1	OWCP Interagency Meeting February 28, 2012 Gary Steinberg Acting OWCP Director
2	POWER Initiative FY 2011- FY 2014 1: Reduce Total Case Rate 2: Reduce Lost Time Case Rate 3: Analyze Lost Time Case Data 4: Increase Timely Filing of Claims 5: Increase Timely Filing of Wage Loss Claims 6: Reduce Lost Production Days 7: Increase Return to Work Rate (only 14 agencies with significant case volumes)
3	POWER: First Year Results All Govt (less USPS) Met All Targets
4	POWER: FY 2011 Results
5	POWER: Goal 7, RTW Tracks 14 Federal agencies with most significant numbers of disability cases In FY 2011, 13 of 14 agencies met RTW targets OWCP holding discussions with all 14 agencies on stretch goals Report of tracked RTW cases provided by OWCP upon agency request
6	POWER Council The Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) established the POWER Return to Work Council to serve as a forum for discussion and exchange of best practices in the area of return to work; to review the results of analytical studies on return to work and promote sharing and implementation of best practices identified; and to form a bridge between the workers’ compensation and disability hiring personnel and establish a continuity of practice for the sharing of information, ideas and experiences.
7	POWER Council RTW POWER Council established and had first meeting on September 21, 2011. Meetings held quarterly 14 POWER Agencies OSHA, ODEP, OPM ad hoc members
8	POWER Council Council is chaired by Gary Steinberg Includes Workers’ Compensation Program Managers and senior level executives from each of the 14 RTW agencies
9	Other RTW Efforts Schedule A pilot project Use of Schedule A authority on voluntary basis for claimant to return to Federal employment Study of RTW best practices Currently underway Conducted in conjunction with ODEP Selected agencies being contacted
10	FECA Reform Goals/Impacts Improve Return to Work Processes and Incentives Increases employment opportunities for disabled workers Make FECA more equitable Update certain benefits to reflect current costs Modernize FECA and Strengthen operational aspects of the program Cost Savings ($400 million + over a 10 year period is a conservative estimate) Prospective Only- Changes would only affect new claims for injuries and disability.
11	Vocational Rehabilitation Assisted Reemployment Expands vocational rehabilitation to all eligible claimants; not just those permanently disabled. Where appropriate, creates a return to work plan within 6 months of injury; encourages earlier involvement critical to returning injured employees to work. Increases employer incentives to hire FECA claimants (Assisted Reemployment) by: Expanding OWCP authority to reimburse Federal agencies who hire previously injured workers; FECA currently allows reimbursement to private employers. If an employee suffers a recurrence of the original injury, it will not be charged back to the new employing agency during 3 year assisted reemployment period, removes disincentive to hire that worker.
12	SSA RETIREMENT AGE Conversion Benefit Propose to reduce FECA benefits to 50% at normal Social Security retirement age, closer mirroring retirement level for federal employees, not a full wage loss benefit A claimant receiving conversion benefit will not be subject to forfeiture for failure to report earnings; to seek/accept suitable employment; or to participate in vocational rehabilitation. MUST STILL ESTABLISH DISABILITY.
13	Creates Basic Compensation Rate/Modernizes Benefits and Practices Single 70% benefit level for ALL claimants receiving wage loss. Simplifies the pay rate determination process. Burial Costs - Increases maximum amount for burial expenses from $800.00 to $6,000.00, adjusted annually for cost of living. Average cost of burial expenses in 2011 is approximately $6,500. Facial Disfigurement - Raises maximum payment from $3,500 to $50,000, adjusted annually for cost of living. Physician Assistant and Nurse Practitioners will be allowed to certify disability during the Continuation of Pay period. Schedule award for impairment to body part– to be paid in a lump sum in addition to wage loss compensation at 70% of the current pay for GS-11, Step 3) for ALL claimants.
14	Technical Changes Allows OWCP to match records of FECA beneficiaries with SSA earning records. Moves the three-day waiting to the beginning of the Continuation of Pay (COP) period. Allows OWCP to recoup costs of COP from a claimant’s recovery from a third party. Provides that an employee eligible for both FECA and OPM benefits may not retroactively elect FECA benefits for a period for which s/he was paid retirement benefits.
15	House Passed Version (H.R. 2465) Allows nurse practitioners and physicians’ assistants to certify disability during the first 45 days of injury Increases awards for facial disfigurement to $50K Increases burial allowance from $600 to $6000 Allows for 3^rd party subrogation of claims to collect wages paid during COP Extends COP period for fed. civilians deployed in Zones of Armed Conflict Specifically defines coverage for injuries arising from acts of terror
16	Senate Committee Version Retrospective with grandfather provisions Creates a 50% conversion benefit rate at retirement Lowers basic rate to 66 2/3, but increases disfigurement and burial benefits and allows for concurrent receipt of schedule awards Allows for concurrent receipt of wage loss compensation and scheduled awards Establishes new requirements for independent medical exams to verify continued disability and entitlement. Includes expanded requirements for program integrity
17	Working Together To Improve FECA