Category: Oregon Workers Compensation
Oregon Legislature Considering Dismantling Self-Insurance in Oregon
The Senate Committee on Labor and Business recently held a public hearing on two concerning pieces of legislation, SB-801 and SB-802. While the hearing initially…
The Pacific Northwest Worker: Subjectivity of the Traveling Employee
Given their proximity to each other, workers’ in Oregon and Washington often find themselves traveling to/from both states as part of their jobs. Both Oregon…
Tips and Tricks for Independent Medical Exams (IMEs)
Independent medical examinations (IMEs) are a great tool for claims examiners to use in processing at the beginning, middle, and end of claim. They are…
Combined Conditions in Oregon Workers’ Compensation: Not always a Simple Open and Shut Case
Combined condition acceptances and denials can be a useful claim processing tool in Oregon for several reasons. They can be used as a defense against…
Oregon’s 2021 Legislative Session has Started: SBH’s Watchlist
The Oregon State legislative session for 2021 is underway and we have seen several bills introduced in the House and the Senate that will be…
As COVID-19 cases continue to surge, keep in mind OAR 436-060-0141 requirements before issuing a denial
As COVID-19 cases continue to surge in Oregon, it is reasonable to anticipate a corresponding surge in workers’ compensation claims related to confirmed COVID-19 cases…
New Oregon 801 Form Effective January 1, 2021
The Workers’ Compensation Division implemented a new 801 and 827 form–effective January 1, 2021. The new 801/827 forms remove the Social Security Number. The removal…
Oregon MLAC Holds Final Meeting for 2020
The Management Labor Advisory Committee (MLAC) held what is most likely its final meeting of 2020. Much of the meeting was recapping the significant changes…
Shift in Oregon Claim Closure Analysis?
As of recently, the Oregon Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and Workers’ Compensation Board have issued significant decisions relating to closure of Oregon workers’ compensation…
Oregon Court of Appeals Expands on Supreme Court’s Holding in Caren in Robinette v. SAIF
Last year, in Caren v. Providence Health System Oregon the Oregon Supreme Court held that without a preclosure combined condition denial employers must pay the…
Court of Appeals reconsiders Meyers v. SAIF in light of the Supreme Court’s opinion in Gadalean
Meyers v. SAIF has been a long time coming– the case has been on appeal since 2013, traveling all the way up to the Oregon…
Oregon WCD Issues Revised Temporary Rule on Claims for COVID-19 or Exposure to COVID-19
The Workers’ Compensation Division has issued OAR 436-060-0141, a temporary rule addressing claims for COVID-19 and claims for exposure to COVID-19. The rule will remain…
As the COVID pandemic continues, where does the Oregon Workers’ Compensation Division stand on telemedicine?
In March 2020, the Division set out temporary rules to address fees related to telemedicine appointments following Governor Brown’s “Stay at Home Order.” The temporary…
Oregon Workers’ Compensation Board now administering hearings and mediations via “Zoom” platform
Since April, under Governor Brown’s “Stay home, Save lives” Executive Orders, the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) hearings divisions have not administered any in-person hearings or…
New Rules in Oregon Affecting Assessed Attorney Fees in Workers’ Compensation Cases
The Oregon Workers’ Compensation Board (“WCB”) met on August 18, 2020 to finalize two new rule proposals affecting attorney fees for claimant’s counsel. First, the…
Oregon Court of Appeals Clarifies Occupational Disease Standard
In a recent decision, the Court of Appeals clarified a worker’s burden of proof in an occupational disease claim. Johnston v. Gordon Trucking – Heartland…
Oregon Workers’ Compensation Mental Health Presumption of Compensability
Presumption—it’s a scary word in the world of Oregon workers’ compensation. Last year Oregon passed Senate Bill 507—now codified at ORS 656.802(7)—creating a presumption of…
Trial Attorneys and Unions Pushing for COVID-19 Presumption Legislation
On June 23, 2020, Governor Brown directed the Management-Labor Advisory Committee (MLAC) to explore any gaps in our current workers’ compensation system related to COVID-19,…
The Oregon Court of Appeals doubles down on the two-prong Roseburg Forest test making it easier for a presumptively responsible employer to shift responsibility
In April 2020, the Court of Appeals issued a significant decision regarding responsibility cases. In NAES Corporation v. SCI 3.2, Inc., 303 Or. App. 684…
Annual Adjustment of Attorney Fees in Workers’ Compensation Claims in Oregon
The Oregon Workers’ Compensation Board recently issued a revised Bulletin No. 1 addressing the maximum attorney fee under several statutes. The attorney fees affected by…
Claims Examiner Certification Renewal in Oregon and COVID-19
Three months into the pandemic, we have all seen changes in both our daily lives and in our professional lives. One of these changes has…
In the midst of COVID-19 pandemic, Oregon Court of Appeals issues troubling ruling for processing new/omitted condition claims
The Oregon Court of Appeals issued its decision in Coleman v. SAIF, 304 Or App 122 (2020) on May 13, 2020. Claimant filed a claim…
Oregon Employee Injured While Working from Home? Best Practices to Determine Compensability
With the onset of COVID-19 and statewide stay-at-home orders, a high percentage of today’s workforce is operating from home, or in some variation of remote…
Oregon Workers’ Compensation Rule Updates During COVID-19 Crisis
Needless to say, there have been a lot of changes recently, not just in our daily lives, but also in claim processing issues. The WCD…
Oregon – COVID-19 Incident Reports, Workers’ Comp, Wage and Leave Issues
As Oregon employers continue to face unique issues in the wake of the COVID-19 coronavirus, SBH has assembled this list of commonly asked questions addressing…
