When you are hurt at work, a qualified rehabilitation consultant (QRC) can be one of your most important allies. A QRC helps coordinate your medical care, communicates with your employer about restrictions, and helps you return to suitable work. But what happens when the insurance company denies your claim and the QRC steps away?
Many injured workers do not know there is a safety net. The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) has a Vocational Rehabilitation Unit (VRU) for exactly this situation.
Why QRCs Withdraw
QRCs are usually paid by the workers’ compensation insurer. When the insurer denies primary liability (that the injury is work-related) or further liability (that it owes any more benefits), the QRC may no longer be paid. The QRC may then withdraw from your file.
DLI’s COMPACT newsletter explains that QRCs must follow specific rules when withdrawing. The process depends largely on whether you are disputing the denial.
If You Are Fighting the Denial
If you dispute the insurer’s decision and have started litigation, your file can be referred to VRU. Litigation can include filing an Employee’s Claim Petition, an Objection to Discontinuance, or a request for an administrative conference.
The QRC files a form in DLI’s Work Comp Campus system with the insurer’s denial attached. A referral is then sent to VRU automatically. VRU reviews the file to confirm litigation is pending. If it accepts the referral, a VRU QRC is assigned.
That QRC will contact you to develop a new rehabilitation plan. Services continue until your case is resolved, a settlement is approved, or you return to suitable work.
One important exception: if the only dispute is a discontinuance of wage loss benefits, the referral to VRU can happen only after an objection to the administrative decision on the discontinuance is filed.
If You Are Not Disputing the Denial
If you do not contest the denial, the QRC closes the file. But you have not lost your chance. If you later decide to litigate, VRU can perform a rehabilitation consultation and, if you are eligible, provide services.
If the QRC Simply Wants to Stop
Sometimes a QRC wants to withdraw even when the claim has not been denied. In that case, the QRC must ask DLI’s Alternative Dispute Resolution unit for help. DLI will try to resolve the issue or hold a conference and issue a decision.
Why Vocational Help Matters While Your Case Is Pending
DLI describes VRU’s mission as helping injured workers get needed vocational assistance before, rather than after, a court decides liability. Litigation can take months. Without help, many injured workers fall behind. They lose touch with their employer, struggle to find work within their restrictions, or miss treatment. VRU services can help you:
- Look for work that fits your restrictions
- Communicate with your employer about returning to work
- Coordinate medical care related to your ability to work
- Build a record that supports your claim for wage loss benefits
Rehabilitation services can also play a large role in your case. Whether you cooperated with a rehab plan and conducted a diligent job search can affect your right to wage loss benefits.
Act Quickly
DLI recommends that VRU referrals be made as early as possible, well before any scheduled conference or hearing. That gives VRU time to provide meaningful help. If your claim has been denied, do not wait.
We Can Help You File and Keep Services in Place
At Mottaz & Sisk Injury Law, we regularly file claim petitions to challenge denials and make sure our clients keep access to rehabilitation services. Our offices are in Coon Rapids, Shakopee, St. Cloud, and Woodbury. Consultations are free, we work on contingency, and we do not bill clients for costs. Call 763-421-8226 or contact us.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Every case is unique, and results may vary. Consult an attorney about your specific circumstances.
