• Menu
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

  • Search
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
 

Amaxx Workers Comp Blog

Reduce Workers Compensation Costs By 20-50%

Header Right

  • Home
    • Training Center
  • Get Started
    • Newcomers Class for WC Professionals
    • Subscribe to Free Newsletter
    • Free Training Center Account
    • Return to Work Resources
    • WC Claims Mgmt. Resources
    • Insurance Advisor Resources
  • Membership
    • Insider (free account)
    • WC Mastery
    • Teams & Managers Mastery
    • Training Partners
  • Products
    • On-Demand Courses
    • Specialty Courses
    • Certifications & Mastery Courses
    • Ultimate Guidebooks
  • Blog
    • Video Blogs
    • COVID-19 / Coronavirus Pandemic
  • Login

Mobile Menu

Choose Broadspire

CHOOSE BROADSPIREBroadspire Delivers Meaningful Results to Our Clients and Their Claimants
  • Home
    • Training Center
  • Get Started
    • Newcomers Class for WC Professionals
    • Subscribe to Free Newsletter
    • Free Training Center Account
    • Return to Work Resources
    • WC Claims Mgmt. Resources
    • Insurance Advisor Resources
  • Membership
    • Insider (free account)
    • WC Mastery
    • Teams & Managers Mastery
    • Training Partners
  • Products
    • On-Demand Courses
    • Specialty Courses
    • Certifications & Mastery Courses
    • Ultimate Guidebooks
  • Blog
    • Video Blogs
    • COVID-19 / Coronavirus Pandemic
  • Login
  • Search
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
You are here: Home / Medical Cost Containment / Coordinating Medical Care / Using a Disability Case Manager in Vocational Rehabilitation

Using a Disability Case Manager in Vocational Rehabilitation

April 8, 2020 By //  by Senior Editor

Vocational rehabilitation services play an important role in returning injured employees back to work.

Vocational rehabilitation services play an important role in returning injured employees back to work.  If this is done effectively, the costs of each claim will rapidly diminish.  Given the nature of these programs, it is important to claim handlers to manage the cost of vocational rehabilitation and make sure the right pieces are put in place.  If this is not done, any program or plan will increase their workers’ compensation program costs.

What is Vocational Rehabilitation?

Vocational rehabilitation is intended to return qualified injured employees back to work in suitable employment in a manner that is in the best interests of all parties.  Individual jurisdictions classify when an injured employee is able to consider these services but is generally available to those expected to be out of work or disabled to some extent for a period of 90 days.  Factors to consider include:

  • ­Whether the injured employee can return to the former job, or perform similar job duties at another place of employment;
  • Whether the employee will eventually be expected to return to “suitable employment” in the foreseeable future; and
  • Whether such services are necessary through the assistance of a Qualified Rehabilitation Consultant (QRC) to achieve these goals.
    Click Link to Access Free PDF Download

    “The 6-Step Process To Determine Workers’ Comp Injury Causation”

Important People in Vocational Rehabilitation

Vocational rehabilitation services can be provided by a Qualified Rehabilitation Consultant, or a Disability Case Manager (DCM).  It is important to understand what these individuals do and how they are different.

  • Qualified Rehabilitation Consultant: This is someone who can perform a myriad of vocational rehabilitation services.  They typically involve in medical case management, return-to-work coordination, analyzing transferable job skills, and provide vocational testing.  They also play an involved role in the development of a retraining plan and will provide expert vocational testimony.  While a Qualified Rehabilitation Consultant can be employed by an insurance carrier, they are in most instances an employee of an independent firm.
  • Disability Case Manager: This is an individual that usually works for the insurance carrier and provides similar functions when it comes to medical case management and return-to-work coordination.  They will also analyze different jobs available to an injured employee, provide an ergonomic consultation, and perform life care planning activities.  DCMs are generally not regulated by the industrial commission and are directly selected by the employer/insurer – without consultation by the employee or their attorney. 

Effective Use of a Disability Case Manager to Reduce Vocational Rehab Expenses

Defense interests sometimes fear the use of a Qualified Rehabilitation Consultant notwithstanding the general requirements that they remain neutral and not advocate for a particular party.  These fears are often misplaced, and members of the claim management team should always seek the assistance of Qualified Rehabilitation Consultants, and cooperate.  Notwithstanding the benefit of a Qualified Rehabilitation Consultant, they may add to additional costs that can be eliminated through the effective use of a Disability Case Manager.

DCMs are generally found within insurance carriers and can serve as a valuable resource on troublesome workers’ compensation claims.  This includes using a DCM to better direct a claim in the following situations:

  • Guidance on whether a vocational rehabilitation consultation with a Qualified Rehabilitation Consultant may be necessary, or the appropriate timing of such event;
  • Decisions on when or whether surgical intervention may be appropriate. They can also be used when there is a request made for a second opinion, or imaging such as a repeat MRI;
  • Serve as an intermediary between the claim handler and an unrepresented injured employee. Instead of having the injured employee contact the overworked claim handler on questions of ongoing medical care, scheduling of appointments/surgery, a Disability Case Manager can assist and provide timely responses; and
  • Assistance in calculating the employee’s average weekly wage. They can also assist the employee in obtaining information required to perform these important calculations.

In sum, a Disability Case Manager can be used to improve the lines of communication between the employee and claim handler and prevent unnecessary litigation.

