Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-03-24 Daily Xml

Contents

Answers to Questions

WORKCOVER REHABILITATION AND COMPENSATION

In reply to the Hon. J.A. DARLEY (24 July 2008).

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business): The Minister for Industrial Relations has provided the following information:

1. De Poi Consultancy Services were not exempt from participating in the rotational referral system. The rotational system was an effective instrument to ensure that De Poi Consultancy and all other providers continued to receive a historically consistent number of referrals during the period the rotational referral system operated.

Many providers have established strong preferred provider networks. Referral overrides can occur in circumstances where the employer or worker could establish that sound reasons existed to direct the referral to a particular provider. An example of this would be any employer requesting to utilise a provider who had previously provided service to them and who was familiar with the workplace including physical demands of available alternative duties. The general experience is that better results are achieved where strong provider relationships exist and the provider has either good workplace knowledge or a good relationship with worker representatives.

2. Not applicable.

3. De Poi Consultancy Services' performance is assessed in the same manner as other rehabilitation providers. CAPO is one tool that advises of provider performance and provide for some indication of comparative provider performance.

Employers Mutual are responsible for referrals to providers and assessing provider performance through monthly data given by providers, feedback received from claims staff, and quarterly performance information relating to claims closed in the quarter. The file audit strategy is also linked to feedback from Employers Mutual's quality assurance team and case managers. It also considers statistical feedback, and findings from Employers Mutual's regular internal file reviews.

4. De Poi Consultancy Services' results were considered to be in the top third of providers in the period when key provider relationships were established.