Protecting Employees, 

Ensuring Reemployment 

(PEER) Initiative

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

March 31, 2020
Julia K. Hearthway

Director, Office of Workers’ 

Compensation Programs

Page 2 03/31/2020
PEER Initiative

▪Memorandum issued by Acting Director 

Vought of the Office of Management and 

Budget on January 9, 2020.

▪Memorandum Issued by Secretary Scalia on 

February 25, 2020.

▪Specifying Agency Targets for FY 2020 – FY 

2022.

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PEER Initiative

▪ Runs from FY 2020 through FY 2022.

▪ Includes U.S. Postal Service for OWCP goals – largest 

employing agency.

▪ Supports the President’s Management Agenda:

- Promoting government efficiencies and modernization.

- Improving workplace safety/health including reduced opioid use.

▪ Promotes return-to-work outcomes increase for injured federal 

workers.

▪ Technical efficiencies with electronic filing.

Page 4 03/31/2020
Antonio A. Rios

Director, Division of Federal 

Employees’ Compensation

Page 5 03/31/2020
Agenda

 PEER Goals

 ECOMP Enhancements

 Technical Assistance

Page 6 03/31/2020
PEER Initiative

PEER

Executive 

Agencies and 

Departments

Performance 

Targets

U.S. Postal 

Service

ECOMP 

Mandated by 

9/30/2020

Page 7 03/31/2020
PEER Initiative Performance Goals

Goal 1 – Total injury/illness case rates

Goal 2 – Lost time injury/illness case rates

Goal 3 – Timely filing of CA-1s and CA-2s

Goal 4 – Timely filing of CA-7s

Goal 5 – Return to work in 45 days post traumatic injuries

Goal 6 – Return to work in a 2-year period after disability

Goal 7 – Use of Employees Compensation Operations and 

Management Portal (ECOMP)

Page 8 03/31/2020

Reduce 

Injury 

Rates

Increase 

Timeliness

& RTW 

Rates
Mikki Holmes

Acting Director, Office of 

Federal Agency Programs, 

OSHA

Page 9 03/31/2020
PEER Goal 1 & 2:

Total Case & Time Lose Case Rates

Page 10 03/31/2020
PEER Goal 1 and 2: Total Case and Lost Time Case Rates 

 Goal 1 – Reduce total injury and illness case rates by 1% or 4% per 

year below the actual rate from two years prior.

 Goal 2 – Reduce lost-time injury and illness case rates by 1% or 4% 

per year below the actual rate from two years prior.

 Agencies at or above the national average must reduce their rates 

by 4%, while those below the national average must reduce their 

rates by 1%. Those with rates at or below 1 must maintain their 

rate.

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Goals 1 & 2 Total and Lost Time Case Rates – Performance targets for 

the government as a whole (Executive Branch)

FY 2018 Baseline FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022

TCR – 1.93

LTCR – 1.04

TCR Target – 1.85

LTCR Target – 1.00

Reduce 1% or 4%

below 2019

Reduce 1% or 4%

below 2020
PEER Goal 3 & 4:

Timely Filing of CA-1 / CA-2

Page 12 03/31/2020
Target Rate for Goal 3 and 4 Timely Filing of CA-1s, CA-2s, CA-7s

• 98% maximum target performance or 

continuation of FY 2018 performance if 

equal or greater than 98%

• Increase Timeliness by 3% each year

• From FY 2018 performance

Page 13 03/31/2020

Baseline

Increase

Target
PEER Goal 3: Timely Filing of CA-1s and CA-2s

 Increase the timely filing rate of workers’ compensation claims 

for injury or illness by 3% per year above agency’s FY 2018 

performance or meet established minimum filing percentages, 

whichever is greater. 

 Maximum targets will be set at 98% or, if greater, the 

continuation of the agency’s FY 2018 performance.

Page 14 03/31/2020

Goal 3 CA-1/CA-2 Timeliness Performance Targets for All Agencies

FY 2018 Baseline FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022

94.70% 97.54% 98.00% 98.00%

The minimum filing percentages are set at 98%, meaning 98% of their filed claims must be timely. Agencies below this threshold must improve 

at a rate of 3% per year above the agency’s FY 2018 performance until they reach 98% or above. If an agency is already at or above 98%, then 

they must maintain in order to score a success in this goal.
PEER Goal 3: Timely Filing of CA-1s and CA-2s

 CA-1: The filing employee’s date provided in block 15 or when 

clicking “SIGN AND FILE” is used to determine the timeliness of 

the claim.

Page 15 03/31/2020
PEER Goal 3: Timely Filing of CA-1s & CA-2s

 CA-2: The filing employee’s date provided in block 18 or when 

clicking “SIGN AND FILE” is used to determine the timeliness of 

the claim.

Page 16 03/31/2020
PEER Goal 4: Timely Filing of CA-7s

 Increase the timely filing rate of wage loss claims for injury or 

illness by 3% per year above agency’s FY 2018 performance or 

meet established minimum filing percentages, whichever is 

greater.

