Oregon

February 21, 2012: Oregon News: Preferred
Worker Program, Oregon Administrative Rules
(OAR) 436-110

January 12, 2012: Oregon Issues: Physician
Fee schedule calculator (Max Payment
Calculator) for Health Care Providers

January 05, 2011: Oregon News: Dates
announced for 2012 Workers' Compensation
Educational Conference

January 05, 2011: Oregon News: Revised
Bulletin 227, "Request for reconsideration
forms," is available on the division's webpage:

December 2 7 , 2011: Oregon News: Revised
Bulletin 307, "Revised Spanish translation,
Form 440-827S," is now available on the
division's webpage:

December 27, 2011: Oregon News: 2012
Contested Case Orders (WCD)

December 20, 2011: Oregon News: The
Workers’ Compensation Division proposes
changes to the Oregon Administrative Rules

December 15, 2011 Oregon: News:
BULLETIN NO. 292 (Revised) medical
reporting forms

December 07, 2011: Oregon:
excerpt of WCD Administrator John Shilts'
keynote speech, "Oregon: The path ahead,"
given during the ninth Workers' Compensation
Educational Conference.

November 29, 2011 Oregon: News:
Testimony on Proposed Rules and Agency
Responses /Claim Closure and
Reconsideration Rules [effective 1/1/2012]
/Managed Care Organizations Rules (effective
1/1/2012) /Oregon Medical Fee and Payment
Rules (effective 1/1/2012) / Rulemaking
Calendar

November 15, 2011: Oregon: News:
Directing or managing care: House Bill 2093,
Workers’ right to choose health care provider

November 03, 2011:Oregon : News:
Assigned risk servicing carrier changes for 2012

General Information

Publications

Work Comp News and Issues

Medical Control

The injured employee has the right to choose a medical provider of his/her
choice. The injured employee may change his/her medical provider two (2)
times without prior approval of the employer/insurer. Subsequent changes
may require approval from the Workers' Compensation Division. The
employee may select his/her own pharmacy or select a pharmacy from the
Express Scripts pharmacy network. Emergency medical care does not require
preapproval and should be secured at the nearest location.

Workers' Compensation Division (WCD)

The Workers' Compensation Division administers Oregon's workers'
compensation law and regulates workers' compensation insurance carriers and
employers to ensure that workers injured on the job receive the benefits due
them and employment assistance to regain their economic self-sufficiency.

Ombudsman for Injured Workers (OIW)

The ombudsman serves as an independent advocate for Oregon's injured
workers. We help workers understand their rights and responsibilities in the
workers' compensation system, investigate complaints, and work to resolve
those complaints.

Ombudsman for Small Business

The ombudsman serves as an independent advocate for small business by
providing information and assistance regarding workers' compensation
insurance and claims processing.

Workers' Compensation Board (WCB)

The WCB Hearings Division hears appeals regarding workers' compensation
claims and health and safety citations. The five member Workers'
Compensation Board serves as the appellate body that reviews orders issued
by the Hearings Division's administrative law judges, exercises own-motion
jurisdiction, and administers the Victim of Crimes Compensation Law. The
board also provides policy advice on workers' compensation to the DCBS
director, upon the director's request.

Management-Labor Advisory Committee (MLAC)

The committee provides a forum for business and labor to come together to
explore and resolve issues involving workers' compensation. The members,
appointed by the Governor, include five labor and five management
representatives. They advise the DCBS director and the Legislature on
workers' compensation matters.

Medical Advisory Committee

The committee services on matters relating to the provision of medical care to
injured workers. The committee members are appointed by the DCBS director.

Once the claim is accepted, the insurer must issue payment within 45
days of receiving your billings and chart notes. If the insurer fails to
pay promptly, you may charge a reasonable monthly service charge
for the period that the payment was delayed, but only if you levy
such a charge to the general public. Oregon law allows an employer to
pay up to a certain amount for medical services for a nondisabling
workers’ compensation claim. See Bulletin 345 for the current
maximum amount. Go to www.wcd.orgon.gov and click on“Bulletins”
on the right-hand side. However, the employer must make the
payments to its insurer and not directly to you. Therefore, you must
always bill the workers’ compensation insurer and not the employer.
This limitation does not apply to a certified self-insured employer