OAR 436-030-0020: Temporary rule language in effect until 10/04/2026. Requirements for Claim Closure

(1) Issuance of a Notice of Closure. Unless the worker is enrolled and actively engaged in an authorized training plan under OAR 436-120, the insurer must issue a Notice of Closure on an accepted disabling claim within 14 days when: (a) Medical information establishes that there is sufficient information to determine the extent of permanent disability and indicates that the worker is medically stationary; (b) The compensable injury is no longer the major contributing cause of the worker’s combined or consequential condition(s), a major contributing cause denial has been issued, and there is sufficient information to determine the extent of permanent disability; (c) The worker fails to seek medical treatment for 30 days for reasons within the worker’s control and the requirements for claim closure under OAR 436-030-0034 have been met; (d) The worker fails to attend a mandatory closing examination for reasons within the worker’s control and the requirements for claim closure under OAR 436-030-0034 have been met; or (e) A worker receiving permanent total disability benefits has materially improved and is capable of regularly performing work at a gainful and suitable occupation. (2) Sufficient Information. For purposes of determining the extent of permanent disability, except as provided in section (14) of this rule for closure after training, "sufficient information" requires: a qualifying statement of no permanent disability under subsection (a) of this section or a qualifying closing report under subsection (b) of this section. Additional documentation is required under subsection (c) of this section unless there is clear and convincing evidence that an attending physician has released the worker to the job held at the time of injury or that the worker has returned to the job held at the time of injury. (a) Qualifying statements of no permanent disability. A statement indicating that there is no permanent disability is sufficient if it meets all of the following requirements: (A) Qualified providers. An attending physician must provide or concur with the statement. (B) Support by the medical record. The statement must be supported by the medical record. If the medical record reveals otherwise, a closing examination and report specified under subsection (b) of this section are required. (C) In initial injury claims. In an initial injury claim, the statement must clearly indicate the following: (i) There is no reasonable expectation of any permanent impairment due to an accepted condition or a direct medical sequela of an accepted condition; and (ii) There is no reasonable expectation of any permanent work restriction that: (I) Prevents the worker from returning to the job held at the time of injury; and (II) Is due to an accepted condition or a direct medical sequela of an accepted condition. (D) In new or omitted condition claims. In a new or omitted condition claim, the statement must clearly indicate the following: (i) There is no reasonable expectation of any permanent impairment due to an accepted new or omitted condition or a direct medical sequela of an accepted new or omitted condition; and (ii) There is no reasonable expectation of any permanent work restriction that: (I) Prevents the worker from returning to the job held at the time of injury; and (II) Is due to an accepted new or omitted condition or a direct medical sequela of an accepted new or omitted condition. (E) In aggravation claims. In an aggravation claim, the statement must clearly indicate the following: (i) There is no reasonable expectation of any permanent impairment due to an accepted worsened condition or a direct medical sequela of an accepted worsened condition; and (ii) There is no reasonable expectation of any permanent work restriction that: (I) Prevents the worker from returning to the job held at the time of injury; and (II) Is due to an accepted worsened condition or a direct medical sequela of an accepted worsened condition. (F) In occupational disease claims. In an occupational disease claim, the statement must clearly indicate the following: (i) There is no reasonable expectation of any permanent impairment due to an accepted occupational disease or a direct medical sequela of an accepted occupational disease; and (ii) There is no reasonable expectation of any permanent work restriction that: (I) Prevents the worker from returning to the job held at the time of injury; and (II) Is due to an accepted occupational disease or a direct medical sequela of an accepted occupational disease. (b) Qualifying closing reports. A closing medical examination and report are required if there is a reasonable expectation of permanent disability. A closing report is sufficient if it meets all of the following requirements: (A) Qualified providers. A type A attending physician or a chiropractic physician serving as the attending physician must provide or concur with the closing report. (B) Release to regular work. If the worker has no permanent work restriction and the provider identified in paragraph (A) of this rule has not already clearly established the following information, 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. (C) In initial injury claims. In an initial injury claim, the closing report must include detailed documentation of all measurements, findings, and limitations regarding: (i) Any permanent impairment due to an accepted condition or a direct medical sequela of an accepted condition; and (ii) Any permanent work restriction that: (I) Prevents the worker from returning to the job held at the time of injury; and (II) Is due to an accepted condition or a direct medical sequela of an accepted condition. (D) In new or omitted condition claims. In a new or omitted condition claim, the closing report must include detailed documentation of all measurements, findings, and limitations regarding: (i) Any permanent impairment due to an accepted new or omitted condition or a direct medical sequela of an accepted new or omitted condition; and (ii) Any permanent work restriction that: (I) Prevents the worker from returning to the job held at the time of injury; and (II) Is due to an accepted new or omitted condition or a direct medical sequela of an accepted new or omitted condition. (E) In aggravation claims. In an aggravation claim, the closing report must include detailed documentation of all measurements, findings, and limitations regarding: (i) Any permanent impairment due to an accepted worsened condition or a direct medical sequela of an accepted worsened condition; and (ii) Any permanent work restriction that: (I) Prevents the worker from returning to the job held at the time of injury; and (II) Is due to an accepted worsened condition or a direct medical sequela of an accepted worsened condition. (F) In occupational disease claims. In an occupational disease claim, the closing report must include detailed documentation of all measurements, findings, and limitations regarding: (i) Any permanent impairment due to an accepted occupational disease or a direct medical sequela of an accepted occupational disease; and (ii) Any permanent work restriction that: (I) Prevents the worker from returning to the job held at the time of injury; and (II) Is due to an accepted occupational disease or a direct medical sequela of an accepted occupational disease. (c) Additional documentation. Unless there is clear and convincing evidence that an attending physician has released the worker to the job held at the time of injury (for dates of injury on or after January 1, 2006) or that the worker has returned to the job held at the time of injury, all of the following is required: (A) An accurate description of the physical requirements of the worker’s job held at the time of injury, which has been provided by certified mail to the worker and the worker’s attorney, if any, either before closing the claim or at the time the claim is closed, unless the record clearly establishes the physical requirements of the worker’s job held at the time of injury; (B) The worker’s wage established consistent with OAR 436-060; (C) The worker’s date of birth; (D) Except as provided in OAR 436-030-0015(4)(d), the worker’s work history for the period beginning five years before the date of injury to the mailing date of the Notice of Closure, including tasks performed or level of SVP, and physical demands; and (E) The worker’s level of formal education. (3) When determining disability and issuing the Notice of Closure, the insurer must apply all statutes and rules consistent with their provisions, particularly as they relate to major contributing cause denials, worker’s failure to seek treatment, worker’s failure to attend a mandatory examination, medically stationary status, temporary disability, permanent partial and total disability, and review of permanent partial and total disability. (4) When issuing a Notice of Closure (Form 1644), the insurer must prepare and attach a Notice of Closure Worksheet (Form 2807), as described by bulletin of the director, and an Insurer Notice of Closure Summary (Form 1503) . (5) The Notice of Closure (Form 1644) is effective the date it is mailed to the worker and to the worker’s attorney if the worker is represented, or to the worker’s estate if the worker is deceased, regardless of the date on the Notice itself. (6) The Notice of Closure (Form 1644) must be in the form and format prescribed by the director in these rules and include only the following: (a) The worker’s name, address, and claim identification information; (b) The appropriate dollar value of any individual scheduled or unscheduled permanent disability based on the value per degree for injuries occurring before January 1, 2005 or, for injuries occurring on or after January 1, 2005, the appropriate dollar value of any "whole person" permanent disability, including impairment and work disability as determined appropriate under OAR 436-035; (c) The body part(s) awarded disability, coded to the table of body part codes as prescribed by the director; (d) The percentage of loss of the specific body part(s), including either the number of degrees that loss represents as appropriate for injuries occurring before January 1, 2005, or the percentage of the whole person the worker’s loss represents as appropriate for injuries occurring on or after January 1, 2005; (e) If there is no permanent disability award for this Notice of Closure, a statement to that effect; (f) The duration of temporary total and temporary partial disability compensation; (g) The date the Notice of Closure was mailed; (h) The medically stationary date or the date the claim statutorily qualifies for closure under OAR 436-030-0035 or 436-030-0034; (i) The date the worker’s aggravation rights end; (j) The appeal rights of the worker and any beneficiaries; (k) A statement that the worker has the right to consult with the Ombuds Office for Oregon Workers; (l) For claims with dates of injury before January 1, 2005, the rate in dollars per degree at which permanent disability, if any, will be paid based on date of injury as identified in Bulletin 111; (m) For claims with dates of injury on or after January 1, 2005, the state’s average weekly wage applicable to the worker’s date of injury; (n) The worker’s