WAC 296-14-400   Reopenings for benefits.  The director at any time may, upon the workers' application to reopen for aggravation or worsening of condition, provide proper and necessary medical and surgical services as authorized under RCW 51.36.010. This provision will not apply to total permanent disability cases, as provision of medical treatment in those cases is limited by RCW 51.36.010.

     The seven-year reopening time limitation shall run from the date the first claim closure becomes final and shall apply to all claims regardless of the date of injury. In order for claim closure to become final on claims where closure occurred on or after July 1, 1981, the closure must include documentation of medical recommendation, advice or examination. Such documentation is not required for closing orders issued prior to July 1, 1981. First closing orders issued between July 1, 1981, and July 1, 1985, shall for the purposes of this section only, be deemed issued on July 1, 1985.

     The director shall, in the exercise of his or her discretion, reopen a claim provided objective evidence of worsening is present and proximately caused by a previously accepted asbestos-related disease.

     In order to support a final closure based on medical recommendation or advice the claim file must contain documented information from a doctor, or nurse consultant (departmental) or nurse practitioner. The doctor or nurse practitioner may be in private practice, acting as a member of a consultation group, employed by a firm, corporation, or state agency.

     For the purpose of this section, a "doctor" is defined in WAC 296-20-01002.

     When a claim has been closed by the department or self-insurer for sixty days or longer, the worker must file a written application to reopen the claim. An informal written request filed without accompanying medical substantiation of worsening of the condition will constitute a request to reopen, but the time for taking action on the request shall not commence until a formal application is filed with the department or self-insurer as the case may be.

     A formal application occurs when the worker and doctor complete and file the application for reopening provided by the department. Upon receipt of an informal request without accompanying medical substantiation of worsening of the worker's condition, the department or self-insurer shall promptly provide the necessary application to the worker for completion.

     If, within seven years from the date the first closing order became final, a formal application to reopen is filed which shows by "sufficient medical verification of such disability related to the accepted condition(s)" that benefits are payable, the department, or the self-insurer, pursuant to RCW 51.32.210 and 51.32.190, respectively shall mail the first payment within fourteen days of receiving the formal application to reopen. If the application does not contain sufficient medical verification of disability, the fourteen-day period will begin upon receipt of such verification. If the application to reopen is granted, compensation will be paid pursuant to RCW 51.28.040. If the application to reopen is denied, the worker shall repay such compensation pursuant to RCW 51.32.240.

     Applications for reopenings filed on or after July 1, 1988, must be acted upon by the department within ninety days of receipt of the application by the department or the self-insurer. The ninety-day limitation shall not apply if the worker files an appeal or request for reconsideration of the department's denial of the reopening application.

     The department may, for good cause, extend the period in which the department must act for an additional sixty days. "Good cause" for such an extension may include, but not be limited to, the following:

     (1) Inability to schedule a necessary medical examination within the ninety-day time period;

     (2) Failure of the worker to appear for a medical examination;

     (3) Lack of clear or convincing evidence to support reopening or denial of the claim without an independent medical examination;

     (4) Examination scheduled timely but cannot be conducted and a report received in sufficient time to render a decision prior to the end of the ninety-day time period.

     The department shall make a determination regarding "good cause" in a final order as provided in RCW 51.52.050.

     The ninety-day limitation will not apply in instances where the previous closing order has not become final.



[Statutory Authority: 2004 c 65 and 2004 c 163. 04-22-085, § 296-14-400, filed 11/2/04, effective 12/15/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 51.32.190 and 51.32.210. 90-22-054, § 296-14-400, filed 11/5/90, effective 12/6/90. Statutory Authority: Chapters 51.04, 51.32 and 51.36 RCW. 90-04-007, § 296-14-400, filed 1/26/90, effective 2/26/90. Statutory Authority: Chapters 51.08 and 51.32 RCW. 88-14-011 (Order 88-13), § 296-14-400, filed 6/24/88.]