Application Deadline for

Claims Adjudicator Certification Testing - April 27, 2007

If you are considering taking the Claims Adjudicator Certification test in June 2007, the deadline for submitting your application for review to be eligible to take the test is due to the Department by Friday, April 27, 2007.  For an application, go to http://www.lni.wa.gov/forms/pdf/207177af.pdf.

Requesting Self-Insured and

Requesting State Fund Claims Files

In response to changes in public disclosure law, the Department of Labor & Industries has changed the way they process and respond to requests for prior industrial insurance claims files.  You will need to submit TWO requests: one to Norm Voiles for information on self insured claims (faxed to 360-902-6900), and then requests for State Fund claims histories to Paula Clayton (faxed to 360-902-6970.)  If you have questions on the status of State Fund claims information requests, you can call 360-902-5656.  Most State Fund requests will be handled within 10 business days.

National Council of Self-Insurers

Annual Conference on May 20-23, 2007

The National Council of Self-Insurers’ Annual Conference will be held May 20-23, 2007 in Palm Springs, California at the La Quinta Resort.  Agenda topics include: ACOEM’s New Work Disability Prevention Guideline; Varying Management Practices of Self-Insured Programs; Modern Techniques to Obtain Workers’ Compensation Data; and the Challenge of Integrated Disability Management.  If you haven’t been, this is a worthwhile opportunity to meet key players in the self-insured community, on a national level, and compare notes.  The agenda and registration information is posted on the Annual Meeting page of the National Council’s web site, whose address is www.natcouncil.com.  More specifically, the registration forms, information about hotel room reservations and the special events of the meeting may be downloaded.  As a side note, WSIA Executive Director Dave Kaplan serves on the Board of Governors for NCSI and is in his second year in that capacity.

Department's Self-Insurance Section

Has Moved to Tumwater!

The Department of Labor and Industries' Self-Insurance Section has moved from Olympia to a new building in Tumwater.  They ask for your patience, as it will difficult to respond to your phone requests while they are in transition through April 9th.  Your phone messages will be returned.  Their new street address is 243 Israel Road SE, Tumwater, WA  98501.  What will change?  Their phone numbers and P.O. Boxes will remain the same.  The Department will NOT be able to receive FedEx and other overnight deliveries at the new building!  All overnight deliveries will have to be sent to the Department’s headquarters, Attn: Self-Insurance, MS [P.O. Box number], 7273 Linderson Way SW, Tumwater, WA  98501-5414.  The Self-Insurance Section assures us that over-nighting your information to that street address WILL be forwarded to the Self-Insurance Section.  For regular mail, send mail to the following P.O. Boxes: P.O. Box 44890 (Administration and Training); P.O. Box 44891 (Certification Services); P.O. Box 44892 (All claims mail NOT related to an audit response); and P.O. Box 44893 (Program Compliance/Audit).  For all of these P.O. Boxes the zip code is 98504.  Fax numbers: 360-902-6650 (Certification Services); 360-902-6677 (Administration and Training); and 360-902-6900 (All claims information).  In mid-May, this last fax number will begin scanning all documents directly in the ORCA document system.  This should help alleviate the burden of having to mail significant numbers of documents to the Department.

Medical Aid Health Care

Billing Forms Have Change

The Department has adopted new rules to address a requirement of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) related to billing forms.  These forms are being changed to reflect the use of the new national provider identification numbers being put to use.  To review the new rule, go to http://www.lni.wa.gov/rules/AO06/32/0632Adoption.pdf.

Updated Self-Insurance Section

Phone Contact Listing

Need an updated list of Self-Insurance section phone numbers?  Here’s the link to the latest and greatest list, http://www.lni.wa.gov/ClaimsIns/Files/SelfIns/SelfInsPhoneList.pdf, updated January 3, 2007.  Check back at the link periodically for updated information.

You Pay for It, Use It!          

DOSH Safety Materials Available for Your Use

The Department of Labor & Industries’ Division of Occupational Safety & Health has at least 27 downloadable safety videos, 75 industry fact sheets, 18 employee safety rule training kits, 85 online safety presentations, 52 construction industry toolbox talks, and over 2000 different safety, health, and risk management video titles for checkout in their safety library.  YOU pay for these services, so please take advantage of them.  You can find these materials at the DOSH webpage at the Department’s website at http://www.lni.wa.gov/safety/.

Electronic Filing of Claims Appeals

At the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals

Did you know you can file your claims appeals electronically, online?  You can!  Go to the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals website at www.biia.wa.gov and click on the E-filing logo.  Your appeal is submitted instantly, saving time and postage.  You are able to print a copy for your records, and a receipt showing that your submittal was received.  Give it a try!