WASHINGTON: Important changes coming to L&I’s Stay at Work application process

By now you are likely familiar with Washington’s Labor and Industries (L&I) Stay at Work Program, which reimburses state-fund employers in Washington for light duty wages on a claim up to $10,000 or 66 days. L&I recently announced changes to the program that may have a significant impact on your ability to obtain reimbursements.

Effective September 15, 2014, the first date you send the job description to the provider is the first date that will be considered for reimbursement. This change means that it’s even more important than ever to have a solid return-to-work process in place so that you are prepared to send a job description as early as possible; preferably on the first treatment date. For example – if your worker returns to light duty work on August 1st, but you don’t send a job description to the provider for approval until September 1st, you have lost an entire month of reimbursement opportunity.

Other changes include updates related to paperwork requirements and the development of new reimbursement forms to make it easier and faster to apply for Stay at Work reimbursements. For more information about the program, please visit L&I’s Stay at Work website. If you have any questions or need help developing your procedures, don’t hesitate to call your Vigilant Claims Representative or Trish Leimbach at 800-733-8620.