2026. From infection control and…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped Episode 419: Overcoming UR Denials in 2026: Authorization Appeal Strategies
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Workers Comp Unwrapped, Aneeq and Angela tackle one of the most frustrating challenges facing providers in 2026…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped Episode 418: Telehealth in Workers’ Comp: Billing and Compliance in 2026
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Workers Comp Unwrapped, Aneeq and Angela dive into how telehealth is changing the workers’ compensation landscape and why…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped Episode 417: Cannabis in Workers’ Comp: New MTUS Guidelines
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Workers Comp Unwrapped, Aneeq and Angela unpack one of the most debated topics in modern workers’ compensation: cannabis…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped Episode 416: Silent PPO Contracts: How to Identify and Fight Back
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Workers Comp Unwrapped, Aneeq and Angela unpack one of the most overlooked revenue threats in healthcare billing: Silent…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped Episode 414: AI in WC Billing: Predicting Denials and Improving Approvals
Send us Fan Mail AI is helping transform workers’ comp billing by predicting claim denials before they happen. Aneeq and Angela explain that most denials are…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped Episode 415: Case Study: How One Clinic Cut Denials by 35% in 60 Days
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Workers Comp Unwrapped, Aneeq and Angela dive into a real-world case study of how one clinic reduced claim denials by 35%…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers’ Comp Unwrapped Episode 413: Preparing for Billing Audits — Ensuring Compliance in 2026
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Aneeq and Angela unpack what really triggers payer and DWC audits—and how clinics can stay one step ahead in 2026. From…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers’ Comp Unwrapped Episode 412: Billing for Freelance Worker Injuries: SB 988 Compliance
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Aneeq and Angela break down what healthcare providers, billing professionals, and administrative teams need to know about…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers’ Comp Unwrapped Episode 411: How to Challenge Payer Downcoding & Modifier Reductions
Send us Fan Mail In Episode 411 of Workers’ Comp Unwrapped, Aneeq and Angela dive into one of the most common and costly challenges in medical billing: payer…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers’ Comp Unwrapped Episode 410: Medical-Legal Cost Management – Navigating the 2026 Fee Schedule
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Workers’ Comp Unwrapped, we break down how providers can manage medical-legal costs and ensure accurate reimbursement under…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers’ Comp Unwrapped Episode 408: Navigating AB 1870 – Ensuring Compliance in Multi-Role Practices
Send us Fan Mail As regulatory expectations evolve, clinics that handle multiple roles within the same setup face increased scrutiny. The challenge is no…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers’ Comp Unwrapped Episode 409: Billing for Gig Worker Injuries – Navigating Proposition 22
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Workers’ Comp Unwrapped, we explore how the rise of app-based and platform workers is changing the way providers approach…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers’ Comp Unwrapped Episode 406: Billing Catastrophic Injury Cases: TBI, Spinal Trauma & Severe Burns
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Workers’ Comp Unwrapped, we discuss one of the most sensitive and high-risk areas in workers’ comp billing: catastrophic…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers’ Comp Unwrapped Episode 407: Revenue Leakage in Workers’ Comp – The Hidden Drains Providers Miss
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Workers’ Comp Unwrapped, we uncover the hidden revenue losses that often go unnoticed in daily operations. While most…
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Workers’ Comp Unwrapped Episode 405: Cross-State Workers’ Comp: Billing Strategies for CA Providers
Send us Fan Mail Workers’ compensation cases do not always stay within one state. In Episode 405 of Workers’ Comp Unwrapped, Anique and Angela discuss a…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers’ Comp Unwrapped Episode 404: Negotiating WC Fees: When You Can Push Back on Discounts & Underpayments
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Workers’ Comp Unwrapped, we break down how providers can identify and challenge underpayments that often go unnoticed in…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped 403; Retroactive Denials & Overpayment Audits: When Paid Claims Get Pulled Back
Send us Fan Mail Getting paid used to mean a claim was closed. In 2026, that assumption can cost medical providers millions. In this episode of Workers’ Comp…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped 402; Non-MPN & Out-of-Network Billing: What California Providers Must Know
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Workers’ Comp Unwrapped, we break down one of the most misunderstood and most expensive — issues in California workers’…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped 401; AI-Driven RFA Drafting: The Future of MTUS-Aligned Requests
Send us Fan Mail AI is changing the way California providers prepare authorisation requests — but only if you use it the right way. In this episode, Anique and…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped 332; 2025 Recap + 2026 WC Outlook: Top Trends to Watch
Send us Fan Mail What changed in workers’ comp in 2025 and what do those shifts mean heading into 2026? In this episode, Anique and Angela recap the biggest…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped 331; AI in WC Billing: What’s Actually Working in Real Practices
Send us Fan Mail AI in WC Billing: What’s Actually Working in Real Practices AI is everywhere in healthcare — but workers’ comp has its own rules. In this…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped 330; Year-End Documentation Checklist: What to Wrap Before Jan 1
Send us Fan Mail Year-End Documentation Checklist: What to Wrap Before Jan 1 Year-end doesn’t pause workers’ comp timelines. In this episode, Anique and Angela…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped 329; Holiday Offers in WC: Structuring Seasonal Incentives the Right Way
Send us Fan Mail Ep. 329 – Holiday Offers in WC: Structuring Seasonal Incentives the Right Way Holiday incentives can feel harmless — but in workers’ comp…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped 328; High Frictional Costs in WC: What’s Wasting Time & Money?
Send us Fan Mail Ep. 328 – High Frictional Costs in WC: What’s Wasting Time & Money? Workers’ comp inefficiencies often hide in plain sight. In this episode…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped 327; Denial Trends in 2025: What Data Says About WC Payment Risk
Send us Fan Mail Denials in workers’ comp aren’t random anymore — they’re revealing patterns. In this episode, Anique and Angela unpack 2025 denial analytics…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped 326; Holiday Staffing Gaps: Avoiding Lien Filing & RFA Delays
Send us Fan Mail Holiday Staffing Gaps: Avoiding Lien Filing & RFA Delays Billing delays spike in December, but workers’ comp deadlines don’t pause. In this…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped 325; Telehealth in WC: What’s Working and What’s Getting Denied
Send us Fan Mail Ep. 325 – Telehealth in WC: What’s Working and What’s Getting Denied Telehealth is no longer new in workers’ comp — but in 2025, it’s under…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped 324; Firefighter PTSD Claims: What’s Blocking Treatment Approval?
Send us Fan Mail Episode 324 – Firefighter PTSD Claims: What’s Blocking Treatment Approval? Firefighters are repeatedly exposed to traumatic events over the…
Workers’ Comp UnwrappedWorkers Comp Unwrapped 323; Holiday Injuries & Workers’ Comp: What Trends Tell Us
Send us Fan Mail Episode 323 – Holiday Injuries & Workers’ Comp: What Seasonal Trends Tell Us The holiday season changes how work gets done—and how injuries…