OAR 436110, Effective 712005

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Preferred Worker Program

• OAR 436-110, Effective 7/1/2005

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Purpose

• Incentives to Oregon employers, for reemployment
  of Oregon injured workers
• Managements Labor Advisory Committee (MLAC)
  conducted an interim study of all return-to-work
  programs. Workers that participated in return to
  work had earned an estimated 108 million dollars
  more, than workers that had not used
  return-to-work programs

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Employer Eligibility

• Oregon workers compensation coverage
• Comply with all workers compensation laws
• Leasing company licensed

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Worker Eligibility

• The worker has an accepted disabling Oregon
  compensable injury or occupational disease
• Because of injury caused limitations, medical
  evidence indicates the worker will not be able to
  return to the job at injury

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Worker Eligibility - continued

• If the worker is not eligible under the most
  recent claim or aggravation claim opening
• Eligibility will be based on the most recent
  disabling claim closure where injury-caused
  permanent restrictions prevented the worker from
  returning to regular work
• Once eligibility is established, no eligibility
  will arise from a prior claim or claim opening

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Preferred Worker Cards

• Two cards System
• Identification Card
• Eligibility Card

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Identification Cards

• Issued upon determination of eligibility
• Show this card to employers when you are looking
  for employment
• Active up to three years from the issue date
• Cannot be extended or re-issued

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Eligibility Cards

• Issued upon activation of Premium Exemption
• Subsequent employer use
• Active up to three years from the issue date
• Cannot be extended or re-issued

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Premium Exemption

• No premiums for up to 3 years
• Must pay cents per hour
• Access to Claim Cost Reimbursement
• Subsequent employers

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Premium Exemption

• Activation within 30 days of hire date
• If not activated within 30 days
  premium exemption will start the day after the
  card is sent to the Program

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Premium Exemption

• New injury
• Identify Preferred Worker on 801
• Claim costs reimbursed for life of claim
• Rate making

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Wage Subsidy

• 183 calendar days
• 365 days exceptional disability
• 50 of gross wage
• 75 exceptional disability

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Wage Subsidy

• 30-day time frame
• Interruptions
• Wages are based on employers policies
• No combined subsidies
• May be used twice during eligibility period

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Wage Subsidy Reimbursement

• Reimbursement form, Bulletin 189
• Payroll records
• Once every two weeks maximum
• Request within 1 year

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OEPs

• Necessary for employment
• Not provided by employer
• Non-subject employer in Oregon
• Workers property

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OEPs (continued)

• 1,000 tuition, books, fees
• 500 travel for instruction
• 2,000 tools equipment
• 400 clothing

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OEPs (continued)

• Moving expenses
• One time only
• For a job in Oregon

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OEPs (continued)

• Moving expenses
• Household goods up to 10,000 lbs
• Mileage for one vehicle
• Rental allowance
• Temporary lodging and food

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OEPs (continued)

• Union fees dues
• 500 occupational certification, licenses,
  testing, physical exams, membership fees

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OEPs (continued)

• Agreement must be approved prior to reimbursement
  or payment
• Must be reasonable, practical, and feasible

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OEPs (continued)

• Methods of payment
• Authorization for payment (AFPs)
• Reimbursement

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Worksite Modification

• Definition Altering a worksite to overcome
  injury-caused limitations
• Worksite in Oregon
• Restrictions may be projected as permanent
  prior to the worker being medically stationary
• Modifications may be done before all permanent
  restrictions are known

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WSM (continued)

• Agreement must be approved prior to reimbursement
• Provided within 3 years of hire date
• Two WSMs per eligibility period
• 25,000 max. per claim
• Exceptional disability - unlimited

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WSM (continued)

• 1,000 - to prevent worsening of accepted
  condition
• 2,500 - for OJT at new employer
• Vehicles
• Dont create work-site

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WSM (continued)

• 3,500 feasibility
• Rental
• Consultative services
• 2,500 to protect the modification

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WSM (continued)

• Who owns equipment?
• Competitive quotes over 2,500
• AFP or reimbursement

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Return to Regular Work

• WSM may be provided
• Sub mod determination
• Why?
• How?

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Preferred Worker ProgramEmployer Use

• All of the same benefits as the worker use of the
  Program
• Premium Exemption/Wage Subsidy (one form)
• Claims Cost Reimbursement
• Obtained Employment Purchases
• Worksite Modification
• New Forms

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Preferred Worker ProgramEmployer Use (continued)

• All forms must be accompanied by a job acceptance
  letter
• Start date
• Wage and Hours
• Job site locations
• Description of job duties

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Preferred Worker ProgramEmployer Use (continued)

• Cannot start program until the job is within
  workers permanent restrictions
• Must be requested within 180 days from claim
  closure

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• Example of Beneftis Provided
• Colleen was working as an Iron Worker when she
  was injured on the job, her life turned upside
  down, she didnt know where to turn!
• The Preferred Worker Program pointed her in the
  right direction.

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• After completing her vocational re-training as a
  Cost Estimator, Colleen, with the help of her
  vocational school, found employment in the
  Central Oregon area.
• In order to accept this employment, Colleen was
  required to relocate to Central Oregon from the
  Portland, metro area.

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• Moving Assistance
• The Preferred Worker Program was able to
• Pay for a moving company to pack, move and unpack
  Colleen up to 10,000 lbs.
• Pay for mileage, temporary food and lodging while
  Colleen was searching for permanent housing.
• Pay for Colleens first month rent and
  non-refundable fees
• Moving benefit to the worker was 5591.00

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• Worksite Modification Obtained Employment
  Purchases
• Colleen was not able complete many of her job
  duties because of her injury caused limitations.
  Under the Work-site Modification benefit, the
  Program was able to purchase equipment for
  Colleen to overcome her limitations. The total
  amount of the benefit was 24,537.00
• As is required of many Cost Estimators, Colleen
  was also required to supply her own laptop
  computer, a computer was purchased for Colleen
  under the Obtained Employment Purchase category.
  The total amount of the benefit was 1975.00

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• Premium Exemption and
• Wage Subsidy
• As an incentive to hire her, Colleen also offered
  premium exemption and wage subsidy to her new
  employer. The employer is exempt from paying
  workers compensation premiums to their Insurance
  carrier and under the wage subsidy, the employer
  will receive one half of her wages back for the
  first 6 months.
• The total benefit paid under the workers use was
  42,038.00

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Bulletin 189Worker and Employer Use Forms

• Cards and Employer use Form
• Wage Subsidy Agreement
• Obtained Employment Purchase Agreement
• Work-site Modification Agreement
• Claims Cost Reimbursement Form

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• Contact Us!!
• RAU Salem [phone]
• [phone]
• FAX [phone]
• RAU Medford [phone]
• [phone]
• FAX [phone]
• Field Audit Unit [phone]
• www.oregonpwp.info