CHANGES TO WORKERS COMPENSATION -COVID-19

You may be entitled to workers compensation if you contract COVID-19 at work. For the illness to be considered work-related, there needs to be a clear link between a member's employment and contracting the virus.

WorkSafe has introduced temporary arrangements that will allow medical practitioners, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, osteopaths, chiropractors, exercise physiologists, psychologists and accredited mental health social workers to deliver services via telehealth. These arrangements will be in place until further notice. If a member requires access to telehealth services they should contact their insurer for prior approval.

Approved telehealth services can also be used to obtain a valid Certificate of Capacity if a member is required to self-isolate or is not able to attend an medical appointment because of COVID-19.

Insurers can authorise extended Certificates of Capacity if they are satisfied there are special reasons for the certificate to cover a longer period. If a member believes special circumstances apply to them, they should contact their insurer to discuss their circumstances.

Long-term injured members, currently transitioning off workers' compensation after the expiration of the ‘second entitlement period’ (130 weeks), or who have received a notice that ceased their weekly payment entitlements from 1 December 2019, will now receive extended weekly payments for up to six months. Ordinarily, insurers or self-insurers must give 13 weeks’ notice to terminate weekly payments. Under the changes, the notice period will increase from 13 weeks to 39 (total) weeks for second entitlement decisions that are made from 1 December 2019 to 23 October 2020.