(WNY News Now) – New York – Starting September 26, 2024, the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board will introduce a streamlined case indexing system, aiming to expedite the resolution of workers’ compensation claims.

In a significant update aimed at promoting efficiency within the workers’ compensation process, the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board will begin indexing all eligible workers’ compensation cases assembled on or after September 26, 2024. The Board’s move seeks to expedite case handling, enabling faster resolutions for claims.

Cases eligible for indexing include those with a medical report of treatment and either an Employee Claim (Form C-3) or a First Report of Injury (FROI). However, certain exceptions apply. Claims that have already been contested (via FROI-04 or SROI-04) or accepted without liability under Workers’ Compensation Law (WCL-§21-a) will not be indexed. Similarly, “medical-only” claims—those involving no lost time from work—will not require an Agreement to Compensate (ATC) code unless they evolve into cases involving lost time.

In cases where a medical-only claim escalates to lost time, the claim will be indexed, and payers must update their filings accordingly. The new process is designed to minimize delays and clarify claim status, ensuring that claims requiring liability decisions or compensation are processed efficiently.

The Board has outlined specific responsibilities for payers. Within 25 days of a claim being indexed, the payer must either accept liability, dispute the claim, or provide notice that it is initiating benefits without liability under WCL §21-a. Payers who fail to respond within this period may forfeit certain defenses under Workers’ Compensation Law Section 25(2)(b).