Oregon Workers’ Compensation End of Year Wrap Up: Let’s End on a High Note!
We welcomed 2024 with a slew of changes to the Oregon Revised Statutes and Oregon Administrative rules on Workers’ Compensation that impact and change how we process claims. As the year evolved, additional requirements came into effect. We at SBH Legal want all of our clients to be successful in their claim processing, which necessarily includes timely compliance and implementation of these changes. More than that, we are hoping to help avoid unnecessary litigation on these new changes.
New Notice Requirements Regarding Temporary Disability Benefits, Medically Stationary Status and Claim Closure
Please see this blog post to learn more about the mandatory notices we must send when a worker is discharged to medically stationary status, and when temporary disability benefits will end. This blog also helpfully discusses the new timelines attending providers can follow to authorize retroactive temporary disability. This is extended from 14 days to 45 days as of January 1, 2024.
New Deadlines for Surgery Requests, MCO and Non-MCO Claims
Please see this blog post to learn more about the new deadlines and notice requirements for handling surgery requests in MCO and Non-MCO Claims, which became effective April 1, 2024 and October 1, 2024:
https://sbhlegal.com/surgery-in-oregon-heres-what-to-know/
New Notice / Denial Language
We have written several blog posts that contain the new notice/denial language that became effective October 1, 2024. If you have not changed your letter templates yet, please do so as soon as you can.
Changes to Oregon IME Notices:
Changes to Denial Appeal and Hearing Rights Language:
New Rules Regarding Time Loss Payments
Please see this blog post to learn about your options for paying subsequent temporary disability benefits, which came into effect July 1, 2024:
If you have any questions at all about the changes to the OAR and ORS that impact claims processing moving forward, or if you would like assistance with a new Request for Hearing raising issues of timely implementation and/or compliance with these changes, please contact me at 971-977-5970 or .
Posted by Kat Wolfe.
