Injury Compensation CD

The NALC issued a revised Injury Compensation Manual and a related CD in December 2002. Both can be accessed and downloaded by clicking here, or by clicking the Compensation CD icon on the first page.

The Injury Compensation Manual is a comprehensive guide to basic OWCP procedures. The Injury Compensation CD contains both the Injury Compensation Manual and a wealth of support documents. It includes the following:

• The Injury Compensation Manual
• The Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA)
• Implementing regulations of the FECA found at 20 CFR 10
• 12 national level arbitration decisions relating to OWCP matters
• 42 national level decisions, settlements and memoranda relating to OWCP matters
• OWCP forms
• OWCP publication CA-550
• OWCP publication CA-810
• USPS manual EL-505
• USPS ELM chapter 540
• Installation instructions for loading the CD onto a personal computer

All of the documents on the CD are in PDF format, and are indexed. They are thus easily and quickly searched. This search capability makes the CD a powerful tool for NALC stewards and representatives who assist letter carriers with on-the-job injuries. All such representatives should use it.

OWCP has a very useful, internet-based system that allows injured workers and their representatives access to real-time bill pay information. In order to gain entry for a particular claim, three items of information are needed: claim number, date of injury, and date of birth.

Here is how to access a claim through the portal:

1. Go here.
2. Click on the FECA Claimant icon.
3. Click Accept.
4. Enter claimant’s OWCP case number, date of injury and date of birth.
5. Click Submit.
   You will now be in the Bill Status Inquiry screen. You will see at the upper left-hand side of the screen that there are three available inquiries: Eligibility, Bill Status and Medical
   Authorization. Remain in the Bill Status Inquiry screen.
6. Click View Option: Resolved Bills and enter date range of desired view of bills. To view all bills, leave the date range fields blank.
   Each bill is then listed (25 to a page) with multiple data elements, including date of service being billed; whether the bill was paid or denied; billed amount; paid amount; billed diagnosis; provider type and TCN. Click on the TCN to provide additional information about a specific bill, including, in the case of denied bills, the reason for denial.
   Generally, click on any underlined data entry to view additional detailed information.
   If you follow the above procedure and do not find a bill that is causing a problem, the provider should be advised to submit the bill to OWCP, ensuring that the correct claim number is on it. If you find the problematic bill, and it has been denied, determine the reason for denial. In many cases, the reason is easily corrected and you can so advise the provider.
   If there is an issue regarding a medical procedure authorization request (e.g., surgery or therapy), follow this additional procedure:
7. Click the Return to Bill Inquiry button at the bottom of the list of bills, thereby returning to the Bill Status Inquiry screen.
8. Click Medical Authorization at the top left under Inquiries.
9. Enter Dates of Service range (or leave blank for all authorizations).
10. Click Submit.
    Each authorization request is then listed with multiple data elements, including the procedure being requested; whether the procedure has been approved; the date range of the procedure; and so on. Generally, click on any underlined data entry to view additional detailed information.
    The bill processing portal is well-designed, easily learned, and provides a wealth of useful information about claims. The entry screen (at the web address listed in point 1 above) includes a Help icon at the upper right. Click the Help icon to access a user manual designed to provide a concise and helpful guide to locating information about the portal’s functions and features.