OAR 436-010-0280: Temporary rule language in effect until 10/04/2026. Determination of Impairment/Closing Exams

(1) When a worker becomes medically stationary and there is a reasonable expectation of permanent disability, the attending physician must complete a closing exam or refer the worker to a consulting physician for all or part of the closing exam. If the worker is under the care of a naturopathic physician, the provider must refer the worker to a type A attending physician to do a closing exam. (2) The closing exam must be completed under OAR 436-030 and 436-035 and Bulletin 239. (See Appendix A “Matrix for Health Care Provider Types”.) (3) When the attending physician completes the closing exam, the attending physician has 14 days from the medically stationary date to send the closing report to the insurer. When the attending physician does not complete the closing exam, the attending physician must arrange, or ask the insurer to arrange, a closing exam with a consulting physician within seven days of the medically stationary date. (4) When an attending physician requests a consulting physician to do the closing exam, the consulting physician has seven days from the date of the exam to send the report to the attending physician for concurrence or objections. Within seven days of receiving the closing exam report, the attending physician must state in writing whether the physician concurs with or objects to all or part of the findings of the exam, and send the concurrence or objections with the report to the insurer. (5) The attending physician must specify the worker’s residual functional capacity if: (a) The attending physician has not released the worker to the job held at the time of injury because of a permanent work restriction caused by the compensable injury, and (b) The worker has not returned to the job held at the time of injury, because of a permanent work restriction caused by the compensable injury. (6) Instead of specifying the worker’s residual functional capacity under section (5) of this rule, the attending physician may refer the worker for: (a) A second-level physical capacities evaluation (see OAR 436-009-0060) when the worker has not been released to return to the job held at the time of injury, has not returned to the job held at the time of injury, has returned to modified work, or has refused an offer of modified work; or (b) A work capacities evaluation (see OAR 436-009-0060) when there is a question of the worker’s ability to return to suitable and gainful employment. The provider may also be required to specify the worker’s ability to perform specific job tasks. (7) When the insurer issues a major contributing cause denial on an accepted claim and the worker is not medically stationary: (a) The attending physician must do a closing exam or refer the worker to a consulting physician for all or part of the closing exam; or (b) A naturopathic physician, must refer the worker to a type A attending physician for a closing exam. (8) The closing report must include all of the following: (a) Findings of permanent impairment. (A) In an initial injury claim, the closing report must include objective findings of any permanent impairment that is caused in any part by an accepted condition or a direct medical sequela of an accepted condition. (B) In a new or omitted condition claim, the closing report must include objective findings of any permanent impairment that is caused in any part by an accepted new or omitted condition or a direct medical sequela of an accepted new or omitted condition. (C) In an aggravation claim, the closing report must include objective findings of any permanent impairment that is caused in any part by an accepted worsened condition or a direct medical sequela of an accepted worsened condition. (D) In an occupational disease claim, the closing report must include objective findings of any permanent impairment that is caused in any part by an accepted occupational disease or a direct medical sequela of an accepted occupational disease. (b) Findings documenting permanent work restrictions. (A) If the worker has no permanent work restriction, the closing report must include a statement indicating that: (i) The worker has no permanent work restriction; or (ii) The worker is released, without restriction, to the job held at the time of injury. (B) In an initial injury claim, the closing report must include objective findings documenting any permanent work restriction that: (i) Prevents the worker from returning to the job held at the time of injury; and (ii) Is caused in any part by an accepted condition or a direct medical sequela of an accepted condition. (C) In a new or omitted condition claim, the closing report must include objective findings documenting any permanent work restriction that: (i) Prevents the worker from returning to the job held at the time of injury; and (ii) Is caused in any part by an accepted new or omitted condition or a direct medical sequela of an accepted new or omitted condition. (D) In an aggravation claim, the closing report must include objective findings documenting any permanent work restriction that: (i) Prevents the worker from returning to the job held at the time of injury; and (ii) Is caused in any part by an accepted worsened condition or a direct medical sequela of an accepted worsened condition. (E) In an occupational disease claim, the closing report must include objective findings documenting any permanent work restriction that: (i) Prevents the worker from returning to the job held at the time of injury; and (ii) Is caused in any part by an accepted occupational disease or a direct medical sequel of an accepted occupational disease. (c) A statement regarding the validity of an impairment finding is required in the following circumstances: (A) If the examining physician, physician associate, or nurse practitioner determines that a finding of impairment is invalid, the closing report must include a statement that identifies the basis for the determination that the finding is invalid. (B) If the examining physician, physician associate, or nurse practitioner determines that a finding of impairment is valid but the finding is not addressed by any applicable validity criteria under Bulletin 239, the closing report must include a statement that identifies the basis for the determination that the finding is valid. (C) If the examining physician, physician associate, or nurse practitioner chooses to disregard applicable validity criteria under Bulletin 239 because the criteria are medically inappropriate for the worker, the closing report must include a statement that describes why the criteria would be inappropriate.