LACERA Investigators & RTW Coordinators A Match Made in Heaven Presented by Shari Altmark & Richard Schlosser Disability Retirement Section Supervisors

2 LACERA’S ROLE Initial application includes signed information release from employee Initial application includes signed information release from employee Allows LACERA to: Allows LACERA to: Retrieve all Workers’ Comp records from TPA Retrieve all Workers’ Comp records from TPA Retrieve additional records from outside sources Retrieve additional records from outside sources Kaiser/personal physicians/chiropractors/therapists Kaiser/personal physicians/chiropractors/therapists Retrieve personnel records Retrieve personnel records Active, retired or deceased Active, retired or deceased Ask for additional documentation/information as necessary Ask for additional documentation/information as necessary

3 LACERA’S ROLE (cont’d) Interview member to get timeline Interview member to get timeline Job classifications during career Job classifications during career Prior job assignments and overall duties Prior job assignments and overall duties Current job assignment and duties Current job assignment and duties Focus on specific job duties within last assignment Focus on specific job duties within last assignment Physical requirements Physical requirements Were there modifications provided to the applicant? Were there modifications provided to the applicant? If offered, when? (before or after retirement) If offered, when? (before or after retirement) If so, were they temporary or permanent? If so, were they temporary or permanent?

4 LACERA’S ROLE (cont’d) Chronological history of injuries/illnesses Chronological history of injuries/illnesses Mechanics of the injury Mechanics of the injury Where did it happen? Where did it happen? What did they feel? What did they feel? Were there any witnesses? Were there any witnesses? Reporting and care after the injury/illness Reporting and care after the injury/illness Follow-up treatment, if any Follow-up treatment, if any Current symptoms and reason they cannot return Current symptoms and reason they cannot return

5 LACERA’S ROLE (cont’d) Current symptoms/level of activity Current symptoms/level of activity Witness statements Witness statements Contact supervisor Contact supervisor Confirm “actual” job duties/physical requirements Confirm “actual” job duties/physical requirements Obtain information regarding injury/illness Obtain information regarding injury/illness Applicant’s current condition/ability to perform duties Applicant’s current condition/ability to perform duties Contact co-worker(s) Contact co-worker(s) Obtain information regarding injury/illness Obtain information regarding injury/illness Query personal awareness of applicant’s condition Query personal awareness of applicant’s condition

6 LACERA’S ROLE (cont’d) Contact RTW Coordinator Contact RTW Coordinator Confirm medical leave status Confirm medical leave status Confirm past and present work restrictions Confirm past and present work restrictions Research accommodation, if any Research accommodation, if any Temporary or permanent Temporary or permanent

7 LACERA’S ROLE (cont’d) Medical opinion from LACERA specialist Medical opinion from LACERA specialist Mechanism of injury Mechanism of injury History of injury/illness and treatment rendered History of injury/illness and treatment rendered Confirm or refute permanent incapacity Confirm or refute permanent incapacity Advise on any permanent work restrictions Advise on any permanent work restrictions Comment on ability to perform permanent modified position Comment on ability to perform permanent modified position Confirm or refute job causation Confirm or refute job causation

8 LACERA’S ROLE (cont’d) Contact RTW Coordinator again Contact RTW Coordinator again Address department’s ability to accommodate LACERA doctor’s permanent work restrictions Address department’s ability to accommodate LACERA doctor’s permanent work restrictions If so, what would the duties be? If so, what would the duties be? If not, why not? If not, why not? *** Response needs to be in writing!!! *** Response needs to be in writing!!! , letter or fax , letter or fax Important that person giving response is authorized to make statement Important that person giving response is authorized to make statement

9 Questions RTW Cannot Ask What medical conditions did the employee apply for? What medical conditions did the employee apply for? Proposed date of service retirement? Proposed date of service retirement? What is the Board recommendation? What is the Board recommendation? What do we think the Board action will be? What do we think the Board action will be? How much will employee make if they get the disability retirement? How much will employee make if they get the disability retirement?

10 Questions RTW Can Ask Time frame to process Time frame to process Status of case Status of case Name of Investigator Name of Investigator Service retirement date, once confirmed by Board Service retirement date, once confirmed by Board

11 Obstacles LACERA faces Timeliness of response to Retirement Board once doctor’s opinion is received Timeliness of response to Retirement Board once doctor’s opinion is received Workers’ Comp vs. Disability Retirement Workers’ Comp vs. Disability Retirement Open labor market vs. independent classification Open labor market vs. independent classification Restrictions governed by old law Restrictions governed by old law Retirement Board policy changes Retirement Board policy changes Turnover within RTW divisions Turnover within RTW divisions

12 Resources If you have questions, call (626) If you have questions, call (626) Log on to Log on to Click “Benefits” tab (upper right hand side) Click “Benefits” tab (upper right hand side) Click “Active Member” tab (left side) Click “Active Member” tab (left side) Click “Disability Retirement” (lower left side) Click “Disability Retirement” (lower left side) Contact the individual investigator (see attached listing) Contact the individual investigator (see attached listing)

13 Chain of Command Board of Retirement Supervising Investigator Shari Altmark Disability Investigators LA County RTW Coordinators Supervising Investigator Richard Schlosser Board of Supervisors Disability Division Head Debbie Juul