Federal Employees' Compensation Act: Need to Increase Rehabilitation and Reemployment of Injured Workers
GGD-92-30
Published: Feb 28, 1992. Publicly Released: Feb 28, 1992.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Department of Labor's (DOL) administration of the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) Vocational Rehabilitation Program and related rehiring efforts for injured federal workers, focusing on: (1) how long FECA claimants receive compensation before receiving rehabilitation services; and (2) whether opportunities exist to increase the number of injured workers who receive vocational rehabilitation services and return to work.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Labor | To help ensure that rehabilitation is being accomplished in a cost-effective manner, the Secretary of Labor should require the Director, OWCP, to coordinate actions with the Administrator, Rehabilitation Services Administration, and explore the feasibility of making greater use of state vocational rehabilitation resources and resolving program differences between state vocational agencies and OWCP. |
In April 1993, RSA and OWCP each issued bulletins to their respective staffs that describe the processes by which these agencies should renew and revitalize their previous cooperative relationships, such that RSA will provide rehabilitation services to more OWCP claimants. A draft cooperative agreement was prepared for use by OWCP regions and state departments of vocational rehabilitation agencies to formalize their work relationships.
|
| Department of Labor | To help ensure that rehabilitation is being accomplished in a cost-effective manner, the Secretary of Labor should require the Director, OWCP, to determine whether additional permanent or temporary rehabilitation specialists could be hired to do some of the work now being done by contract counselors. |
The OWCP request for additional staffing for fiscal year 1994 has been rejected as part of the administration's budget reduction efforts. As such, it would seem impractical, at this time, to study the feasibility of using permanent or temporary government employees to do the work of contract vocational rehabilitation counselors.
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| Department of Labor | The Secretary of Labor should require the Director, OWCP, to devise a way to ensure that rehabilitation specialists and contract counselors establish early contact and coordinate their rehabilitation activities with claimants' pre-injury employers. |
OWCP prepared a notice dated April 16, 1993 (DPPS Notice No. 2) and sent it to all rehabilitation counselors that provide services for OWCP. These counselors must meet with the injured worker and the agency within 10 days of receiving the referral to begin the placement process.
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| Department of Labor | The Secretary of Labor should develop an internal control procedure to allocate rehabilitation specialists' costs accurately between FECA and LHWCA Programs. |
OWCP analyzed FECA and Longshore statistical workload measures and shifted one FTE from the New York Region to the Philadelphia Region. FECA and Longshore rehabilitation workloads will be monitored annually and adjustments made as appropriate.
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Cost effectiveness analysisstate relationsInteragency relationsInternal controlsReemploymentRehabilitation counselingRehabilitation programsStaff utilizationVocational rehabilitationWorkers compensationFederal employees