The purpose of the Workers' Compensation Act is to provide compensation to an employee for the loss of his or her opportunity to engage in work, when the disability is occasioned by an injury suffered from an accident arising out of and during the course of their employment.

Reporting Work-Related Injuries

An injured employee is required to immediately report an accident or illness to the direct supervisor. Upon the employee's notification of the injury to the departmental supervisor, the department is required to offer the employee a Workers' Compensation Panel of Physicians:

• On Campus Departments: The employee must select a physician from the panel of physicians for treatment by completing the Panel Physician Selection form.
• Off-campus departments: Please click here and fill in all required information to receive a listing of physicians in your area, have the employee select a physician by completing the Panel Physician Selection form.

The department must submit the signed Panel Physician Selection form to the Benefit's Office (179 Southgate Center, Blacksburg VA 24061) or fax to (540)231-3830.

Those employees needing immediate medical treatment for serious injuries may visit the Emergency Room and will need to report the injury as Workers' Compensation at the time treatment is received. All follow-up treatment must be provided by a Workers' Compensation panel physician.

Once an employee reports a job-related injury, the supervisor must immediately file the Employer's Accident Report, Form VWC No. 3 (revised 12/27/01). The Employer's Accident Report must be e-mailed to Teresa Lyons (tlyons@vt.edu) AND Kathy Gibson (gibsonk@vt.edu) within 24 hours of the date/time of the injury. A claims adjuster from Managed Care Innovations, our Workers' Compensation carrier, will be assigned to handle the claim.

Prescriptions

• A card can be downloaded here. This form will be given to the pharmacy and most all pharmacies participate. There is also a link to find a pharmacy.
• Prescriptions for Workers' Compensation prescriptions may be paid directly by the employee and reimbursed by our Workers' Compensation carrier in an approved claim
• The employee will need to submit to the Benefits office the pharmacy receipt (usually stapled to the bag)
• A computer printout signed by the pharmacist that shows patient information, name of the medication, the prescribing doctor, the amount prescribed and the prescription cost is acceptable
• Please note that a cash register receipt will not suffice for requesting reimbursement

Mileage Reimbursement

Employees may complete a mileage reimbursement form to report travel for medical visits relating to the Workers' Compensation injury. Forms may be requested from your Benefits Office at (540) 231-7778 or (540)231-3463.

Job Restrictions

It is the employee's responsibility to submit disability slips or job duty restrictions as authorized by the panel doctor to the departmental supervisor. The supervisor must submit the original disability slip for lost workdays to the Benefits Office. Please note that it is necessary to submit disability slips in a timely manner for accurate leave reporting purposes. The University will not accept retroactive disability slips.

Return to Work

Our Return to Work Coordinator, Teresa Lyons, will be assigned to work closely with injured employees, treating physicians and departments to facilitate transitional duty assignments until the goal of full duty is obtained. A Physical Capabilities Form is required for all medical visits except for x-ray, MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), and Physical Therapy. The employee can obtain this form from his/her supervisor and should do so prior to a medical appointment. The employee will give the form to the physician for completion. This form must be returned to the employee's supervisor within 24 hours of the medical visit. Faxed copies will be accepted.

Non-Medical Injuries

Departments should submit the Employers' Accident Report as an "Incident Only" even if medical treatment is not required at the time of injury. To file the report as an "Incident Only", please indicate on line #44 of the Employers' Accident Report (VWC Form No. 3, rev. 12/27/01) that the employee did not see a physician.

Questions regarding the Workers' Compensation program may be directed to the following:

• University Benefits Office at Southgate Center, Kathy Gibson (540) 231-7778 or Teresa Lyons (540) 231-3463
• Managed Care Innovations in Richmond (804) 649-2288