Back to School Program
A School District’s Guide to Success for Return to Work Efforts
Back to School Program WORKERS COMPENSATION RISK RETENTION PROGRAM Montana Schools Group Insurance Authority PO Box 7029 Helena, MT 59604 Tel: (406) 457-4500 Fax: (406) 457-4505 Toll Free: 1 (877) 667-7392 Website: www.msgia.org
Back to School Program
The MSGIA has school district-specific early return to work plans which are easily adapted to fit your school district. This program gives your district the tools to gain better control over your premium costs and better assist you in getting your valued employees back where they belong— working productively in your school district. Did you know? The
American Medical Association’s Resolution encourages its members to release employees to work as soon as they are medically able. Injured employees off work longer than six months have only a 50% chance of ever returning to their job. If the time period exceeds one year, their chances decrease to less than 10%!
Early
return to work opportunities help workers heal by re-establishing their connection to gainful, meaningful employment. It re-establishes their ability to contribute and achieve. Early return to work opportunities have statistically been proven to dramatically reduce the total cost associated with more significant workplace injuries in the following areas.
The MSGIA has established a new grant to assist its members with return to work opportunities for your employees. Introducing the MSGIA “Back to School Program” Here is how it works:
An injured employee is released to return to work by their physician with restrictions, however the employee is unable to perform all aspects of their time of injury job as a result of the physical restrictions
The District, the Treating Physician, the employee and MSGIA Claims Adjuster work together to outline the modified position/duties the employee can perform for at least a portion of their regularly scheduled work shift
The MSGIA Claims Adjuster verifies the employee is eligible to claim Temporary Partial Disability Benefits under their workers’ compensation claim
During the modified duty period, the injured employee claims Temporary Partial Disability benefits under their workers’ compensation claim with the MSGIA for the wages related to the hours they are not working and the District pays the injured employee for the hours worked
At the end of the modified duty (released to full duty) or after 90 days of modified duty, whichever occurs first, the District submits a request for reimbursement of the wages paid to the injured employee during the modified duty period
The MSGIA issues reimbursement directly to the District
The maximum period of reimbursement is 90 days per claim. The maximum grant award per claim is calculated for actual hours worked during the 90 calendar day period immediately following the treating physician’s release to return to work with documented restrictions. Modified duty hours worked outside this initial 90 day window are not reimbursable under the MSGIA’s “Back to School Program”
Maximum reimbursement rate per week is based upon 75% of the injured employees average weekly wage (established based upon the gross wages at the time of or prior to the injury)
The MSGIA’s “Back to School Program” is a grant and reimbursement is issued on a first come first served basis as long as grant funds are available
The District must provide written verification of wages paid to the injured employee during the modified duty period
Additional procedures and guidelines:
The MSGIA “Back to School Program” only applies to claims where the MSGIA has accepted liability or agrees to pay wage loss benefits
Why have an Early Return to Work and Stay at Work Program? After accident prevention, a Stay at Work or Early Return to Work program is a District’s best tool to control Workers’ Compensation costs and reduce losses. Early Return to Work programs have been proven to work in state agencies, the public sector and private firms across the nation. The MSGIA’s “Back to School Program” is designed to accelerate the natural healing process for an injured worker, the injured workers’ family, and the District. Stay at Work or Early Return to Work programs are in the best interest of the injured employees and will lead to cost savings for the District.
Back to School Program WORKERS COMPENSATION RISK RETENTION PROGRAM Montana Schools Group Insurance Authority PO Box 7029 Helena, MT 59604 Tel: (406) 457-4500 Fax: (406) 457-4505 Toll Free: 1 (877) 667-7392 Website: www.msgia.org
Back to School Program
The MSGIA has school district-specific early return to work plans which are easily adapted to fit your school district. This program gives your district the tools to gain better control over your premium costs and better assist you in getting your valued employees back where they belong— working productively in your school district. Did you know? The
American Medical Association’s Resolution encourages its members to release employees to work as soon as they are medically able. Injured employees off work longer than six months have only a 50% chance of ever returning to their job. If the time period exceeds one year, their chances decrease to less than 10%!
Early
return to work opportunities help workers heal by re-establishing their connection to gainful, meaningful employment. It re-establishes their ability to contribute and achieve. Early return to work opportunities have statistically been proven to dramatically reduce the total cost associated with more significant workplace injuries in the following areas.
The MSGIA has established a new grant to assist its members with return to work opportunities for your employees. Introducing the MSGIA “Back to School Program” Here is how it works:
An injured employee is released to return to work by their physician with restrictions, however the employee is unable to perform all aspects of their time of injury job as a result of the physical restrictions
The District, the Treating Physician, the employee and MSGIA Claims Adjuster work together to outline the modified position/duties the employee can perform for at least a portion of their regularly scheduled work shift
The MSGIA Claims Adjuster verifies the employee is eligible to claim Temporary Partial Disability Benefits under their workers’ compensation claim
During the modified duty period, the injured employee claims Temporary Partial Disability benefits under their workers’ compensation claim with the MSGIA for the wages related to the hours they are not working and the District pays the injured employee for the hours worked
At the end of the modified duty (released to full duty) or after 90 days of modified duty, whichever occurs first, the District submits a request for reimbursement of the wages paid to the injured employee during the modified duty period
The MSGIA issues reimbursement directly to the District
The maximum period of reimbursement is 90 days per claim. The maximum grant award per claim is calculated for actual hours worked during the 90 calendar day period immediately following the treating physician’s release to return to work with documented restrictions. Modified duty hours worked outside this initial 90 day window are not reimbursable under the MSGIA’s “Back to School Program”
Maximum reimbursement rate per week is based upon 75% of the injured employees average weekly wage (established based upon the gross wages at the time of or prior to the injury)
The MSGIA’s “Back to School Program” is a grant and reimbursement is issued on a first come first served basis as long as grant funds are available
The District must provide written verification of wages paid to the injured employee during the modified duty period
Additional procedures and guidelines:
The MSGIA “Back to School Program” only applies to claims where the MSGIA has accepted liability or agrees to pay wage loss benefits
Why have an Early Return to Work and Stay at Work Program? After accident prevention, a Stay at Work or Early Return to Work program is a District’s best tool to control Workers’ Compensation costs and reduce losses. Early Return to Work programs have been proven to work in state agencies, the public sector and private firms across the nation. The MSGIA’s “Back to School Program” is designed to accelerate the natural healing process for an injured worker, the injured workers’ family, and the District. Stay at Work or Early Return to Work programs are in the best interest of the injured employees and will lead to cost savings for the District.
