Report of Industrial Injury or Occupational Disease Project

The project ended on June 30, 2009. Participating employers may continue to assist their workers in filing claims using Report of Accidents with claim numbers beginning with EF.

Until now, doctors have initiated all claims. As of January 1, 2007, about 500 Washington employers started participating in a 2 year pilot project. This project allows the employer to initiate a Report of Industrial Injury or Occupational Disease Project (ROA) for their injured worker. Workers can choose whether to file their ROA through their employer or doctor.

What's different?

How will you know if it's an employer filed claim?

• Claim numbers begin with "EF".
• They are smaller, 8.5 X 11 inches.
• Workers complete their section before their first doctor visit.
• You no longer need to send the employer section to the employer. L&I will provide the employer a copy of the completed medical section.
• You may also find that some employers send a job analyses with workers to the initial visit to help develop transitional or light duty work during recovery.

What's the same?

• Workers choose their doctor. Employers cannot direct or manage care.
• L&I manages the claim and provides authorizations.
• If a worker does not provide an "EF" ROA, providers submits a regular ROA.
• Doctors are still paid for the initial visit (One completed ROA).
• Doctors and employers continue to work together to return the worker to a job he or she is capable of doing as soon as possible.
• The Claim and Account Center will post all documents within one business day after they are received.

What is the purpose of this pilot?

The goal of this 2 year project is to see if employers, who know about an incident and claim early, can:

• More quickly identify and correct any safety issues.
• Consider accommondating the worker with transitional or light duty work during recovery, and
• Maintain the connection between worker and employer.