BWC Rebrand
BWC is undergoing an exciting rebranding project in alignment with Ohio's new brand. This initiative aims to showcase Ohio's diversity and opportunities, including job prospects, family-friendly communities, quality of life, and tourism attractions. While maintaining our commitment to excellent customer experiences, we will sport a new look that reflects our Vision, Mission, and Core Values.
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Pharmacy Outpatient Medication Formulary
The outpatient medication formulary is a list of drugs covered by BWC. All medications are listed in their generic form, even if they are not available as generic. BWC does not reimburse for brand-name drugs when a generic equivalent is widely available. If a brand-name drug is requested and dispensed, the injured worker pays the difference in price between the generic price and the brand-name drug.
The drug search tool is available online. Medications may be searched by name or national drug code (NDC). This tool will display the brand and generic names. Medication is not covered when the search returns zero results.
A prior authorization request must be submitted for:
- All medications in medical-only claims beyond 60 days from the date of injury.
- All medications beyond 270 days of the last paid prescription.
- All medications exceeding $3,000.
- Any medication that has specific requirements as referenced in the formulary appendix.
For more information, contact our dedicated pharmacy contact center by email or phone.
Pharmacies needing billing assistance may contact our pharmacy benefits manager, Change Healthcare, at 1-888-292-5229, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
This formulary does not directly apply to self-insuring employers. If you have questions about self-insured claims, please contact the self-insured employer directly or call 1-800-644-6292 for assistance.
Temporary Labor Services Policy Update
BWC recently updated the Temporary Labor Services policy to reflect changes in the workforce and gig economy. The definition of “temporary labor services (temp or staffing) agency” has been revised to include digital network staffing platforms. The policy makes clear that individuals provided to a third-party employer, in an employer-employee relationship setting, are employees of the temp agency regardless of the temp agency’s use of a digital network staffing platform.
BWC Makes Significant Improvements to Transitional Work Programs
BWC implemented changes to the Transitional Work Grant and Bonus Programs effective July 1, 2023. These changes help strengthen Ohio businesses and protect the employability of Ohio’s injured workers.
The goal of BWC’s transitional work programs is to help employers control their workers’ compensation costs and facilitate the recovery and return of an injured worker back to work as soon as medically appropriate following an injury.
Grant reimbursement increases
Effective July 1, BWC increased transitional work grant caps. These caps are based on the number of employees reported on the employer’s last payroll report to BWC.
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Level
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Past
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Effective July 1, 2023
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11-49 employees
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$2,900
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$3,700
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50-199 employees
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$5,200
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$6,800
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200+ employees
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$6,300
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$8,200
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BWC also increased the reimbursement for a job analysis, from $200 to $350 per job analysis. A job analysis identifies essential job functions, describes the physical demands of required tasks, work conditions, knowledge, and skilled experience needed to perform a job, and is the essential tool providers and employers use to bring an injured worker back to work.
All other services will continue to be reimbursed up to $200/hour. There is no out-of-pocket cost for employers. The employer is reimbursed 100% up to the employer’s maximum grant amount. After the initial grant plan payment, the employer may use the remaining grant funds to purchase additional services. At five years the grant expires, and unspent funds are returned to BWC. However, after five years the employer may apply for a new transitional work grant.
Transitional work bonus program made easier for Ohio employers
There is no longer a form requirement for Transitional Work Bonus program participants beginning with State Fund employers participating in the July 1, 2023, bonus period, and for public employers for the Jan. 1, 2024, bonus period.
We removed the barriers for employers to receive up to a 10% rebate on their premiums. Employers will no longer be required to submit the Transitional Work Offer and Acceptance Form (TWB-2), for every offer of transitional work made to an employee who returns to work with restrictions during the bonus period. The bonus calculation will be made using managed care organization (MCO) and BWC information.
To learn more about these programs, visit our website, Transitional Work Programs, or send your questions to the Transitional Work Unit email box.
Public Employment Risk Reduction Program (PERRP) Five-Year Rule Review
The PERRP five-year rule review (5YRR) of Ohio Administrative Code, Chapter 4167 is underway. The 5YRR review also includes proposals for new occupational safety and health standards for public employers. When the rules are available for stakeholder feedback, we will make them available for review on the PERRP Adopted Standards webpage. If you want to receive notifications about the new rules, send an email to perrpupdate@ohio.gov.
Upcoming Safety Webinars
We are offering several safety webinars in the next few months. These webinars provide Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and certificates when attendees complete the requirements of each webinar, including a short knowledge assessment immediately following the webinar. Here are the topics:
Heroin: It's Closer Than You Think 10/3/2023
Overlooked Hazards in Industrial Hygiene 10/24/2023
Healing the Human Brain 2: How Do We Repair and Rewire It? 11/7/2023
The Domino Effect of Safety Culture 12/6/2023
Webinar and e-Course offerings are continuously updated. The most current list available for enrollment month to month can be found here.
Expansion of Firefighter Exposure to Environmental Elements Grants (FEEEG) to Include Turnout Gear for Volunteer Fire Departments
On July 25, Governor Mike DeWine and BWC Administrator John Logue announced that local volunteer fire departments are now eligible to receive up to $15,000 in grants to pay for firefighting safety gear.
Following a recommendation from Governor DeWine’s Ohio Volunteer Fire Service Task Force, BWC has now broadened eligibility for its FEEEG to include emergency response turnout gear for local volunteer fire departments.
With this change to FEEEG eligibility, volunteer fire departments have the option to apply for $15,000 every three years for any combination of previously eligible equipment and turnout gear.
Volunteer fire departments interested in applying for FEEEG funding can visit the FEEEG webpage for more information and to complete an application.
Self-Insured (SI) Assessments
BWC invoiced the second half of the 2022-23 SI assessments in July. BWC calculates these assessments using the paid compensation reported by SI employers on the SI-40 report. For this cycle, assessments were calculated using the paid compensation reported for the 2021 calendar year. Payments were due by Aug. 31, 2023.
All SI assessment invoices are printed and mailed unless the SI employer has registered for the e-notification email. If registered, the SI designee will receive an email when an invoice has been generated on its account. The SI employer can log into their BWC account and download a copy of the invoice. We recommend paying all SI assessment invoices online. This will prevent delays in the USPS mailing system, which may cause the payment to be received late, resulting in a late payment penalty.
Find more information online, or send questions related to SI assessments to the Self-Insured Department email box at siinq@bwc.ohio.gov.
Imagination Library
Reading aloud to children is one of the most important activities you can do with your child to help them with their literacy. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio focuses on putting more books in the homes of children under the age of five, which is when critical cognitive developments occur. In fact, 80% of a child’s brain is developed by the time they turn three years old.
This free book gifting program allows every child in Ohio the ability to receive an age-appropriate book every month until their fifth birthday! Sign up today on the program’s website.
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