WORKERS COMP
Lien:
A right or claim for payment against a workers' compensation case. A lien claimant, such as a medical provider, can file a form with the local Workers' Compensation Appeals Board to request payment of money owed in a workers' compensation case.
Description of employee's job duties (RU-91):
A form filled out jointly by you and the insurance company that helps your treating physician decide whether you will be able to return to your normal job and working conditions.
Declaration of readiness (DOR or DR):
A form used to request a hearing before a workers' compensation judge when you're ready to resolve a dispute.
Proof of service:
A form used to show that documents have been sent to specific parties.
Application for adjudication of claim (application or app) :
A form you file to open a case at the local Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) office if you have a disagreement with the insurance company about your claim.
Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA):
A state law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. If you believe you've been discriminated against at work because you're disabled and want more information on your rights under the FEHA, contact the state Department of Fair Employment and Housing at 1-800-884-1684. In some cases, the FEHA provides more protection than the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Commission on Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation (CHSWC):
A state-appointed body that conducts studies and makes recommendations to improve the California workers' compensation and workplace health and safety systems.
Compromise and release (C&R):
A type of settlement in which you receive a lump sum payment and become responsible for paying for your future medical care. A settlement like this must be approved by a workers' compensation judge.
Information & Assistance Unit (I&A):
A unit within DWC that provides information to all parties in workers' compensation claims and informally resolves disputes.
Disability Evaluation Unit (DEU):
A unit within the DWC that calculates the percent of permanent disability based on medical reports. See disability rater.
Medical Unit:
A unit within the DWC that oversees medical provider networks (MPNs), independent medical review (IMR) physicians, health care organizations (HCOs), qualified medical evaluators (QMEs), panel QMEs, utilization review (UR) plans, and spinal surgery second opinion physicians. Formerly called the Industrial Medical Council (IMC).
Audit Unit:
A unit within the DWC that receives complaints against claims administrators. These complaints may lead to investigations of the way the company handles claims
Cal/OSHA:
A unit within the state Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH). Cal/OSHA inspects workplaces and enforces laws to protect the health and safety of workers in California.
Mediation conference:
A voluntary conference held before an I&A officer to resolve a dispute if you are not represented by an attorney.
Permanent disability advance (PDA):
A voluntary lump sum payment of permanent disability you are due in the future.
Apportionment:
A way of figuring out how much of your permanent disability is due to your work injury and how much is due to other disabilities.
Objective factors:
Measurements, direct observations and test results a treating physician, QME or an AME says contribute to your permanent disability.
Applicants' attorney:
A lawyer that can represent you in your workers' compensation case. Applicant refers to you, the injured worker.
Benefit notice:
A required letter or form sent to you by the insurance company to inform you of benefits you may be entitled to receive. Also called notice.
Mandatory settlement conference (MSC):
A required conference to discuss settlement prior to a trial.
Information & Assistance (I&A) officer:
A DWC employee who answers questions, assists injured workers, provides written materials, conducts informational workshops and holds meetings to informally resolve problems with claims. Injury and illness prevention program (IIPP): A health and safety program employers are required to develop and implement. This program is enforced by Cal/OSHA.
Permanent disability rating schedule (PDRS):
A DWC publication containing detailed information used to rate permanent disabilities. One of three schedules will be used to rate your disability, depending on when you were injured.
Off calendar (OTOC):
A WCAB case in which there is no pending action.
Accepted claim
A claim in which the insurance company agrees your injury or illness is covered by workers' compensation. Even if your claim is accepted there may be delays or other problems. Also called admitted claim.
Denied claim:
A claim in which the insurance company believes your injury or illness is not covered by workers' compensation and has notified you of the decision.
Electronic Adjudication Management System (EAMS):
A computer based system to simplify and improve the Division of Workers' Compensation case management process.
Determination and order (D&O):
A decision by the DWC Rehabilitation Unit on a vocational rehabilitation dispute.
Dispute:
A disagreement about your right to payments, services or other benefits.
Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC):
A division within the state Department of Industrial Relations (DIR). The DWC administers workers' compensation laws, resolves disputes over workers' compensation benefits and provides information and assistance to injured workers and others about the workers' compensation system.
Personal physician:
A doctor licensed in California with an M.D. degree (medical doctor) or a D.O. degree (osteopath), who has treated you in the past and has your medical records.
Nontransferable voucher:
A document you get from the insurance company that must be completed by both you and the insurance company. This is the document used to provide payment for education under the supplemental job displacement benefit program.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA):
A federal law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. If you believe you've been discriminated against at work because you're disabled and want information on your rights under the ADA, contact a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission office. For the EEOC office in your area, call 1-800-669-4000 or 1-800-669-6820 (TTY).
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA):
A federal law that provides certain employees with serious health problems or who need to care for a child or other family member with up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year. It also requires that group health benefits be maintained during the leave. For more information, contact the U.S. Department of Labor at 1-866-4-USA-DOL.
Permanent partial disability award:
A final award of permanent partial disability made by a workers' compensation judge or the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board.
Offer of modified or alternative work form (RU-94):
A form you get from the insurance company if: you were injured before 2004 and; your treating physician says you probably will never return to your job or one like it and; your employer is offering modified or alternative work instead of vocational rehabilitation benefits.
Offer of modified or alternative work (DWC form #AD 10133.53):
A form you get from the insurance company if: you were injured in 2004 or later and; your treating physician reports you have a permanent disability and; your employer is offering modified or alternative work instead of a supplemental job displacement benefit. This form also explains how your permanent disability payments may be lowered by 15 percent because your employer is returning you to work.
Appeals board:
A group of seven commissioners appointed by the governor to review and reconsider decisions of workers' compensation administrative law judges. Also called the Reconsideration Unit. See Workers' Compensation Appeals Board.
Petition for reconsideration (Recon):
A legal process to appeal a decision issued by a workers' compensation judge. Heard by the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board Reconsideration Unit, a seven-member, judicial body appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate.
Delay letter:
A letter sent to you by the insurance company that explains why payments are delayed. The letter also tells you what information is needed before payments will be sent and when a decision will be made about the payments.
Panel qualified medical evaluator (QME): .
A list of three independent qualified medical evaluators (QMEs) issued by the DWC Medical Unit. You select any one of the three doctors for your evaluation. If you have an attorney, other rules apply.
Permanent disability payments:
A mandatory bi-weekly payment based on the undisputed portion of permanent disability received before and/or after an award is issued.
Physician: See predesignation.
A medical doctor, an osteopath, a psychologist, an acupuncturist, an optometrist, a dentist, a podiatrist or a chiropractor licensed in California. The definition of personal physician is more limited. See personal physician. Predesignated physician: A physician that can treat your work injury if you advised your employer in writing prior to your work injury or illness and certain conditions are met.
P&S report:
A medical report written by a treating physician that describes your medical condition when it has stabilized. See also permanent and stationary.
Future earning capacity (FEC):
A multiplier that increases the disability rating based on how much wage loss a type of injury causes on average when compared to other types of injuries.
American Medical Association (AMA):
A national physician's group. The AMA publishes a set of guidelines called "Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment." If your permanent disability is rated under the 2005 rating schedule, the doctor is required to determine your level of impairment using the AMA's guides.
Alternative work:
A new job with your former employer. If your doctor says you will not be able to return to your job at the time of injury, your employer is encouraged to offer you alternative work instead of supplemental job displacement benefits or vocational rehabilitation benefits. The alternative work must meet your work restrictions, last at least 12 months, pay at least 85 percent of the wages and benefits you were paid at the time you were injured, and be within a reasonable commuting distance of where you lived at the time of injury.
Impairment rating:
A percentage estimate of how much normal use of your injured body parts you've lost. Impairment ratings are determined based on guidelines published by the American Medical Association (AMA). An impairment rating is used to calculate your permanent disability rating but is different from your permanent disability rating.
Permanent disability rating (PDR):
A percentage that estimates how much a job injury permanently limits the kinds of work you can do. It is based on your medical condition, date of injury, age when injured, occupation when injured, how much of the disability is caused by your job, and your diminished future earning capacity. It determines the number of weeks you are entitled to permanent disability benefits.
