Frequently asked questions -- rehabilitation provider

Questions --  General questions and issues

1. I have been working as a QRC intern for the past six months. When signing R-forms, reports or correspondence is it OK to indicate "QRCI" after my name rather than "QRC intern"?

2. Is it acceptable to use "client" versus "injured worker" in reports?

3. What is the definition of a required progress report (Minnesota Rules 5220.1802 Subp. 3 and 4)?

4. Are the R-form instruction pages to be filed with DLI along with the rehabilitation plan form?

5. What is a reasonable service time charge for the new R-3 form?

6. What should the QRC do if a party does not sign an R-2 or R-3?

7. The insurer's independent medical examination (IME) has released the employee to return to work with restrictions, but the treating doctor has said "no work." Can the QRC proceed with placement services?

Questions --  Rehabilitation consultation

1. How does an employee make a request for a rehabilitation consultation?

2. Does a narrative report have to be attached to the Rehabilitation Consultation Report (RCR) form? If so, how long does the report need to be?

3. Does DLI grant extensions to the 14-day timeline for submission of the Rehabilitation Consultation Report form to the department and all parties?

Questions --  R-2 Rehabiltation Plan

-- Minnesota Rules 5220.0410 Rehabilitation Plan --

1. A rehabilitation consultation was performed that determined the employee to be "qualified" to receive rehabilitation services. However, prior to the development of the R-2 Rehabilitation Plan form, the treating physician determined the employee had no further effects of the work injury and released him to return to work without any physical restrictions. What R-form should be completed?

2. A rehabilitation consultation was performed that determined the employee to be "qualified" to receive rehabilitation services. However, prior to the development of the R-2 Rehabilitation Plan form, the employee returned to a job with his pre-injury employer that was within his physical restrictions and provided suitable gainful employment. Through contact with the employee, he reported his return to work was going well. What R-form should be completed?

3. What is required to be attached to the R-2 plan when it is filed?

4. When must a QRC send the R-2 form to the Safety and Workers' Compensation Division?

5. What should I do if the insurer or employee does not sign and return the R-2 plan as required within 15 days?

Questions --  R-3 Rehabilitation Plan Amendment

-- Minnesota Rules 5220.0510 Plan Amendment and Closure --

1. How should an R-3 form be completed if there are more service categories to record than there are lines on which to record them?

2. How does the online submission system accommodate the need for more lines to record service categories on the R-3 form?

3. When filing an R-3 form, under item 16 (plan costs to date), does this include vendor-placement costs and projections of costs to complete the plan?

4. Is an R-3 form required when there is a change of QRC within the same rehabilitation firm?

5. When an R-3 Rehabilitation Plan Amendment form is filed for the purpose of extending the existing plan, but there is no change in services, must the services be listed on the form?

6. When may an R-3 Rehabilitation Plan Amendment form be used to fulfill the requirement for filing a Plan Progress Report (PPR) form?

7. On the R-3 form (last revised September 2008), explain box 23 further. Define or give examples of a barrier and measures to be taken to overcome it.

8. What would be an example of a case that does not have barriers to sucessful completion?

9. For the barriers and measurers comments on R-3, can these attachments be handwritten?

Questions --  R-8 Notice of Rehabilitation Plan Closure

1. If an employee no longer wishes to have rehabilitation assistance, can the file be closed? What closure category should be used on the R-8?

2. If an award on stipulation for settlement has been issued, according to the parties, can an R-8 form to close the rehabilitation file be submitted to the department even if the QRC has not received a copy of the stipulation?

3. Is the R-8 narrative report to discuss all the services provided during the rehabilitation plan from start to finish?

4. The insurer informed the QRC that they have negotiated a settlement of the employee's rehabilitation plan, which closes the rehabilitation plan. Due to the reported settlement, the QRC was instructed to file an R-8 to close the employee's rehabilitation plan. Can the plan be closed and, if so, what should be marked on the R-8 form under item 21?

Questions --  Plan Progress Report

-- Minnesota Rules 5220.0450 Plan Progress Report --

1. On the Plan Progress Report form, explain box 26 further. Define or give examples of a barrier and measures to be taken to overcome it.

2. What would be an example of a rehabilitation file that does not have barriers to successful completion?

Questions --  Job placement

1. May an employee decline job placement services?

2. When an employee with an ongoing rehabilitation plan is laid-off due to economic reasons, is he or she entitled to placement services?

3. The treating physician released the employee, with an ongoing rehabilitation plan, to "full duty" with the date of injury employer. What rehabilitation or placement services would the employee be entitled to?

4. The insurer's independent medical examination (IME) has released the employee to return to work with restrictions, but the treating doctor has said "no work." Can the QRC proceed with placement services?

5. What is the role of the registered rehabilitation vendor in providing placement services?

6. What are the reporting requirements for vendors when the injured worker is not participating in the rehabilitation plan?

Questions --  Retraining

1. What are the Poole factors the Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals applied to retraining plans and are currently used when considering approvals?

2. If a retraining plan has been signed by all parties (i.e. employee, insurer and QRC) will the department automatically sign and approve the plan?

Questions --  Rehabilitation plan disputes

1. Are rehabilitation providers expected to physically attend rehabilitation conferences at the 443 Lafayette Road N. location or can they attend by telephone?

2. When a QRC is sent a notice for a non-rehabilitation conference, must the QRC attend?

Ask a question

If you don't see your question answered here or want more information for rehabilitation providers, send an email message to DLI's Workers' Compensation Division or call the division at (651) 284-5005, toll-free at 1-800-342-5354.

• View/print a brochure about DLI's Vocational Rehabilitation unit