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Catastrophic Industrial Injury Benefits in Washington Include: Artificial Eyes pursuant to RCW 51.36.020(2) and (3) Prosthetics and Limb Replacements pursuant to RCW 51.36.020(2) and (3) Tooth Restoration and Implants pursuant to RCW 51.36.020(3) Eyeglasses and Lenses Restored or Replaced Pursuant to RCW 51.36.020(4) Hearing Aids pursuant to RCW 51.36.020(4) Crutches,…
Someday soon, but not quite yet. In a legal challenge filed by Washington Law Center, the statutory prohibition against posting IME exam audio or video recording to social media has been struck down as unconstitutional under both the Washington State and United States Constitutions. However, the order striking it down…
Even if your doctor has formally recommended a surgery, getting authorization from L&I can be challenging for injured workers in Washington. This is not only frustrating, but the delay in your much-needed medical treatment may pose a harmful risk. Spencer Parr, Partner at Washington Law Center, has provided some clear…
Many injured workers, especially those residing out of state, encounter medical providers who are unfamiliar with Washington state’s workers’ compensation rules so it is essential to understand your rights when it comes to medical bills related to your care. Washington State’s Medical Treatment Fee Schedule All medical expenses related to…
Understanding Subsection 4 of RCW 51.36.070 Under the new legislation, injured workers in Washington State now have several important rights when it comes to recording their IME exams: Subsection 4(a) – Right to Record the IME Exam This grants injured workers the right to record audio/video during their IME…
May an Injured Worker Audio or Video Record an IME Exam? Yes. Pursuant to RCW 51.36.070(4), effective in law as of July 23, 2023, an injured worker may audio or video record an IME examination if the worker has given not less than seven calendar days of notice to the…
Yes, an injured worker can file a written dispute that an IME examination is not appropriate under applicable IME scheduling rules. The Department of Labor & Industries will investigate and may cancel the exam if a correct dispute is filed greater than 15 days prior to the noticed exam. Do…
What is a Posthumous Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) Award? A posthumous PPD award is an entitlement of an injured worker’s survivors to claim an amount of permanent partial disability (PPD) payment equal to what the worker should have received had they not died prior to their L&I claim closure. Not…
New Washington Administrative Code (WAC) rules that set guidelines for independent medical examinations (IME) take effect on April 23, 2022. These rules were created and/or updated to support ESSB 6440, passed during the 2019-2020 legislative session. ESSB 6440 was passed unanimously by the legislature in response to abusive IME practices,…
On June 30, 2021, Washington Law Center learned that dozens of our injured worker clients were potentially affected by a data breach reportedly suffered as the result of a ransomware attack perpetrated against Pacific Market Research, a data collection firm hired by the Department of Labor & Industries.