Work Cover Authority, NSW
Information you may not know!
By Peter Tuchin

Under changes to the Workplace Injury Management Act 2002, the workers compensation insurance company (or self insurer) is required to pay for “reasonably necessary” treatment services, which have been specified on the injury management plan. The insurance company may pay for these services, prior to a decision being made regarding whether or not to accept liability for the claim.

However, the chiropractor/osteopath needs to contact the insurer ASAP to determine whether the insurer will accept liability for the claim. Also, the chiropractor/osteopath needs to submit a plan if there will be more than 10 visits in the treatment schedule.

General Practitioner Training
Currently GP’s are attending WorkCover training sessions (run through the divisions of general practice) on management of back pain. The information they receive includes the evidence for treatments, which includes statements that spinal manipulation has support in the literature and therefore is an appropriate form of treatment for GPs to consider. The information also states that the literature for some physiotherapy modalities does not show strong evidence.

A link to the GP document is: www.answd.com.au/wc/pdf/guidelines3.pdf

General practitioners, in consultation with the Injured Worker (IW), need to select the most appropriate person to provide treatment services and then refer the IW to that person. The GP should state this on the referral to ensure it is recorded in the injury management plan kept by the insurer.

Injured workers CAN self-refer to treatment service providers. The provider needs to consult the insurer prior to delivery of services being made regarding whether or not to accept liability for the claim.

Job Cover
Placement programs are available for injured workers if they are able to find another employer to employ them after their injury. If the IW feels they are unable to return to their pre-injury duties, then there are a number of incentive programs for employers who take on injured employees.

Future goals for WCA are;

• Insurers are to more actively support injured workers back to good health.
• 10% improvement in return-to-work(RTW) rates by 2004/05.
• Provide tailored assistance to unemployed IW by using employment agencies, who specialise in placing long-term unemployed people back into the workforce.
• Make better use of health professionals such as physiotherapists, chiropractors and general practitioners when developing RTW duties.

Other links to useful information on WCA:

• www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/html/wcomp/pdf/c_prov_claim.pdf
• Return to work guidelines: www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/pdf/rtw_guide.pdf
• Injury management information: www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/injury_management.asp
• Industry relation groups: www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/html/irg/irg_index.asp

NB This information may only be useful for NSW based chiropractors and osteopaths, as legislation is different in each state/territory.

Peter Tuchin has joined WorkCover Authority(WCA) NSW, as a Team Leader, in the Workplace Injury Management Branch. One of his duties is to assess injury management programs of some of Australia’s largest corporations. These include: NAB, Coles Myer, Woolworths, Westpac, Goodman Fielder, State Rail Authority, State Transit, Brambles, etc.

Contact: peter.tuchin@workcover.nsw.gov.au.