Category: Washington WC Benefits
Washington House Bill 1927 Passed to Adjust Time-Loss Eligibility for Injured Workers
Washington State Governor Jay Inslee signed into law House Bill 1927 which makes it easier for injured workers to qualify for workers’ compensation benefits for…
Is that Docket Properly before the Board? Recent Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals Actions Caution Washington Employers to Double Check the Appealed Department of Labor & Industries’ Order
Washington’s Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals has long been deemed one of limited jurisdiction – the Board cannot act if it does not have the…
Navigating suspension of benefits and claim closure for Washington claims
There are several reasons why a self-insured employer may move the Department of Labor & Industries to suspend an injured worker’s benefits under the claim….
Limitations on compensability for treating conditions impeding recovery in Washington
Under the compensable consequences doctrine, the consequences for a compensable industrial injury are considered to be part and parcel of the injury itself. The Board…
What Came First: The Acceptance or the Authorization? An exploration of Clark County v. Maphet
In 2019, the Washington Court of Appeals issued Clark County v. Maphet, 451 P.3d 713 (2019). The case held that a self-insured employer authorizing treatment…
Wage Calculation of H-2A Visa Workers in Washington
The United States H-2A visa program allows employers to bring foreign nationals into the country to fill temporary agricultural positions. Due to labor shortages, it…
Washington State Announces 2020 COLA Increase; Affects Temporary Disability Payments Starting July 1st
Under RCW 51.32.075 temporary disability benefits are recalculated July 1st of each year to reflect changes in the states average wage. According to the Washington…
Back to Basics: While easy to overlook during the COVID-19 pandemic, double checking details in Washington Claims is still as important as ever
As the impacts of COVID-19 continue to occur and affect people and businesses, it is easy to get swept up in the breadth of complexities…
Department of Labor & Industries Issues New Checklist for Willful Misrepresentation
The Department of Labor & Industries recently amended the process and published an amended checklist for employers seeking Willful Misrepresentation orders. The Department’s new checklist…
New Washington Supreme Court “Innocent Misrepresentation” Overpayment Case
The Washington Supreme Court issued a new case addressing whether the Department has authority to issue an overpayment order and an order modifying claimant’s compensation…
WASHINGTON COLA INCREASES ON JULY 1ST
Effective Friday July 1, 2016 the annual cost of living adjustments (COLA) will take effect for the benefit period of July 1, 2016 through June…
Everything you’ve wanted to know about third-party recovery in Washington (but were afraid to ask.)
Recovering claims costs through third-party litigation in Washington can be complicated. If careless, self-insured employers (SIE) can walk away from third-party claims leaving money on…
Lumbar Fusion – New Guidelines for DLI
The Department has issued new stricter guidelines regarding when a proposed lumbar fusion is a medically necessity and clinically appropriate. These guidelines, effective March 7,…
Washington Department of Labor and Industries Revises the Interlocutory Process
On July 16, 2015 the Department issued a new set of guidelines for self-insured employers to obtain an interlocutory order. The 60-day period following the…
Washington Housekeeping Matters – COLA and Vocational Mileage Reimbursement
COLA Effective July 1, 2015, cost of living adjustments (COLA) will take effect for the benefit period of July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016. …