Employee:
A person whose work activities are under the control of an individual or entity. The term employee includes undocumented workers and minors.
Discrimination claim (Labor Code132a):
A petition filed if your employer has fired or otherwise discriminated against you for filing a workers' compensation claim.
Disability:
A physical or mental impairment that limits your life activities. A condition that makes engaging in physical, social and work activities difficult.
Disability management:
A process to prevent disability from occurring or to intervene early, following the start of a disability, to encourage and support continued employment. This is done early in the recovery process in severe injury cases such as spinal injuries. Usually a rehabilitation nurse is involved with you and your treating doctor and the progress of your medical treatment is reported to the insurance company.
Medical-legal report:
A report written by a doctor that describes your medical condition. These reports are written to help clarify disputed medical issues.
California Labor Code section 132a:
A workers' compensation law that prohibits discrimination against you because you filed a workers' compensation claim, and against co-workers who might testify in your case.
Findings & award (F&A):
A written decision by a workers' compensation administrative law judge about your case, including payments and future care that must be provided to you. The F&A becomes a final order unless appealed.
Fraud:
Any knowingly false or fraudulent statement for the purpose of obtaining or denying workers' compensation benefits. The penalties for committing fraud are fines up to $150,000 and/or imprisonment for up to five years.
Permanent disability (PD):
Any lasting disability that results in a reduced earning capacity after maximum medical improvement is reached.
Penalty:
An amount of money you receive because something wasn't done correctly in your claim. Paid by your employer or the insurance company, the penalty amount can be an automatic 10 percent for a delay in one payment to you, or a 25 percent penalty -- up to $10,000 -- for an unreasonable delay.
Disability rater:
An employee of the DWC Disability Evaluation Unit who rates your permanent disability after reviewing a medical report or a medical-legal report describing your condition.
Medical provider network (MPN):
An entity or group of health care providers set up by an insurer or self-insured employer and approved by DWC's administrative director to treat workers injured on the job.
In pro per:
An injured worker not represented by an attorney.
Cumulative injury (CT):
An injury that was caused by repeated events or repeated exposures at work. For example, hurting your wrist doing the same motion over and over or losing your hearing because of constant loud noise.
Commutation:
An order by a workers' compensation judge for a lump sum payment of part or all of your permanent disability award.
Health care organization (HCO):
An organization certified by the Department of Industrial Relations to provide managed medical care within the workers' compensation system.
Death benefits:
Benefits paid to surviving dependents when a work injury or illness results in death.
Carve-out:
Carve-out programs allow employers and unions to create their own alternatives for workers' compensation benefit delivery and dispute resolution under a collective bargaining agreement.
Medical treatment utilization schedule (MTUS):
Doctors in California's workers' compensation system are required to provide evidence-based medical treatment. That means they must choose treatments scientifically proven to cure or relieve work-related injuries and illnesses. Those treatments are laid out in the medical treatment utilization schedule (MTUS), which contains a set of guidelines that provide details on which treatments are effective for certain injuries, as well as how often the treatment should be given, the extent of the treatment, and for how long, among other things.
Essential functions:
Duties considered crucial to the job you want or have. When being considered for alternative work, you must have both the physical and mental qualifications to fulfill the job's essential functions.
Independent medical examiner (IME):
For injuries occurring on and after January 1, 1991, whenever the term "independent medical examiner" is used, the term shall mean "qualified medical examiner."
Ex parte communication:
Generally a private communication with a judge regarding a disputed matter without the other party being present or copied with correspondence.
Agreed medical evaluator (AME):
If you have an attorney, an AME is the doctor your attorney and the insurance company agree on to conduct the medical examination that will help resolve your dispute. If you don't have an attorney, you will use a qualified medical evaluator (QME). See QME.
Hearings:
Legal proceedings in which a workers' compensation judge discusses the issues in a case or receives information in order to make a decision about a dispute or a proposed settlement.
Industrial Medical Council (IMC):
No longer in existence. See Medical Unit.
