- Report the claim to the insurer, third-party administrator or self-insured claims office immediately. The supervisor or your workers’ comp claims coordinator should be reporting the claim to the claims office while the employee is still en route to the medical provider.
- Complete the Employer’s First Report of Injury and any other state required paperwork on the claim. If the injury is severe and the employee will be unable to return to work within the waiting period, provide the claims office with necessary wage information for the calculation of indemnity benefits.
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- Advise the claims office of the claimant’s prior history of workers comp claims. The adjuster’s approach to the claim varies significantly between the employee who never had a previous workers comp claim and the employee who has had 15 workers comp claims in the last ten years.
- Review your transitional duty program and find a job the employee can do within the treating physician’s restrictions.
- Be sure the employee’s supervisor (and co-workers if needed) is available to discuss the accident and injury with the claims adjuster and to assist the adjuster with the claims investigation as required.
- Don’t alienate the employee – show empathy to the employee. When employees feel the company does not care about them and their injury and the company owes them, the claim will get ugly when employees think it is time to stick it to the employer.
- Maintain an open dialogue – call the employee at home to show your concern and to offer assistance in processing the workers’ comp claim with the insurance company. Address any employee problems or issues right away. Also, call the employee on a regular basis until s/he is back at work.
- If you are contacted by an attorney representing the employee, notify the claims adjuster immediately.
- Immediately dispute any invalid or fraudulent claim.
- If the employee has a questionable claim or a subjective claim for neck or back injuries, and immediately goes to the television advertising workers comp attorney, or a plaintiff’s attorney-oriented doctor known for excessive disability ratings, advise the employee immediately that you intend to fight the claim as the attorney and/or doctor has a history of inflated claims.
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- Monitor the state filings by the adjuster and any other claim related paperwork.
- Monitor the Workers Compensation Board decisions – that means, reading them carefully, not just filing them away. Be ready to protest any finding or order you feel is unfair to you as the employer as all decisions have time limits for disputing the decision, with some time limits as short as 15 days. The board will learn YOU are an employer who takes part actively.
- Monitor the medical progress reports to be sure the treatment is appropriate – for example – no physical therapy for the low back when the injury is a cut finger.
- Always advise the adjuster when the employee returns work – the same day.
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Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker, attorney, or qualified professional.
FREE DOWNLOAD: “Step-By-Step Process To Master Workers’ Comp In 90 Days”
