April 28, 2005 - Sacramento, CA - Senate Rules Committee confirms Andrea Hoch and Adminstrative Director of the Division of Workers Compensation.

The following is a press release from the California Division of Workers Compensation:

DWC Newsline

Bulletin No. 16-05

April 28, 2005

DWC announces confirmation of Andrea Lynn Hoch as administrative director

The Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) is pleased to announce the Senate confirmation

of Andrea Lynn Hoch as DWC administrative director. Following last evening’s confirmation by

the Senate Rules Committee, the full Senate today also confirmed Hoch.

"I'm relieved this part of the process is complete and we can get back to the tasks at hand,” said

Hoch. “The division has worked tirelessly over the past year to create a workers’ compensation

system that works for injured workers and employers by implementing SB 899 and other

reforms, and we're not finished.”

Hoch said injured workers need prompt, effective medical treatment so they can return to work

and move on with their lives, and that employers need to know their premium dollars are paying

for a system that's consistent and efficient.

“We have a lot more to do this year to ensure those needs are met: Medical treatment guidelines,

supplemental job displacement benefits, return to work, pre-designation of personal physician,

electronic billing and data collection are only part of what's on our plate for 2005,” said Hoch.

“With the support of the new staff I’ve brought on board, we have solid teams in place to

accomplish these goals."

Hoch was appointed by Gov. Schwarzenegger last April to implement SB 899, workers’

compensation reforms overwhelmingly passed by the Legislature. As DWC administrative

director she manages a staff of 1,172 and a budget of over $135 million. In her first year on the

job, the division successfully implemented the medical provider network (MPN) program, the

independent medical review (IMR) process and drafted new permanent disability regulations.

Hoch has also revitalized injured worker workshops across the state and undertaken the revision

of DWC’s Web site to provide timely and relevant information to those who need it most.

To read more about DWC’s implementation of SB 899, visit the Web site at

www.dir.ca.gov/dwc and click on “First annual report of progress.”

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