Party:
Normally this includes the insurance company, your employer, attorneys and any other person with an interest in your claim (doctors or hospitals that have not been paid).
Future medical:
On-going right to medical treatment for a work-related injury.
Permanent total disability (PTD) benefits:
Payments you receive when you are considered permanently unable to earn a living.
Permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits:
Payments you receive when your work injury partially limits the kinds of work you can do or your ability to earn a living.
Permanent disability (PD) benefits:
Payments you receive when your work injury permanently limits the kinds of work you can do or your ability to earn a living.
Notice:
See benefit notice.
Claims adjuster:
See claims administrator.
Claims examiner:
See claims administrator.
Medical care:
See medical treatment.
Disability rating:
See permanent disability rating.
Judge:
See workers' compensation administrative law judge.
Filing: .
Sending or delivering a document to an employer or a government agency as part of a legal process. The date of filing is the date the document is received. Final order: Any order, decision or award made by a workers' compensation judge that has not been appealed in a timely way
Claim form:
The form used to report a work injury or illness to your employer.
Applicant:
The party -- usually you -- that opens a case at the local Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) office by filing an application for adjudication of claim.
Defendant:
The party -- usually your employer or its insurance company -- opposing you in a dispute over benefits or services.
Employer:
The person or entity with control over your work activities.
Predesignation:
The process you use to tell your employer you want your personal physician to treat you for a work injury. You can predesignate your personal doctor of medicine (M.D.) or doctor of osteopathy (D.O.) if: your employer offers group health coverage; the doctor has treated you in the past and has your medical records; prior to the injury your doctor agreed to treat you for work injuries or illnesses and; prior to the injury you provided your employer the following in writing: Notice that you want your personal doctor to treat you for a work-related injury or illness and Your personal doctor's name and business address.
Ergonomics:
The study of how to improve the fit between the physical demands of the workplace and the employees who perform the work. That means considering the variability in human capabilities when selecting, designing or modifying equipment, tools, work tasks and the work environment.
Claims administrator:
The term for insurance companies and others that handle your workers' compensation claim. Most claims administrators work for insurance companies or third party administrators handling claims for employers. Some claims administrators work directly for large employers that handle their own claims. Also called claims examiner or claims adjuster.
Independent contractor:
There is no set definition of this term. Labor law enforcement agencies and the courts look at several factors when deciding if someone is an employee or an independent contractor. Some employers misclassify employees as an independent contractor to avoid workers' compensation and other payroll responsibilities. Just because an employer says you are an independent contractor and doesn't need to cover you under a workers' compensation policy doesn't make it true. A true independent contractor has control over how their work is done. You probably are not an independent contractor when the person paying you: Controls the details or manner of your work Has the right to terminate you Pays you an hourly wage or salary Makes deductions for unemployment or Social Security Supplies materials or tools Requires you to work specific days or hours
Medical treatment:
Treatment reasonably required to cure or relieve the effects of a work-related injury or illness. Also called medical care.
Date of injury:
When you got hurt or ill. If your injury was caused by one event, the date it happened is the date of injury. If the injury or illness was caused by repeated exposures (a cumulative injury), the date of injury is the date you knew or should have known the injury was caused by work.
Maximal medical improvement (MMI):
Your condition is well stabilized and unlikely to change substantially in the next year, with or without medical treatment. Once you reach MMI, a doctor can assess how much, if any, permanent disability resulted from your work injury.
AOE/COE (Arising out of and occurring in the course of employment):
Your injury must be caused by and happen on the job.
Permanent and stationary (P&S):
Your medical condition has reached maximum medical improvement. Once you are P&S, a doctor can assess how much, if any, permanent disability resulted from your work injury. If your disability is rated under the 2005 schedule you will see the term maximal medical improvement (MMI) used in place of P&S. See also P&S report.
Modified work:
Your old job, with some changes that allow you do to it. If your doctor says you will not be able to return to your job at the time of injury, your employer is encouraged to offer you modified work instead of supplemental job displacement benefits or vocational rehabilitation benefits.