return to work status; (o) A general statement that the insurer has the authority to recover an overpayment; (p) A statement that the worker has the right to be represented by an attorney; and (q) A statement that the worker has the right to request a vocational eligibility evaluation under ORS 656.340. (7) The Notice of Closure (Form 1644) must be accompanied by the following: (a) The brochure "Understanding Claim Closure and Your Rights"; (b) A copy of summary worksheet Form 2807 containing information and findings that result in the data appearing on the Notice of Closure; (c) An accurate description of the physical requirements of the worker’s job held at the time of injury unless it is not required under (2)(a) or (2)(c) of this rule or it was previously provided under (2)(c)(A) of this rule; (d) The Updated Notice of Acceptance at Closure which clearly identifies all accepted conditions in the claim and specifies those which have been denied and are on appeal or which were the basis for this opening of the claim; and (e) A cover letter that: (A) Specifically explains why the claim has been closed (e.g., expiration of a period of suspension without the worker resolving the problems identified, an attending physician stating the worker is medically stationary, worker failure to treat without attending physician authorization or establishing good cause for not treating); (B) Lists and describes enclosed documents; and (C) Notifies the worker about the end of temporary disability benefits, if any, and the anticipated start of permanent disability benefits, if any . (8) A copy of the Notice of Closure must be mailed to each of the following persons at the same time, with each copy clearly identifying the intended recipient: (a) The worker; (b) The employer; (c) The director; and (d) The worker’s attorney, if the worker is represented. (9) If the worker is deceased at the time the Notice of Closure is issued: (a) The worker’s copy of the notice must be addressed to the estate of the worker and mailed to the worker’s last known address. (b) Copies of the notice may be mailed to any known or potential beneficiaries to the worker’s estate. If a copy of the notice is mailed to a beneficiary, it must be mailed by both regular mail and certified mail return receipt requested. (10) The worker’s copy of the Notice of Closure must be mailed by both regular mail and certified mail return receipt requested. (11) An insurer may use electronically produced Notice of Closure forms if consistent with the form and format prescribed by the director. (12) Insurers may allow adjustments of benefits awarded to the worker under the documentation requirements of OAR 436-060-0170 for the following purposes: (a) To recover payments for permanent disability which were made prematurely; (b) To recover overpayments for temporary disability; and (c) To recover overpayments for other than temporary disability such as prepaid travel expenses where travel was not completed, prescription reimbursements, or other benefits payable under ORS 656.001 to 656.794. (13) The insurer may allow overpayments made on a claim with the same insurer to be deducted from compensation to which the worker is entitled but has not yet been paid. (14) Under ORS 656.268(10), if, after claim closure, the worker becomes enrolled and actively engaged in an authorized training plan under OAR 436-120, the insurer must again close the claim consistent with the following: (a) The claim must be closed when the worker ceases to be enrolled and actively engaged in the training and: (A) The worker is medically stationary; (B) The worker’s accepted injury is no longer the major contributing cause of the worker’s combined or consequential condition or conditions; or (C) The claim otherwise qualifies for closure under OAR 436-030-0034. (b) If the worker is medically stationary, there must be a current (within 60 days before closure) determination of medically stationary status. (c) For claims with dates of injury on or after January 1, 2005, permanent disability must be redetermined for work disability only. For claims with dates of injury before January 1, 2005, permanent disability must be redetermined for unscheduled disability only. (d) Except for claims closed under ORS 656.268(1)(c), the insurer must have sufficient information to redetermine work disability or unscheduled disability. The requirements in section (2) of this rule regarding sufficient information apply only as necessary for the redetermination, as follows: (A) For claims with dates of injury on or after January 1, 2005, the insurer must have sufficient information to determine work disability under OAR 436-035-0012. An evaluation of the adaptability factor of work disability under OAR 436-035-0012(7) through (13) must be based on a current (within 60 days before closure) medical determination of the worker’s residual functional capacity. (B) For claims with dates of injury before January 1, 2005, the insurer must have sufficient information to determine unscheduled disability under OAR 436-035-0008(2). An evaluation of unscheduled disability must be based on a current (within 60 days before closure) medical determination. (15) When, after a claim is closed, the insurer changes or is ordered to change the worker’s weekly wage upon which calculation of the work disability portion of a permanent disability award may be based, the insurer must notify the parties and the division of the change and the effect of the change on any permanent disability award. For purposes of this rule, the insurer must complete Form 1502 consistent with the instructions of the director and distribute it within 14 days of the change.