The Colorado Division of Workers’ Compensation
along with its Director is charged with administering and enforcing
the workers’ compensation law in this state. In its legislative
declaration, the Colorado General Assembly expressed its intent and
vision for a system that would assure the quick and efficient
delivery of disability and medical benefits to injured workers at a
reasonable cost to employers, without the necessity of litigation.
In order to manage and direct an administrative
system, the Division of Workers’ Compensation is in place to
establish and oversee rules, programs and behaviors to minimize the
occurrence of workplace accidents and provide access to information
and remedies for employers and employees alike.
Included in the duties of the Director is the
adoption of administrative rules or procedures that
implement the statute (law) and
specifically define what is required in order to be in compliance
with that law. For example, the law allows for termination
of temporary disability (wage replacement) benefits when an
individual fails to return to work after receiving both a release
from the doctor to return to work at modified duty and a written
offer of employment from the employer. The rules serve to clarify
that the written offer must either be delivered to the injured
worker or sent by certified mail and further requires that the offer
set forth the duties, wages, and hours of the employment and contain
a statement from the treating physician that the employment is
within the injured worker’s physical restrictions.
In short: the statute tells you what you can do
and the rules tell you how.
The Workers’ Compensation Rules of Procedure
are adopted by the Director in strict accordance with the
Administrative Procedures Act which requires the public be
notified of any proposed changes and be provided a forum for input.
In addition, this state office is charged with
establishing a fee schedule (maximum fees allowable) for medical
providers treating injured workers in the state; the creation and
update of medical treatment guidelines which address appropriate and
reasonable medical care for the high frequency and high cost work
related injuries and diseases; and an accreditation system to
provide physicians with an understanding of the administrative,
legal, and medical requirements of the Colorado workers’
compensation system.
Questions on Division services may be directed to the Customer Service Unit at
(303) 318-8700 in the Denver metro area, or toll free, at (888) 390-7936.
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