Form 28 for Fiscal Year 2017

The Form 28 for Fiscal Year 2017 is now available on the Department of Labor's website.

http://labor.vermont.gov/wordpress/wp-content/uploads//Form28FY17FillIn.pdf

As of July 1, 2016, the new State of Vermont minimum compensation rate is $420.00 per week, and the new State of Vermont maximum compensation rate is $1,259.00 per week.

Please make sure that you file a Form 28 for accepted claims in which the Claimant has been out of work for at least 26 weeks prior to July 1, 2016.

Registration for Spring Adjusters' Conference is Live!!

Registration for the Spring Adjusters' Conference is Live!  The Conference is set for May 19 and 20, 2016 at the Hilton Hotel in Burlington Vermont.  

Please see below the links to register for the conference and to book rooms at the hotel.  We look forward to seeing you all for another great conference!

http://www.cvent.com/d/cfqq43/4W

http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/groups/personalized/B/BTTVTHF-DOL-20160518/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG

Group Name:	VT DOL WC Adjusters
Group Code:	DOL
Check-in:	18-MAY-2016
Check-out:	20-MAY-2016
Hotel Name:	Hilton Burlington
Hotel Address:	60 Battery Street
	Burlington, Vermont
	05401
Phone Number:	802-658-6500

What does "within 21 days" mean? Filing a Timely Denial

Rule 3.2200 of the Vermont Workers’ Compensation and Occupational Disease Rules states that “[t]he employer or insurance carrier shall have 21 days (measured from the date on which the employer received notice or knowledge of a claimed work-related injury) within which to determine whether any compensation is due. If it determines that no compensation is due, within 21 days after receiving notice or knowledge of the injury, it shall file a Denial of Workers’ Compensation Benefits (Form 2) with the Commissioner and the injured worker.”  Rule 3.2200 (emphasis added). 

A question has been raised at the Department of Labor regarding the phrase “within 21 days” and whether that means that the Form 2 denial must be received by the Department of Labor within the 21 day period or whether the Form 2 denial must be postmarked by the 21^st day.  With the tight time frames that apply to employers and carriers, it is very important to understand the Department of Labor’s understanding of the Rules to which employers and carriers will be held accountable.  We have been advised by the Department of Labor that the Department considers Rule 3.2200 to mean that the Form 2 denial is timely if it is received by the Department of Labor on or before the 21^st day.   A Form 2 denial, therefore, is not timely if it is postmarked on the 21^st day.  For many employers and carriers, this may mean a significant shift in how denials are handled.

When asked whether filing the Form 2 denial itself via email on the 21^st day is sufficient to meet the Department’s standards, the response was that it should be sufficient to email the Form 2 denial to the Specialist assigned to the file, even if there are additional medical records and documentation that have to be sent via regular mail due to size (Rule 3.3000 states that attachments greater than 20 pages in length must be sent either via disc or hard copy by regular mail). 

If you are sending out a Form 2 denial either shortly before or on the 21^st day after notice or knowledge of the claim, it is advisable to send the Form 2 denial and up to 20 pages of supporting documentation via email to the Specialist handling the file.  If you have larger attachments that must be sent by regular mail, let the Specialist know that there are additional documents coming by regular mail.  It is unclear at this point whether this will be sufficient to meet the “within 21 days” standard, but it is necessary to cover your bases to make sure that the denial is timely. 

Please see below the current assignment of files at the Department of Labor:

The new schedule for assigned claims is as follows and shall remain in effect until further notice.  Any State File Numbers ending in -0 or -9 (e.g.: HH-67250 or HH-67259) will be assigned to staff based on the next number immediately preceding the -0 or -9 (e.g.:  HH-67250 or HH-67259 would go to Julie Mercier as a -5 claim).

Assigned Specialist II            Assigned Specialist I                    

-1        Anne Coutermarsh                                             Shirley Houghton

-2        Anne Coutermarsh                                             Shirley Houghton

-6        Anne Coutermarsh                                             Wendell Sargent

-3        Mary Sarazin                                                          Muriel Landis

-4        Mary Sarazin                                                          Muriel Landis

-5        Julie Mercier                                                         Muriel Landis

-7        Julie Charonko                                                      Wendell Sargent

-8        Julie Charonko                                                      Wendell Sargent

Last chance to register for the fall Adjusters' Conference!!!

The dates for the conference to be held at the Hilton Hotel, Burlington, Vermont are October 22^ndand 23^rd.  The seminars begin at 12:30pm Thursday the 22 and conclude at noon on the 23^rd.  Please note the times of the conference and make certain that travel arrangements do not conflict with the start and end times.  Attendees must be present for the whole conference. 

Additionally, this is the last conference of the biennium.  If people have not been in 2014 or 2015 they need to register and attend. 

The link for the conference registration is:

http://www.cvent.com/d/2rq5yf/4W

Any questions regarding registration should be directed to:

Delaney Meeting & Event Management

One Mill St. #315

Burlington, VT 05401

Phone (802) 865-5202

Fax (802) 865-8066

UPDATED SCHEDULE: More webinars added for Highlights of the New Workers' Compensation Rules

Highlights of the New Vermont Workers' Compensation Rules occurs several times and two additional time slots were added. Please register for the date and time that works best for you:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/3243295787674604545

This two hour webinar will review some of the recent changes to the Vermont Workers' Compensation Rules that went into effect August 1, 2015. The seminar is presented by Ryan Smith & Carbine, Ltd.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Brought to you by GoToWebinar®
Webinars Made Easy®

Highlights of the New Vermont Workers' Compensation Rules Webinars

We have set up five different webinars on the new workers' compensation rules starting next week.

Highlights of the New Vermont Workers' Compensation Rules webinars will occur several times. Please register for the date and time that works best for you:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/8526696549103107330

This two hour webinar will review some of the recent changes to the Vermont Workers' Compensation Rules that went into effect August 1, 2015. The seminar is presented by Ryan Smith & Carbine, Ltd.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Brought to you by GoToWebinar®
Webinars Made Easy®

Vermont Workers' Compensation Adjusters Continuing Education Conference Registration Opens

Registration is now open for the Vermont Workers’ Compensation Adjusters Continuing Education Conference to be held this fall. 

The dates for the conference to be held at the Hilton Hotel, Burlington, Vermont are October 22^nd and 23^rd.  The seminars begin at 12:30pm Thursday the 22 and conclude at noon on the 23^rd.  Please note the times of the conference and make certain that travel arrangements do not conflict with the start and end times.  Attendees must be present for the whole conference. 

Additionally, this is the last conference of the biennium.  If people have not been in 2014 or 2015 they need to register and attend. 

The link for the conference registration is:

http://www.cvent.com/d/2rq5yf/4W

Any questions regarding registration should be directed to:

Delaney Meeting & Event Management

One Mill St. #315

Burlington, VT 05401

Phone (802) 865-5202

Fax (802) 865-8066