Stay at Work Program
A Financial Incentive for
Washington Employers
King County Fire Chiefs Association
May 15, 2013
What is “Stay at Work?”
A legislatively mandated (EHB 2123) program
providing financial incentives for State Fund Employers
providing light duty or transitional work to employees
recovering from on-the-job injuries.
WAC 296-16A-020 through 296-16A-050
The Golden Rule
You don’t get injured workers
well to put them back to work,
you put them back to work
to get them well.
Richard Pimentel
Milt Wright & Associates
2
Long-term claims drive claim cost in
Washington
 9% of claims account for 85% of costs
 The average cost of a medical only claim is $1,300 (73%
of claims).
 The average cost of a short-term* time-loss claim is
$11,000 (70% of time-loss claims)
 The average cost of all time-loss claims is $74,000.
 The average cost of a time-loss claim that goes to
pension is $760,000 (6% of time-loss claims)
Data based on accident year ending 9/30/2011
*less than 90 days of time-loss
3
Most injured workers either return to
work quickly or stay in the system a
long-time.
This L&I study followed
injured workers from
accident years 20072009 through two years
in Employment Security
Department data on
employment.
Distribution of Claims by Return to Work Status within 8 quarters,
All Compensable Claims
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
81.8
1
9.3
3.8
1.8
2
3
1.1
0.7
0.6
4
5
6
quarters from injury qrtr
0.5
0.4
7
8
No RTW
State-fund, compensable claims in 2 yrs
4
L&I Programs supporting early
return to work
 Washington Stay at Work program
 Specialized Early Return to Work staff in regions
 Claim manager training on setting expectations for return
to work
 Medical provider training on their role in return to work
 Retro groups focus on supporting early return to work
and light duty programs
5
What are the benefits of Return-to-Work?
Employee
 Reduce recovery time
 Reduce concern of potential job
loss
 Retain regular salary
 Retain regular benefits / sick leave
 Reduce secondary
complications (depression)
 Improve overall morale
 Family/Social lifestyle maintained
 Avoid “Disability Syndrome”
Employer
 Retain trained & experienced
worker/workforce
 Avoid replacement/training
costs
 Maintain productivity
 Improve overall work ethic
 Foster better
communication/relationships
with employee
 Reduce potential for
fraud/abuse
 Potential to reduce premium
6
Health effects of “worklessness”:
• 2-3 times the risk of poor health
• 2-3 times the risk of mental illness
• Significant increased risk of depression
• Significant increase in overall mortality rate
Long term “worklessness” carries more risk to health
than many “killer diseases” and more risk than most dangerous
jobs. (e.g. construction, working on an oil rig)
Source: Journal of Insurance Medicine
7
More reasons to utilize light duty:
• Injured workers who are off longer than 6 months have
only a 50% chance of ever returning to their job.*
• Compensable claims on average cost 37x more than noncompensable claims. **
• Nationally, compensable claims on average cost 44x more
than non-compensable claims. ***
Source: *Defense Civilian Personnel Advisory Service
**WA State Department of Labor & Industries.
***National Council for Compensation Insurance
8
What reimbursements are available
for employers?
•
Wages
•
Training
•
Tools/Equipment
•
Clothing
9
Wage Reimbursement

Pays
– 50% of base wage
– Excluding tips, commissions, bonuses, board, housing, fuel, health care,
dental care, vision care, per diem, reimbursement for work-related
expenses or any other payments.

For
– Up to 66 days actually worked (not necessarily consecutive)
– Up to $10,000 (whichever comes first.)
– 24-month period per claim

And
– Employer has 1 year to apply from first day of light duty or transitional
work
– Reimbursements are per claim
10
KOS & Stay at Work
 The employer can apply for reimbursement ONLY
for the hours the employee is ACTUALLY working light
duty.
 You will need to keep track of the hours the worker is
working light duty.
11
Early Return to Work Assistance
•
We utilize our staff located at our regional L&I offices
statewide to assist with return to work. These staff
include nurses, occupational/physical therapists and
vocational specialists.
•
There is no cost to the claim for this
assistance.
12
Training Reimbursement

For training necessary for the light duty or
transitional work
Tuition
•
Books
•
Fees
•
Other necessary materials
•

$1,000 per claim
13
Clothing Reimbursement
 Clothing
• $400 per claim
• Becomes property of the worker
14
Tools/Equipment Reimbursement
 Tools/Equipment
•
$2,500 per claim

Tools and equipment become the property of the
employer
15
Important Reminders
• You may offer the worker more than one transitional job
within the 66 days if approved by medical provider.
• Worker may continue the job beyond the 66 days, but
the subsidy can’t continue.
• Claim must be allowed.
• Labor & Industries will reimburse eligible return to work
costs incurred as of May 15, 2012.*
*1 yr to request reimbursement
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Important Reminders
• As always, make sure that the worker and the supervisor
are aware of the work restrictions and do not exceed
them.
• Continue any health care benefits the worker had unless
these benefits are inconsistent with the employers
current benefit program for their workers.
• Job offer must be consistent with terms of collective
bargaining agreement currently in force.
17
The Stay at Work Webpage
18
Total Reimbursements to date*:
•
•
•
•
Wages :
Training :
Clothing :
Tools/Equipment:
$ 12,703,047.56
$
9,033.42
$
1,667.90
$
80,144.21
•
Grand Total:
$ 12,793,893.09
*as of 05/14/13
19
January 2012 – April 2013 Data Report
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Where to find more information
about the Stay at Work Program?
•
Our website at:
www.stayatwork.lni.wa.gov
•
E-mail the Stay at Work Unit at:
[email protected]
•
Call the Stay at Work Unit at: 1-866-406-2482 or
360-902-4411
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Thank you for your interest!
 Call or E-mail:
 Michell Cartwright, BA, WCA 3 – Employer Outreach
[email protected] (360)902-4978
 Bill Smith, MS, MBA, CRC - Program Manager
[email protected] (360)902-4748
 Christopher Ver Eecke, M.Ed, CRC, CCM, CDMS
Vocational Outreach 360.902.4419
[email protected]
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Questions?