Workers Comp Terms and Definitions

written on April 03, 2009 by COSEWorkersCompensation contributor

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AWW - Average Weekly Wage - based on the average of the gross earnings for the 52 weeks prior to the date of injury.  Paid at 2/3 of the average after the first 12 weeks of disability.  Nontaxable income. 

BWC - Bureau of Workers' Compensation

DOI - Date Of Injury

DHO - District Hearing Officer.  Presides at the first level of hearing before the Industrial Commission on contested issues.

DX - Diagnosis

EOR - Employer Of Record

FROI - First Report Of Injury.  Forms used to report a work-related injury to the BWC.

FWW - Full Weekly Wage - based on the higher of the gross earnings for the last full week prior to the injury or the average of the gross earnings - this is then paid at 72% for the first twelve weeks of disability.  Not paid until day 8 of disability.  First 7 days are paid after 14 consecutive days are missed from work.  Nontaxable income.

IC - Industrial Commission.  Apart from the BWC, they address contested issues - there are two levels of hearing - DHO is the first level, if an appeal is filed it is then addressed by an SHO (Staff Hearing Officer).  Appeals after that can go to the full commission or be filed into Court of Common Pleas.  (also referred to as ICO - Industrial Commission of Ohio).

IME - Independent Medical Examination.  This can be scheduled with the employer's consent to secure an opinion on issues such as on-going treatment, additional conditions, length of disability, or causal relationship between the injury and work activities.

IW - Injured Worker

LM - Living Maintenance - paid in place of temporary total disability compensation while an injured worker is in an approved rehab program.  Does not go against the employer's risk.

MCO - Managed Care Organization.  MCOs partner with employers to ensure claims are filed quickly, treatment begins promptly, and recovery programs are implemented for safe and quick return to work.

MMI - Maximum Medical Improvement - "a treatment plateau (static or well-stabilized) at which no fundamental functional or physiological change can be expected within reasonable medical probability in spite of continuing medical or rehabilitative procedures."  A finding of MMI can result in termination of payments of temporary total disability compensation.

POR - Physician of record.  This is the physician treating the injured worker related to the claim.

PPD - Permanent Partial Disability - residual damage that may remain after an injury. 

PTD - Permanent Total Disability - the injured worker can perform no sustained remunerative employment activities and is entitled to lifetime benefits through the BWC.

RTW - Return To Work.  This is usually an estimated date provided by the physician of record.

RTW/FD - Return To Work Full Duty.  This indicates return to work with no physical limitations or restrictions.

RTW/LD - Return To Work Light Duty - This is a return to work with restrictions - Should be considered transitional duty to allow for work with specific restrictions.

TPA - Third Party Administrator.  Works for the employer with the MCO to manage claims and help control costs.  Schedule IME's, prepare claims for hearings, and coordinate surveillance if necessary are some of the services we provide.

TT - Temporary Total Disability Compensation.  Paid when an injured worker is off work beyond 7 days days. 

VOC REHAB - the goal is to return the injured worker to gainful employment either with the same employer and job or possibly a different employer and different job (or a combination of these).

VSSR - Violation of Specific Safety Requirement.  VSSR is paid in addition to any other compensation to the injured worker and is based on the employer's violation of safety codes, NOT OSHA violations.

WAGE LOSS - compensation paid when there is a reduction in earnings based on the injuries allowed in the claim.  Can also be paid while an injured worker is seeking employment within the work restrictions.