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Vocational Provider News Bulletin
June 2025
This news bulletin covers important updates, reminders, and resources that the Return-to Work-Partnerships (RTWP) program wants to share with vocational providers.
We will continue to send individual GovDelivery messages when your action is requested.
Personnel Updates
Congratulations to three of our valued RTWP staff members!
Amy Rhodes began her transition into a new position with L&I on June 1 as the Director of Organizational Change Readiness for the Office of Strategy and Performance. She will be helping our agency leaders to make informed, data-driven, strategic decisions regarding change readiness and adoption.
As many of you may know, Amy became the first QA Program Manager in 2022 within the Return-to-Work Partnerships Program after she led us through major changes as the Vocational Recovery Project Manager in 2020. Prior to her work with RTWP Amy also served on L&I’s Worker’s Compensation Systems Modernization (WCSM) project.
During her time with RTWP, Amy developed and led the Vocational Recovery Advisory Committee, solidified the QA team structure and formalized many processes. She also keeps things fun, and she fosters a culture of collaboration, which was a big help as we shifted into the new vocational recovery model.
Bailey Ramsdell is our new Vocational Services Specialist (VSS) Supervisor. Bailey joins Lara Drabek and Fernando Herron in managing the team.
Bailey has been a member of the VSS team with Return to Work Partnerships for the past six years. Before that, she served as a Claim Manager and Workers’ Compensation Coordinator. Bailey has leveraged these perspectives to serve as an effective liaison between vocational professionals and Claim Managers.
Most recently, Bailey served as our Claims VSS to the Out of State-Out of Country unit. As a trainer, Bailey has been instrumental to onboarding new VSS staff within the RTW program. She facilitates classes to new claim managers on how vocational services help workers and aid in the resolution of claims. The VSS Contact List will be updated soon to reflect the revised supervisor assignments.
Courtney Stanley has started a developmental job assignment (DJA) with Insurance Services. She will be working with our Chief Administrative Officer, Audrey Dorsey, supporting a variety of agency-wide key initiatives, as well as some project work within RTWP.
Since 2021, Courtney has played an instrumental role in communications, event planning for the vocational community, and developing internal processes.
We're thankful that Courtney remains connected with our team in a different capacity. She will continue to be a lifeline for our program. We’ll continue to tap into her expertise of records management, communications, and project work. Most of her day-to-day responsibilities will shift to Kate Greene and others in the QA Unit.
Many thanks to each of you for your hard work and meaningful contributions.
We wish you the very best in your new positions!
Counselor Spotlight
Jennifer Lukkasson Crider, VRC at Rainier Case Management, recognizes Kim McArdle, VRC Intern, for engaging effectively with a worker and their employer. The employer said Kim was “proactive, responsive, and timely in the services she provided, which made a positive impact as we addressed the claim.”
Jan Olsen, Vocational Firm Manager at Olsen and Associates, recognizes Eve Griffith, VRC, for the services she provided during a plan implementation referral. The worker contacted Eve more than eight years after completing retraining to express his gratitude for her help and support. Because of Eve’s help through the claim process, the worker obtained employment in a position with a significantly higher income than what he earned at the time of injury.
Fernando Herron, Vocational Services Specialist Supervisor, recognizes VRC, Allison Seavey at Ability Vocational Consulting, for assisting a worker during plan development and plan implementation. The worker completed English as a Second Language (ESL) and math preparation courses prior to retraining. The worker continued their learning path and earned an associate’s degree. This is a great example of how workers can now use Skill Enhancement Training (SET).
Thank you for all you do to prevent work disability!
Want to send a shout-out? Email the Vocational Recovery Project.
Updates
MARFS 2025
The 2025 Medical Aide Rules and Fee Schedules (MARFS) are now online, effective July 1. Be sure to check out Chapter 25: Vocational Services.
Updates include:
- The 0388R billing code changed to allow its use in vocational recovery for college placement tests and enrollment fees (for SET).
- Efforts to make sections easier to understand.
VSS Vocational Activities Report
March - April
New Resources
Financial Literacy Resource
Check out this new WorkSource Financial Literacy Resource. This resource outlines multiple offerings for financial literacy workshops, coaching, and virtual training to help workers manage and improve their finances.
Self-Insured Claims
Do you provide vocational services on self-insured claims? Check out our expanded Vocational Providers & Self-insured Employers web page. We’ve added more tips and links to commonly used L&I forms and publications.
WorkSource
If you need to contact the Early Return to Work/WorkSource Vocational Services Specialists supervisors about their services, please see the updated contact list on the Labor & Industries at WorkSource web page.
Reminders
Intern Supervisor Expectation Forms Due on July 31
The Vocational Intern Supervisor Expectations Form is an important tool as it outlines the minimum skills interns need to meet the expectations of completing the internship. The supervisor confirms the intern understands and demonstrates each skill before initialing.
Forms are due July 31!
Attending Providers in Mexico
VRCs must always coordinate with a Claim Manager before contacting or sending information directly to out-of-country medical providers. We have seen a recent uptick in issues with Attending Providers in Mexico. Please work with the Claim Manager before contacting an out-of-country medical provider. L&I’s Foreign Provider Liaison helps to prevent common issues that impact workers, as well as the bill payments. Unit U staff cover Mexico-based claims. The Unit U Claim Manager or VSS can assist if needed.
For more information, refer to the Guide to Working with Out-of-State and Out-of-Country Workers
Upcoming Webinars
Empower Your Business by Understanding Workers' Compensation in WA
L&I is hosting a webinar for Washington State employers that provides valuable information and resources for their workers’ compensation and return-to-work programs. As a vocational provider, you may also attend to get some tips to support employers.
Register here for the Empower Your Business by Understanding Workers' Compensation Webinar:
Wednesday, July 16, 9:30 a.m. to noon
Loss of Earning Power Webinar
Wednesday, July 30, noon to 1 p.m. - Details to follow
Send in your QA Data
Email your monthly data to the Vocational Firm Data mailbox on the 21st day of every month.
Feedback
Questions about the bulletin? Email the Vocational Recovery Project.
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