Injury Compensation Process Delays Prompt Payment of Benefits to Federal Workers
HRD-81-123
Published: Sep 25, 1981. Publicly Released: Sep 25, 1981.
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Highlights
GAO reviewed claims processing under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act to determine where and why delays in the procedure were occurring.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Labor | The Secretary of Labor should: (1) reemphasize to Federal agencies the need to provide workers with pamphlets and to post and maintain injury posters in the workplace; (2) encourage Federal agencies to use their local newspapers for periodic reminders to workers on benefits for work-related injuries; (3) develop a flow chart type checklist outlining workers' rights, responsibilities, and procedures for claiming benefits for work-related injuries; (4) provide Federal agencies with periodic reports on the time it takes them to process claims before the claims are submitted to Labor for adjudication; (5) ascertain whether the electronic transfer of compensation data between Labor district offices and other Federal agencies would improve claims processing and, if so, implement the use of such electronic data transfer techniques where appropriate; and (6) expedite the development of a national program to improve cooperative efforts with the medical community. |
Closed
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
|
| Office of Management and Budget | The Director of the Office of Management and Budget should: (1) determine the feasibility of placing in Federal agencies specific processing and monitoring responsibilities; and (2) if these actions are determined to be feasible, submit legislation to Congress to amend the Federal Employees' Compensation Act. |
Closed
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
|
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Topics
Compensation claimsDisability benefitsFederal employee disability programsCompensationClaims processingFederal agenciesPhysiciansWorkersCivil servicePrompt payment