IARP
Washington Chapter

Initiative 1082

This measure would authorize employers to purchase private industrial insurance beginning July 1, 2012; direct the legislature to enact conforming legislation by March 1, 2012; and eliminate the worker-paid share of medical-benefit premiums.

Should this measure be enacted into law? Yes [ ] No [ ]
Read more …

Changes to worker mileage reimbursement

What has changed?

Plan or authorized treatment related travel: One of the changes affects worker reimbursement for plan or medical treatment related travel. Effective September 1, 2010, a worker will need to travel more than 15 miles from his/her residence to be reimbursed for attending authorized training or medical treatment.

Workers will not be reimbursed for the first or last 15 miles of travel to and from a training site or for medical treatment. Example: The training site is 20 miles one way from the worker's home and the worker attends daily. The mileage reimbursement form will record 20 miles each way for a total round trip of 40 miles. The worker will be reimbursed for 5 miles to the site and 5 miles return trip for a total of 10 miles per day. All plans approved on or after September 1, 2010, must incorporate this change if it applies to the plan. This change is not retroactive and does not affect plans that are already approved

All plans approved on or after September 1, 2010, must incorporate this change if it applies to the plan. This change is not retroactive and does not affect plans that are already approved

What hasn't changed?

Mileage related to vocational services, L&I, or insurer requested examinations are reimbursable. Example of travel for vocational services: A worker resides 7 miles from his or her vocational rehabilitation counselor's (VRC) office. Mileage for the entire trip to meet with the VRC is reimbursed. Example of travel to an L&I or insurer requested examination: A worker must travel to a physical capacities evaluation (PCE) or an independent medical examination (IME) that is less than 15 miles from a worker's residence. Mileage for the entire trip is reimbursed.

Non-credentialed VRCs removed from referral list

Per Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 296-19A-210 (www.leg.wa.gov), vocational rehabilitation counselors (VRCs) who do not meet qualification requirements will not be allowed to provide vocational services to Washington injured workers as of December 1, 2010.

Effective immediately, L&I is discontinuing vocational referrals to any VRC who is not credentialed. This action ensures continuity of services to workers and employers. It also reduces the impact of closing and reassigning vocational referrals after December 1, 2010.

Uncredentialed VRCs may continue to provide services on their assigned referrals and on other referrals associated with their firm through November 30. Any open referral assigned to those VRCs will be closed by L&I no later than November 30, 2010.