1 / 13

LACERA Investigators & RTW Coordinators A Match Made in Heaven

LACERA Investigators & RTW Coordinators A Match Made in Heaven. Presented by Shari Altmark & Richard Schlosser Disability Retirement Section Supervisors. LACERA’S ROLE. Initial application includes signed information release from employee Allows LACERA to:

pebbles
Download Presentation

LACERA Investigators & RTW Coordinators A Match Made in Heaven

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. LACERA Investigators & RTW Coordinators A Match Made in Heaven Presented by Shari Altmark & Richard Schlosser Disability Retirement Section Supervisors

  2. LACERA’S ROLE • Initial application includes signed information release from employee • Allows LACERA to: • Retrieve all Workers’ Comp records from TPA • Retrieve additional records from outside sources • Kaiser/personal physicians/chiropractors/therapists • Retrieve personnel records • Active, retired or deceased • Ask for additional documentation/information as necessary

  3. LACERA’S ROLE (cont’d) • Interview member to get timeline • Job classifications during career • Prior job assignments and overall duties • Current job assignment and duties • Focus on specific job duties within last assignment • Physical requirements • Were there modifications provided to the applicant? • If offered, when? (before or after retirement) • If so, were they temporary or permanent?

  4. LACERA’S ROLE (cont’d) • Chronological history of injuries/illnesses • Mechanics of the injury • Where did it happen? • What did they feel? • Were there any witnesses? • Reporting and care after the injury/illness • Follow-up treatment, if any • Current symptoms and reason they cannot return

  5. LACERA’S ROLE (cont’d) • Current symptoms/level of activity • Witness statements • Contact supervisor • Confirm “actual” job duties/physical requirements • Obtain information regarding injury/illness • Applicant’s current condition/ability to perform duties • Contact co-worker(s) • Obtain information regarding injury/illness • Query personal awareness of applicant’s condition

  6. LACERA’S ROLE (cont’d) • Contact RTW Coordinator • Confirm medical leave status • Confirm past and present work restrictions • Research accommodation, if any • Temporary or permanent

  7. LACERA’S ROLE (cont’d) • Medical opinion from LACERA specialist • Mechanism of injury • History of injury/illness and treatment rendered • Confirm or refute permanent incapacity • Advise on any permanent work restrictions • Comment on ability to perform permanent modified position • Confirm or refute job causation

  8. LACERA’S ROLE (cont’d) • Contact RTW Coordinator again • Address department’s ability to accommodate LACERA doctor’s permanent work restrictions • If so, what would the duties be? • If not, why not? • *** Response needs to be in writing!!! • Email, letter or fax • Important that person giving response is authorized to make statement

  9. Questions RTW Cannot Ask • What medical conditions did the employee apply for? • Proposed date of service retirement? • What is the Board recommendation? • What do we think the Board action will be? • How much will employee make if they get the disability retirement?

  10. Questions RTW Can Ask • Time frame to process • Status of case • Name of Investigator • Service retirement date, once confirmed by Board

  11. Obstacles LACERA faces • Timeliness of response to Retirement Board once doctor’s opinion is received • Workers’ Comp vs. Disability Retirement • Open labor market vs. independent classification • Restrictions governed by old law • Retirement Board policy changes • Turnover within RTW divisions

  12. Resources • If you have questions, call (626) 564-2419 • Log on to www.lacera.com • Click “Benefits” tab (upper right hand side) • Click “Active Member” tab (left side) • Click “Disability Retirement” (lower left side) • Contact the individual investigator (see attached listing)

  13. Chain of Command

More Related