Author: Courtney Kreutz
Oregon Vocational Assistance – Authorization to Work in the US is No Longer a Requirement for Eligibility
An injured worker must meet certain conditions to be eligible for vocational assistance, typically the costliest aspect of a workers’ compensation claim. OAR 436-120-0145(2) lays out the specific requirements for a worker to be eligible for vocational retraining. In reviewing that rule you may notice a significant change to the…
New Oregon Rule Governing Subsequent Temporary Disability Payments Beginning July 1, 2024
On July 15, 2024, the Oregon Workers’ Compensation Division issued an Industry Notice outlining the rule change for the payment of subsequent temporary disability benefits. The due date for the first payment of temporary disability benefits has not changed. If the attending physician or authorized nurse practitioner has authorized temporary…
Ensuring Temporary Disability Benefits Issue Timely in Oregon
Whether an insurer timely paid temporary disability benefits in Oregon is one of the most heavily litigated issues in workers’ compensation. Late-payments create exposure for a penalty up to 25 percent of the late-paid amount, as well as an assessed attorney fee. Ensuring temporary disability benefits issue timely can save…
Denying an Oregon Claim Based on an IME? Read This!
At this point, you can probably issue a claim denial in your sleep. You know the denial must state the factual and legal reasons for the denial (OAR 436-060-0140(8)(a)) and must contain, in prominent or bold-face type, notice regarding the worker’s rights to an appeal (OAR 438-005-0055). You also know…
ARU and MRT Electronic Uploads – Oregon WCD Expands Use of its Portal
Unlike the portal utilized by the Oregon Workers’ Compensation Board, the Workers’ Compensation Division’s portal had very limited use – it allowed insurers and self-insured employers to upload their annual audit and report of loss information. In recognition that these times are a-changin,’ the WCD has now expanded the use…
Rising Gas Prices Warrant Increase in Mile Reimbursement Rate in Oregon
The Oregon Workers Compensation Division issued a Revised Bulletin No. 112 and an updated Form 3921 (Request for Reimbursement of Expenses), to address increasing gas prices. Effective July 1, 2022, an injured worker is entitled to reimbursement for personal mileage expense equal to 62.5 cents per mile. This represents a…
