Insurer Report

In order to streamline the review process, the Review Unit has recently changed some of their procedures regarding initial communications and decision formats.

 

Approximately 18 months ago the Review Unit introduced the Standard Form Decision format to be used when confirming the insurer's decision in relation to physical injuries and terminations.  Due to the continuing increase in review applications, the Review Unit will now be utilising the Standard Form Decision format for all review decisions.

 

As the Standard Form Decision will become the normal format for our decisions, applicants will no longer be able to request an extended form decision.  The process for making our decision will remain the same.  This change will come into effect in April 2011.

 

In addition to the ongoing utilisation of the standard form decision, the Review Unit has streamlined the introductory phone call process.

 

When an application for review is allocated to a Review Officer, an introductory telephone call is made to the applicant.  The telephone call covers such areas as an explanation of natural justice, extensions, the opportunity to make personal representations and the outcomes that can be made on an application for review.

 

The Review Unit recognised that this is a time consuming process and an applicant may not be able to process the entirety of this information immediately.  Therefore the Review Unit has developed an introductory fact sheet which outlines all the pertinent information surrounding the review process.

 

This information will be sent to injured worker applicants when their application for review has been validated.  A Review Officer will then make the introductory call and gives the applicant the opportunity clarify this information or ask any further questions they may have.