FREE DOWNLOAD: “The 6-Step Process To Determine Workers’ Comp Injury Causation”

Selecting the Right Disability Case Manager

There are a number of factors that should be considered when assigning a DCM to a workers’ compensation claim.  This includes a careful review of the injured employee’s background and then matching them with the right person.  Factors to consider should include:

  • Expertise and educational background;
  • Complexity of the case, and overall claim experience in claims;
  • Generational considerations, and demeanor of the injured employee; and
  • Geographic locations.

It may also be important to have a team of multilingual Disability Case Managers to assist on cases where the injured employee does not speak English as a primary language. 

Conclusions

Vocational rehabilitation is a necessary benefit in the workers’ compensation system that is often overlooked.  It is important that members of the claim management team take a number of factors into consideration and use a DCM to control workers’ compensation costs.  This may help better direct vocational rehabilitation efforts, and get the injured employee back to work in a timely manner.

Michael Stack - AmaxxAuthor Michael Stack, CEO Amaxx LLC. He is an expert in workers’ compensation cost containment systems and helps employers reduce their workers’ comp costs by 20% to 50%.  He works as a consultant to large and mid-market clients, is a co-author of Your Ultimate Guide To Mastering Workers Comp Costs, a comprehensive step-by-step manual of cost containment strategies based on hands-on field experience, and is founder & lead trainer of Amaxx Workers’ Comp Training Center .

Contact: mstack@reduceyourworkerscomp.com.

Workers’ Comp Roundup Blog: http://blog.reduceyourworkerscomp.com/

©2020 Amaxx LLC. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law.

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: “The 6-Step Process To Determine Workers’ Comp Injury Causation”

Filed Under: Coordinating Medical Care

Related Articles

Independent Study by Actuarial Firm Finds Paradigm Catastrophic Care Management’s Improved Outcomes Managing Workers’ Compensation Claims

Independent Study by Actuarial Firm Finds Paradigm Catastrophic Care Management’s Improved Outcomes Managing Workers’ Compensation Claims

Catastrophically Injured Workers: How to Protect the Most Vulnerable During COVID-19

Catastrophically Injured Workers: How to Protect the Most Vulnerable During COVID-19

How Targeted Behavioral Health Support Keeps Catastrophic Claims on Track for Best Outcomes

How Targeted Behavioral Health Support Keeps Catastrophic Claims on Track for Best Outcomes

Paradigm Deepens Behavioral Health Support for Catastrophically Injured Workers with AiRCare Health Partnership

Paradigm Deepens Behavioral Health Support for Catastrophically Injured Workers with AiRCare Health Partnership

Covid-19 Clinical Management for Injured Workers

Covid-19 Clinical Management for Injured Workers

Paradigm Introduces New First of its Kind COVID-19 Clinical Management Program for Injured Workers

Paradigm Introduces New First of its Kind COVID-19 Clinical Management Program for Injured Workers

Expertise of Senior Nurse Reviewers Generates Work Comp Savings

Expertise of Senior Nurse Reviewers Generates Work Comp Savings

3 Elements Needed In Workers’ Comp Medical Networks

3 Elements Needed In Workers’ Comp Medical Networks

Controlling Work Comp Transportation Expense Is More Than Ordering an Uber

Controlling Work Comp Transportation Expense Is More Than Ordering an Uber

9 Questions to Ask Injured Worker’s Treating Physician

9 Questions to Ask Injured Worker’s Treating Physician

8 Ways to Prepare For The Next Healthcare Reform

8 Ways to Prepare For The Next Healthcare Reform

When A Doctor Will Not Release Employee To Light Duty

When A Doctor Will Not Release Employee To Light Duty

Train to Succeed

BECOME CERTIFIED IN WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

Proven Course Catalog & WC Toolbox Give You The Power To Achieve Lower Costs and Better Injured Worker Outcomes

VISIT WORKERS' COMP TRAINING CENTER

Free Download

The 6-Step Process To Determine Workers' Comp Injury Causation - FREE Download Click Here Now!

Previous Post: « 4/7/20 COVID-19 BRIEF FROM WORKSTEPS
Next Post: Paradigm Introduces New First of its Kind COVID-19 Clinical Management Program for Injured Workers »

Primary Sidebar

FREE DOWNLOAD

The 6-Step Process To Determine Workers' Comp Injury Causation - FREE Download Click Here Now!

Our Sponsors

Catastrophic Care Management, Complex Care, and Specialty Networks
 

Hiring and Return to Work Testing
 

Medcor

Injury Triage, Onsite Clinics
 

Broadspire

Workers’ Comp 3rd-Party Administrator
 

Ametros

Post-Settlement Administration
 

Medicare Secondary Payer Services

Read Our Award-Winning Blog

Blog Categories

Search Our Archive

Subscribe to Our FREE Newsletter

Footer

Search Our Archive

Search our continually growing archive of over 2500 articles about Workers' Comp issues.

Quiclinks

  • Calculators
  • Terms & Abbreviations
  • Glossary of WC Premium Terms
  • WC Resources
  • Best Practices
  • Industries

RSS Recent Blog Posts

  • Big Employer Mistake In Work Comp is No Employee Rapport
  • 20 Unfair Claim Practices For Your Adjuster To Avoid
  • Use Vocational Coordination When Employees Are Unable To Return to Work
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FEE NEWSLETTER
Let Us Help You Stomp Down the High Cost of Workers' Comp!
Top of Page ↑
  • Home
  • Training Center
  • Get Started
  • Membership
  • Products
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Login
Copyright © 2021 Amaxx, LLC. All Rights Reserved. · Privacy Policy / Legal Notice