Printing - FECA-PT2 - National Association of Letter Carriers

Compensation Appeals Board, the RN should continue to provide services. When the case is
in H&R, a Hearing Examiner will make copies of significant medical evidence and forward
them to the district office.
2-0600-6 Medical Management
6. Medical Management. The purpose of this paragraph is to describe the CE's responsibility for
attending to medical issues, regardless of whether nurse or rehabilitation personnel are providing services
to the claimant.
a. Advice to Attending Physician. Where an RN is involved in the case, the CE should so
advise the attending physician in the first letter requesting further information.
b. Treatment Plans. Unless the file states that the claimant has returned to work, any inquiry
to the attending physician should include a request for a treatment plan. If a position description
is in file, the request should include a statement of accepted facts which contains a description of
the claimant's job duties. The request should:
(1) Note the previously specified return to duty date;
(2) Ask the doctor's cooperation in returning the claimant to duty;
(3) Inquire about the reasons and objective findings that support continuing
injury-related disability. Has the condition worsened? If so, state the new objective
findings to support the deterioration;
(4) Inquire as to the reasons for continuing absence from work. If the condition is
unchanged, why has the claimant not recovered? Does the disability continue to be due to
the employment-related injury, or is it due to an underlying, non-work-related process?;
and
(5) Request a specific treatment plan, with time frames, which will improve the
claimant's physical status and promote his or her ability to return to work.
For example: "With respect to this patient's injury-related disability, please outline all the
medical measures you think will be necessary to return him (or her) to work, and describe
your medical reasons for your statements and the amount of time each step will take."
Send the physician Form OWCP-5.
c. Further Medical Opinion. If a second opinion or referee examination (see PM Chapter 2-810)
is arranged during the RN's or RS/RC's work with the claimant, the CE should so advise the RN or
RS. Also, the CE should immediately advise the RS of any change in the weight of medical
evidence as it affects work limitations.
The CE should continue to ask about the nature and extent of injury-related disability and request
a treatment plan, either from the attending physician or a second opinion specialist, until one is
obtained. Formulation of direct, incisive medical questions is crucial to this effort (see MEDGUIDE
FECA-PT2 Printed: 06/08/2010 64