Pub. 1 2019 Issue 5

Increase Next Year's Rebate by Saying Yes to Light Duty I n this age of spiraling workers’ compensation costs, we all must take advantage of every opportunity to control the costs associated with workers’ compen- sation. Returning people to work promptly after a work-related injury is the single most effective way to control workers’ compensation costs. Several studies in the U.S. and Canada have found that the longer an employee is out of work, the less likely the indi- vidual is to return to work. If an employee is out of work 6 months or longer, that employee has a 50 percent chance of returning to work. An employee out of work over one year has a 0-5 percent chance of returning to work. Employees who have returned to work in a light duty capacity have the greatest chance of a successful return to full-time, full-duty work. Not only is providing TAD the best thing to do for the employee and the employer, it is required by the NH Work- ers’ Compensation Statute (RSA 281-A:23a) and a condi- tion of the NHADA WCT agreement. Many employers feel that providing temporary alternative duty is a financial hardship. Employers who feel that way fail to see the big picture. Employers have invested time and money in hiring, training and retaining their employ- ees. It makes financial sense to protect that investment after an injury occurs by assisting the employee to return to work. In addition, the less money that is paid out on the claim, the less impact that claim will have on the employ- er’s experience modification factor and the more money that will be returned in the rebate at the end of the year. There is no question that getting employees back to work is in everyone’s best interest. Here are some tips on tem- porary alternative duty. Before the Injury Occurs: • Implement a policy and procedure for TAD return to work. Share the policy with employees. Make sure employees understand the TAD process, • Create TAD job descriptions or check-off lists of TAD jobs, • The Safety Committee and/or the WCT claims staff can help. After the Injury Occurs: • Call the nurse case manager, Marta Silakka, RN to get assistance with an appropriate in-network physician referral, • File the Employer’s First Report of Injury on the date of injury, no more than five days after, • Employee must bring the NH WC Medical Form from the physician after each appointment. Ques- tions regarding the employees work capacity should be referred to claims staff, • Remain in contact with your employee. After the Employee Returns to Work: • Remind employees to return from each doctor’s appointment with a NH WC Medical Form. Please forward a copy via fax to NHADA-WCT • Monitor employees on TAD daily • Make certain that the employee is not exceeding his/her restrictions • Make the NHADA WCT claims staff aware of any potential problems or obstacles to employment • NHADA will communicate with the physician to facilitate return to full-duty work • Employee should keep you abreast of upcoming doctor’s appointments/PT appointments. • Reminder: all medical appointments including physical therapy should be scheduled prior to or following the workday; neither the employer nor the NHADA is responsible for payment of lost time to attend those appointments. Please take the time to help your employees get back to full-time, full-duty work after an injury occurs by providing them with temporary alternate work opportunities. If you have any questions, please contact Pete Sheffer at psheffer@nhada.com or at 800-852-3372. PETER SHEFFER DIRECTOR OF WCT N E W H A M P S H I R E 5