| The
Workers’ Compensation Division is part of the Department of Consumer and Business
Services. |
|
The
main office is located at:
350 Winter St. NE
PO Box 14480
Salem, OR 97309-0405
Workers'
Compensation field office:
1840 Barnett Rd., Ste C
Medford, OR 97405-8293
|
The
Workers’ Compensation Division (WCD) administers and enforces Oregon’s workers’
compensation laws. WCD works to ensure that employers provide coverage for their workers,
that workers with occupational injuries or diseases receive their entitled benefits,
and that parties are provided with resources and procedures for fair resolution of disputes.
This regulatory responsibility is balanced with fair and consistent policies that encourage
a healthy business climate for companies regulated by the division.
WCD administers several specially-funded reserves designed to benefit employers and workers.
Notable among these is the Workers’
Benefit Fund, which provides incentives to employers in the form of reduced workers’
compensation and operation costs for employers reemploying injured workers.
Read about the history of workers’ compensation in Oregon. |
| |
| |
|
Administration:
The Administrator’s Office
|
|
Provides
policy direction and leadership for the division including rulemaking, budget
development, and execution, strategic plan implementation, and legislation.
Read about our Administrator and Deputy
Administrator. |
| |
| |
| |
|
Benefit
Services Section: overview
Consists
of the Appellate Review Unit and the Employment
Service Team.
|
|
Resolves disputes
through mediation and administrative orders. |
|
Provides in-depth
consultations on reemployment, vocational, and reconsideration issues with insurers,
medical providers, workers, attorneys, employers, and managed care organizations (MCOs). |
|
Provides community
education about preferred worker, vocational, and appellate processes/rules. |
|
Administers
and provides reemployment incentive programs, such as worksite modification, wage subsidy,
and premium exemption; and subsidizes the cost of equipment and other related items required
for employment. |
|
Informs and
educates workers and employers about the workers’ compensation system and the processes
that affect benefits. |
|
Resolves complaints;
answers telephone inquiries; and conducts personal interviews regarding vocational, disability,
and compensation benefits, suspected system abuse, appeal processes, and irregularities
of claims processing. |
| |
| |
| |
|
Compliance
Section: Consists of the Benefits
& Certification, Field Audit, Investigations
& Sanctions, and Employer Compliance
units, in addition to the Contested
Cases Team.
|
|
|
Supervises
and enforces laws and rules relating to claims processing by private insurers, self-insured
employers, and SAIF Corporation. |
|
|
Enforces laws
requiring employers to obtain and maintain workers' compensation coverage for their employees. |
|
|
Certifies
employer leasing companies and self-insured employers. |
|
|
Investigates
complaints against employers, insurers, vocational providers, medical providers, and
worker leasing companies. |
|
|
Authorizes
reimbursement from the department's various reserves. |
|
|
Informs and
educates workers and employers about the workers' compensation system and the processes
that affect benefits. |
|
|
Resolves complaints;
answers telephone inquiries; and conducts personal interviews regarding vocational, medical,
disability, and compensation benefits, suspected system abuse, appeal processes, and
irregularities of claims processing. |
| |
| |
| |
|
Medical
Section: Consists of the Medical
Review, Medical Certifications, and Outreach Services Teams.
|
| |
The Medical
Section is responsible for improving the delivery and affordability of medical services
in workers' compensation. It works to achieve it's mission by: |
|
Reviewing
insurer's decision regarding medical services, and resolves disputes. |
|
Helping various
stakeholders understand medical benefits and payments in the workers compensation through
trainging and direct-service delivery. |
|
Working with
medical providers to answer questions and provide education about the workers' compensation
system. |
|
Working with
division staff and stakeholders to develop administrative rules. |
|
Providing
research support, along with the Information Management Division, to the Medical
Advisory Committee, which advises the director of the Department of Consumer and
Business Services on medical issues. |
|
Regulating
managed care within the workers' compensation system. |
|
Certifying
certain providers that participate in the system. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Provides central
library, reception, files, mail, and word processing support. |
|
|
Manages division
information resources, purchasing, data processing, space planning, and relocations.
|
| |
| |
| |
|
Policy
& Communications Section: overview
|
|
|
Provides expertise
to the administrator, program managers, and MLAC on issues involving an understanding
of statutes, administrative rules, and case law; coordinates legal issues; and acts as
liaison with DOJ counsel. |
|
|
Promotes consistency
throughout Oregon Administrative Rules, Chapter 436; rules coordinator serves as a central
point of contact with the Secretary of State. |
|
|
Facilitates
the development of consistent policies across Section and Unit lines. |
|
|
Creates and
revises instructional bulletins and forms. |
| |
| |
| |
For
additional information, see our Fact
Sheets.
Other programs within DCBS also deal with aspects of the workers’ compensation system.
Working together, these programs have slashed Oregon’s workers’ compensation
premiums.
Oregon Occupational Safety and Health
Division
Workers’ Compensation
Board
Ombudsman for Injured Workers
Ombudsman for Small Business
Management-Labor Advisory Committee
Insurance Division |
