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L&I Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) and the Washington State Accident Fund

The Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) recently announced the 2020-2021 benefits schedule. Every year, around July, L&I determines if a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) applies to workers’ compensation benefits. Sometimes COLAs are not applied. However, this year, there are adjustments to monetary benefits.

Can L&I Make Me Transfer to Another Doctor for My Workers’ Compensation Claim?

In a work injury claim or an occupational disease claim, the attending provider (AP) refers to a person that has a license to practice medicine or a similar field. For example, attending physicians can practice general medicine, surgery, osteopathic medicine, or chiropractic medicine. They can also be a naturopathic physician, podiatrist, dentist, or optometrist. Interestingly, the attending provider can be an advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP). From an L&I claim standpoint, the attending provider actively treats people after a work injury under their workers’ compensation claim. And, they must be a member of the L&I Medical Provider Network (MPN) and adhere to certain L&I rules.

Medical-Only L&I Claims and Workers’ Compensation Claims in Washington State

Sometimes claims for workplace injury are called “medical only” claims. Often, work injury claimants do not understand what it means to have this kind of claim. Yet, it’s important to understand the difference between “medical only” workers’ compensation claim versus “compensable claim”. It is important because the type of claim impacts the benefits you might receive. Hence, if your L&I claim has the wrong type, then you might miss out on important benefits.

Workers’ Comp Claim and Return to Work Programs: The Vocational Recovery Project

The Vocational Recovery Project is an ongoing workers’ compensation initiative by the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I). According to L&I, the goal of this initiative is to “engage all parties in preventing work disability by improving return-to-work outcomes”. Personally, I think there are a few problems with the goals of this initiative. For example, one problem is that different parties have very different perspectives. Specifically, what does it mean to improve outcomes? And, what happens when L&I makes vocational decisions under an L&I claim or workers’ compensation claim that are not practical?

Construction Work Injury and Roadwork Injuries in Washington State – Can We Prevent Them?

Anyone who recently traveled through Tacoma in Washington knows that there’s a major construction zone on highway I-5. The construction site is on the road near the Tacoma Dome. The local municipality reduced the speed limit through this area to 50 miles per hour (mph) because of the construction project. Additionally, police officers are assessing double penalties for drivers exceeding the work zone speed limit.