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Minnesota’s Self-insured Workers’ Compensation Program The Minnesota Department of Administration – Workers’ Compensation Program administers all workers’ compensation claims filed by state employees; and seeks to resolve workers’ compensation cases in a fair, prompt, and equitable manner. If you’ve been injured or suffered an illness related to your work, the Workers’ Compensation Program staff will provide you with a wide range of services in accordance with workers’ compensation laws while also helping you to recover and return to work. Our goal is to process your workers’ compensation claim in a timely and accurate manner so that you receive your benefits promptly. We also use our resources and expertise to determine and inform you of your eligibility; to guide you toward proper medical care; and to provide you with vocational rehabilitation or job placement services as needed. We work with you and your supervisor, your agency’s Workers’ Compensation Coordinator and other staff in your department to ensure that you receive the services and benefits you need. This brochure outlines basic facts about what you can expect from the State Workers’ Compensation Program when you suffer an injury or illness related to your job. Please keep it for future reference, and don’t hesitate to contact your agency’s Workers’ Compensation Coordinator or the Workers’ Compensation Program at (651) 201-3000 if you have any questions. Your responsibilities As an employee receiving workers’ compensation benefits, your responsibilities include:
Your cooperation and active participation in these areas are critical to help us successfully handle your claim. We want you to receive prompt benefits and high-quality services to help you return to work quickly. Lack of cooperation on your part may delay benefits and your return to work. In some cases (such as failure to provide accurate information about your ability to return to work), a lack of cooperation may be viewed as fraud or abuse – and could lead to prosecution. Your eligibility The first step in managing your claim is to determine your eligibility for workers’ compensation benefits. This process begins with your timely report of your injury or illness to your supervisor, personnel officer or other designated person within your agency. Your agency will then prepare a First Report of Injury form, and forward it to the Workers’ Compensation Program. A copy of the First Report of Injury form along with a Minnesota Workers’ Compensation System Employee Information sheet will be sent to you by the Workers' Compensation Program. Next, we will investigate your claim to determine whether your injury or illness is work-related. This may involve our examination of recent medical reports. We may also request past medical records or confidential information not contained in your personnel file (we will ask you to sign a release form to allow us access to such information – prompt return of the signed form is necessary for speedy processing of your claim). Your eligibility for benefits will be determined by the results of this investigation. If our investigation shows that you are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, you will be notified. Your claim specialist (whose name and phone number will be provided to you in a letter after we receive your First Report of Injury) will work with you to ensure that you receive necessary medical care. Your claim specialist will also help you obtain other services necessary to help you recover and return to work. If we determine that you are not eligible for benefits, we will send you a letter informing you that your claim is denied. This letter will list the reason(s) for the denial of your claim. The most common reason for denial is a determination that the injury or illness is not work-related. Wage replacement benefits The State Workers’ Compensation Program will pay benefits to replace some of the wages you lose due to time away from the job because of your work-related injury or illness. Usually, these benefits are equal to two-thirds of your gross weekly wage at the time of your injury, subject to certain maximums and minimums. These benefits are not paid for the first three calendar days of your injury or illness unless your disability continues for 10 calendar days or longer. Your benefits must be paid or denied by us within 14 days from either the date of your injury, the first day of lost time from work, or the date on which you reported the injury to your employer, whichever is latest. After the initial payment, benefits are paid to you on a biweekly basis. If you have questions about how we compute your wage replacement benefits, or if your benefits are not paid promptly, your claim specialist is here to help you. If you need additional information, you may also call the Department of Labor and Industry, at (651) 284-5005 (or toll free at 800-342-5354) TTY (651) 297-4198. In Duluth and Northern Minnesota, you should call (218) 733-7810 (or toll free 800-365-4584). The Department of Labor and Industry oversees the administration of workers’ compensation benefits by all private and public employers in Minnesota. MS 176.178 states that any person, who, with intent to defraud, receives workers’ compensation benefits to which the person is not entitled by knowingly misrepresenting, misstating or failing to disclose any material fact is guilty of theft and shall be sentenced pursuant to section 609.52, subdivision 3. Returning to work One of the most important goals of the State Workers’ Compensation Program is to provide services that will help you return to work following your injury or illness. Our disability management and job placement coordinators will work with you, your agency, your claim specialist and your doctor to help you return to work as soon as possible. Your disability management coordinator may meet with you to gather information about your injury, learn about the functional ability guidelines recommended by your doctor, and discuss your plans to return to work. If necessary, your disability management coordinator will perform a job analysis (which is an assessment of the duties you are able to perform) and/or an evaluation of essential functions required to perform your pre-injury job, a modified job, or another job that may be available. Your disability management coordinator will also take the lead in creating an individualized plan that will help you set the course for your return to work. If your injury prevents you from returning to your pre-injury job, a job placement coordinator will help you find another suitable job. He or she will help you identify job leads (including leads to other state positions), coach you in job interview preparation, and assist you with testing and other assistance necessary to help you return to a suitable job. Health care services As your employer, the State of Minnesota wants you to receive high-quality, timely health care to treat your work-related injury or illness. The State Workers’ Compensation Program’s coordinated health care approach helps to ensure that all injured state workers have access to appropriate health care services. Minnesota state employees injured on the job use a managed health care system to receive quality medical care. The services offered include: nurse phone line, a 24-hour information and provider referral service; a provider network experienced in treating employees with work-related injuries; and, case management services provided in cooperation with your network provider. When injured, we request that you see an evaluating and treating physician at your agency designated clinic for your initial evaluation. Participating providers are required to evaluate your work-related injury within 24 hours of your request for treatment. Following the initial treatment or evaluation, you have the right to continue treating with the designated clinic; you may see another participating provider; or, you may treat with a non-participating provider, if you qualify for an exemption. Your claim specialist and other Workers’ Compensation Program staff can help you find the best health care professionals for your needs. If you have questions about health care services you are receiving for your work-related injury or illness, call your claim specialist. Any Questions Because he or she is most familiar with the details of your case, we encourage you to channel most questions about your workers’ compensation claim and benefits through your claim specialist. However, you may also contact staff in other areas of the State Workers’ Compensation Program by calling the following numbers:
You may also contact us with questions or comments by fax at (651) 297-5471; or by TTY at 711 (MN Relay). Or write (be sure to include your social security number and the name of your agency in all correspondence) to the State Workers’ Compensation Program at this address:
Department of Administration This brochure, printed on recycled paper, will be made available in alternative formats, such as tape, Braille, or large print, upon request.
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