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Act Now - The Report of the WCB Legislative Review Panel to the

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<strong>The</strong> <strong>Panel</strong> considered whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> injured worker should be <strong>the</strong> one who makes decisionsabout <strong>the</strong>ir treatment. However, <strong>the</strong> <strong>Panel</strong> concluded that <strong>the</strong> <strong>WCB</strong> should make <strong>the</strong> finaldecision about treatment facilities used by injured workers. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Panel</strong> expects that <strong>the</strong>sedecisions will be made in a manner that reflects <strong>the</strong> purpose <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Act</strong>s and <strong>the</strong> Values <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> <strong>WCB</strong>.<strong>The</strong> <strong>Panel</strong> was concerned <strong>to</strong> hear that some decisions about treatment are made in <strong>the</strong>absence <strong>of</strong> any consultation with an injured worker. This is not acceptable. <strong>The</strong> injuredworker must know why a particular facility is chosen. <strong>The</strong> injured worker may haveviable alternatives <strong>the</strong> <strong>WCB</strong> might accept.Recommendation: 3.6.10 Medical Compensation1. <strong>The</strong> legislation should be changed <strong>to</strong> require <strong>the</strong> <strong>WCB</strong> <strong>to</strong> consult with <strong>the</strong> injuredworker before <strong>the</strong> selection <strong>of</strong> specialists or specialized treatment facilities that willbe providing medical compensation.3.6.11 Vocational RehabilitationMany stakeholders <strong>to</strong>ld <strong>the</strong> <strong>Panel</strong> about <strong>the</strong> importance <strong>of</strong> vocational rehabilitation <strong>to</strong>injured workers who can no longer perform <strong>the</strong> work <strong>the</strong>y did before a work-relatedinjury or disease.<strong>The</strong> majority <strong>of</strong> respondents <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Stakeholder Questionnaire thought <strong>the</strong> legislationshould be specific about <strong>the</strong> intent <strong>of</strong> vocational rehabilitation. <strong>The</strong> majority <strong>of</strong>respondents did not see extending vocational rehabilitation benefits <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> dependants <strong>of</strong>injured or deceased workers.Generally, o<strong>the</strong>r jurisdictions provide an enabling reference for vocational rehabilitationin <strong>the</strong>ir legislation. <strong>The</strong> details <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> program are found in policy.<strong>WCB</strong> <strong>Legislative</strong> <strong>Review</strong> <strong>Panel</strong> <strong>Report</strong> Page 62 <strong>of</strong> 128December, 2001

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