At the urging of AFGE members at Rock Island Arsenal, a group of lawmakers in Illinois and Iowa is pressing the Department of Labor (DOL) to make sure there are enough medical providers who take workers’ compensation cases so federal workers don’t have to travel far for care or go without the treatments they need for on-the-job injuries.
Several members of AFGE Local 2119 representing Department of Defense (DoD) at the Rock Island Arsenal in Illinois have been injured on the job with rotator cuff/shoulder injuries, carpel tunnel syndrome, and neck and back pain. But none of them could get service in the area. They either have to drive an hour and a half to Iowa City or two hours to Chicago to get treatment or continue to get worse from lack of it.
There was even an employee who got something in their eye and could not see an optometrist because the optometrists in the area don’t participate in the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP).
Many providers cite difficulties coordinating with and getting payments from DOL for not taking part in OWCP.
During the AFGE Legislative Conference earlier this year, Local 2119 reached out to their representatives, prompting them to investigate the issue and press Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su to improve the workers compensation program.
“There are multiple orthopedic providers in the Quad Cities who have resources and skills to treat patients. However, some providers have stated that the OWCP process is too cumbersome and they lose money by participating,” said a letter to Su signed by Quad Cities lawmakers – Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa; Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa; Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill.; Rep. Eric Sorensen, D-Ill.
The Quad Cities include Rock Island and Moline in Illinois and Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa.
“We as federal employees have been dealing with the issue of local doctors not participating in the Federal Workers Compensation program for a few years. It has caused unnecessary financial burden and physical pain to our brothers and sisters who support the war fighter,” said AFGE Local 2119 Vice President Chad Finch. “We thank all of our congressional leaders for their help with this issue and hope we can come to a speedy resolution to the issue.”
Other OWCP issues
AFGE has voiced concerns over OWCP for years. Due to staffing shortages, a rise in claims, and a lengthy approval process, federal employees injured on the job risk progressing into lifelong disabilities.
The number of claims examiners decreased during the Trump administration. Even though more than 300 claims examiners and medical treatment adjudicators have been hired during the Biden administration, it’s still not enough to tackle the rising workload.
It could take months for employees injured on the job to get their claims approved before they could get treatment, which often worsens their injuries.
Because federal workers receive little guidance on how to navigate the complicated process of filing a claim, and if denied, appealing it, AFGE has been holding workshops at the worksites and online to guide them through. This year, we have done more than 35 online and in person OWCP classes. More than 750 members attended these classes as they are free of charge for union members.
“The OWCP process is difficult especially for a member/employee who is injured for the first time,” AFGE Supervisory Workers’ Compensation Specialist Joe Mansour said. “AFGE is committed to providing multiple OWCP classes throughout 2024 to empower our locals and leaders to help members manage their claims process and equip them with knowledge and skills.”
The next OWCP/COVID class will take place on Jan. 3 and 4. Click here to sign up. Visit AFGE’s OWCP page for more information about OWCP.
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