Printing - FECA-PT2 - National Association of Letter Carriers

(4) Timely responses to telephone calls from FNs are crucial to successful case
management.
g. Other Issues.
(1) If the claimant declines nurse services, the RN will so advise the CE, who may then
determine whether medical intervention or referral for vocational rehabilitation services is
appropriate.
(2) The RN may want to address problems not directly related to the claimant's accepted
medical conditions. A broader scope is perfectly acceptable as long as the RN focuses on
issues contributing to the claimant's disability and/or absence from work. The RN may not
authorize tests for unrelated conditions.
(3) The RN may want to coordinate care with an employing agency nurse. This
approach may be useful when the claimant is located in a remote area and the employing
agency can offer sophisticated medical assistance. As a rule, however, employing agency
nurses are discouraged from working with claimants simultaneously with OWCP RNs.
(4) If the claimant returns to work during the RN's intervention, the RN will follow up
with the claimant for 60 days. If the claimant has significant problems readjusting to work,
or claims a recurrence, the CE may want to talk with the RN and/or the RS to decide
whether to ask the RN to intervene further or to refer the case for vocational rehabilitation
services.
(5) Nurse and vocational rehabilitation services will not routinely be used at the same
time. However, some cases may require such dual action (e.g., the claimant has sustained
a catastrophic injury, or has significant difficulties in readjusting to work).
(a) Where the RN identifies the need for RS intervention, she or he will request it
by preparing Form OWCP-14 for the RS and CE.
(b) Where the CE identifies the need for both RN and RS intervention, he or she
will communicate via OWCP-57 to the RN and OWCP-14 to the RS.
[See FECA PM Chapter 3-201 (for nurse services) and OWCP PM Chapter 3-201 (for
rehabilitation services) for a fuller discussion.]
(6) If the CE has begun to terminate compensation, the RN may continue to work with
the claimant until the date benefits terminate.
(7) Nurses providing direct care as authorized in PM Chapter 3-0400.6 may, of course,
continue to perform those services.
(8) In a case transferred to the Branch of Hearings and Review (H&R) or the Employees'
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