First Report of Injury (FROI): “The initial claims report filed with the Commission by or on behalf of the insurer or self-insurer concerning an injury. A FROI is also a method to report a denial, a change of information previously reported via EDI, a CA acquisition and a cancellation of a claim.” NOTE-this is something that is filed by the employer and DOES NOT constitute a proper filing of your claim. You must accomplish that yourself with a Claim for Benefits. Do not believe your boss or insurance company if they say they have “filed your claim for you.” They cannot do that.
Fraud: This is a legal term of art. It generally refers to the situation where an employee files a claim benefits even though he/she did not suffer an injury or did not suffer a work-related accident. Employers can also be fraudulent if they understate the number of employees they have or the type of work the employees do. The Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission does not prosecute fraud cause. Fraud is handled by the local law enforcement agencies such as the state police.
Full and Final Mediation (FFM): See our blog on Alternative Dispute Resolution. “Full and Final” simply means that all issues, including both the indemnity (weekly check) payments and lifetime medical will be resolved at mediation.
Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE): This is a series of “performance-based tests that help objectively measure injured workers’ physical abilities. The tests gauge physical strength, range of motion, stamina and tolerance of functional activities.” They are typically ordered by your authorized treating physician once you have been declared to be at maximum medical improvement.
There are two potential purposes for an FCE: One can be to measure your current work capabilities and determine your physical restrictions; a second can be to evaluate the permanent partial impairment (PPI) rating of a specific body part and assign a percentage rating to that body part. It is important that you be very careful who is performing the FCE, as some facilities tend to be extremely employer-oriented, promising to rush employees back to work when the employee may not, in fact, be ready to return to full duty.
It is also important to do your best on these tests as any fake issues can easily be detected.
Contact a Skilled Work Injury Lawyer Today
Joe Miller knows Virginia Workers’ Compensation Law. He has been helping injured workers for over a quarter of a century. He understands the full range of legal issues and works aggressively to get you all the benefits you deserve. To discuss your case with a seasoned professional, phone attorney Joe Miller today at 888-694-1671 and ask for Joe Miller, or complete his online contact form.
