Workers Compensation

Workers' Compensation is a state-mandated program, funded completely by the employer, and is designed to guarantee the payment of specified benefits to employees who are injured on the job. The District is self-insured for workers' compensation benefits, and such benefits are paid using district funds.

Benefits under Workers' Compensation are set by the State of California and are governed primarily by the Labor Code and Education Code. Claims are administrated by Corvel 858-300-2500, the district's third-party workers' compensation administrator.

Injury and Illness Incident and Investigation Report

Declination of Medical Treatment Form

For serious injuries to include when employee transported by ambulance, stayed overnight in hospital, or died.
All serious injuries resulting in overnight hospitalization or fatalities must be reported to Cal-Osha within 8 hours of serious injury or the district will be fined $5000. Therefore, contact Risk Management immediately to report all serious injuries so Risk Management may report. For serious injuries occurring after hours, the supervisor should report the serious injury to San Diego Regional Cal-Osha office at (619) 767-2280 within 8 hours of the injury, and advise Risk Management the call was made.

Map of Occupational Medical clinics
If medical treatment is necessary, the injured employee is to be referred to one of the Sharp Rees-Stealy medical facilities indicated on the attached map. Injured employees who wish to be treated by their private physician for work related injuries must have a written "pre-designation" on file with the District Risk Manager prior to an injury. The form may be obtained by contacting Risk Management.

Medical Provider Network (MPN)
The MPN is a network of primary care physicians who will treat for work related injuries. The primary care physicians within the MPN will provide the necessary and appropriate treatment. Injured employee's have a right to treat with any appropriate physician listed in the MPN. For additional information regarding the MPN and Pre-Designation of Personal Physician, refer to the MPN Notice here (English), o aqui (Español).

Access to a directory of medical providers in the workers' compensation administrator's MPN is available here. You can search by medical specialty, zip code, and physician or provider group. To receive a hard copy of the regional area listing or complete directory, please contact Corvel.

Work Restrictions
When employees are temporarily restricted from performing their essential job duties the supervisor should review the restrictions with the employee to determine if temporary transitional work is available. Employees are responsible for providing updated status reports from their workers' compensation physician indicating any work restrictions they may have. The goal of the transitional work assignment is to assist the employee in the transition from having temporary restrictions to full recovery while continuing to be a productive member of the department. Transitional duty is designed to be temporary and the accommodations and duration should be documented. Document requests and discussions regarding temporary accommodations (light duty) using this form Workers' Compensation Temporary / Modified Alternative Duty Agreement Form.

Temporary Disability (Lost work)
Employee provides Request for Leave of Absence form (on the Job Injury/Industrial Accident) along with signed updated status report from workers' compensation physician to supervisor or manager.

Permanent and Stationary
If the workers' compensation physician determines the employee is permanent and stationary (maximum medical improvement) and indicates the employee has permanent work restrictions the supervisor reviews the work restrictions to determine if they would preclude the employee from performing their job duties. If the restrictions appear to limit the employees ability to perform their job duties the employee should be engaged in the interactive process as required by the American with Disability Act (ADA). Refer to the Employment & Professional Development Office web page for additional information about the Interactive Process

Workers' Compensation Fraud
Any person who makes or causes to be made any knowingly false or fraudulent material statement or material representation for the purpose of obtaining or denying workers' compensation benefits or payments is guilty of a felony and may be fined and imprisoned.

If you suspect any fraudulent activity, contact Risk Management.

Workers' Compensation Fraud Poster

Division of Industrial Relations
http://www.dir.ca.gov/dwc/WCFaqIW.html