 Maximum targets will be set at 98% or, if greater, the 

continuation of the agency’s FY 2018 performance.

Page 17 03/31/2020

Goal 4 CA-7 Timeliness Performance Targets for All Agencies

FY 2018 Baseline FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022

93.81% 96.62% 98.00% 98.00%
PEER Goal 4: Timely Filing of CA-7s

 The date the claimant submitted the claim by clicking the 

“SIGN AND FILE” button is used to measure the timeliness of 

the claim.

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PEER Goal 5:

Return to Work During COP

Page 19 03/31/2020
PEER Goal 5: Return to Work During Continuation of Pay

 Increase return-to-work outcomes during the initial 45-day 

post-injury period for traumatic injuries, with annual targets to 

be established from FY 2020 performance as baseline.

 For cases to be counted, OWCP is notified via:

- FECA Form CA-1;

- OWCP assigned nurse; or

- Agency electronic submission of Form CA-3.

Page 20 03/31/2020

Goal 5 RTW During COP Performance Targets for All Agencies

FY 2018 Baseline FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022

N/A Baseline Year TBD TBD
PEER Goal 5: Return to Work During Continuation of Pay

 Return to Work during Continuation of Pay (COP) success is 

defined as a case in which the injured employee both stopped 

working and returned to work within 45 days from the date of 

injury. Cases that meet this criteria are scored as successes for 

the agency. 

 If an employee stops working within 45 days of the date of 

injury, but does not return to work within 45 days of the date 

of injury, these are scored, but not as successes. Cases 

completely excluded from scoring are cases where the 

employee stopped working greater than 45 days from the date 

of injury, denied cases, and non-traumatic injury cases because 

they are not allowed COP.

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PEER Goal 5: Return to Work During Continuation of Pay

 ECOMP: COP tracking begins when a new traumatic injury case is 

created and information on the form indicates the injured 

employee stopped working in block 24.

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PEER Goal 5: Return to Work During Continuation of Pay

 ECOMP: An agency can inform OWCP of employee’s return to duty 

in block 27.

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PEER Goal 5: Return to Work During Continuation of Pay

 Fill out Form CA-3 to inform OWCP of a return to work.

Page 24 03/31/2020
PEER Goal 5: Return to Work During Continuation of Pay

Page 25 03/31/2020

Cases Included Cases Excluded

Traumatic injury (TI) cases in which 

OWCP has been notified that the 

injured worker (IW) stopped work 

within 45 days of the date of injury.

TI cases where the IW stopped work 

more than 45 days following the 

date of injury.

Measure whether the IW returned 

to work within 45 days of the date of 

injury (yes/no).

Denied claims.

Cases in which 45 or more days have 

elapsed since the date of injury, and 

there has been no return to work.

Non-traumatic injury cases.
PEER Goal 5: Return to Work During Continuation of Pay

Page 26 03/31/2020
PEER Goal 5: Return to Work During Continuation of Pay

Page 27 03/31/2020
PEER Goal 6:

Return to Work after Disability

Page 28 03/31/2020
PEER Goal 6: Return to Work After Disability (11 Agencies)

 Increase the rate of return-to-work (RTW) outcomes within a 

two-year period for federal workers who sustain serious 

injuries or illnesses. Improve 1% per year above agency’s 

baseline performance.

 Maximum targets will be set at 98% or, if greater, the 

continuation of the agency’s FY 2018 performance.

Page 29 03/31/2020

Goal 6 RTW Performance Targets for All Agencies

FY 2018 Baseline FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022

90.06% 90.96% 91.87% 92.79%
PEER Goal 6: Return to Work After Disability (11 Agencies) 

 While all agencies are encouraged to improve their return-towork rating, the agencies with the largest case volumes (i.e., a 

total of 100+ new serious injury cases measured for FY 2016 & 

2017 periods) are subject to this goal.

Page 30 03/31/2020

AGENCIES

Department of the Air Force Department of Agriculture

Department of the Army Department of the Interior

Department of Defense

(excluding Army, Navy, Air Force)

Department of Justice

Department of the Navy Department of Homeland Security

Department of Veterans Affairs Department of the Treasury

U.S. Postal Service
PEER Goal 6: Return to Work After Disability (11 Agencies) 

Why only 11 agencies?

Without a sufficient volume of new serious injury cases, despite agency 

best efforts, individual cases can make meeting a goal difficult. 

Therefore, only the 11 agencies with the largest case volumes (i.e., a 

total of 100+ new serious injury cases measured for FY 2016 and 2017 

periods) are subject to this goal.

How are cases scored?

 The goal measures return-to-work outcomes within a 2-year period, so 

the cases scored for FY 2020 were initiated in FY 2018.

Page 31 03/31/2020
PEER Goal 6: Return to Work After Disability (11 Agencies)

Which cases are scored?

 Disability Management (DM) records are electronic records 

used in DFEC’s Integrated Federal Employees’ Compensation 

System (iFECS) computer case management application. DM 

records are created in cases when the injured employee 

becomes partially or totally disabled from the work due to the 

injury. Each DM record captures data relevant to the period of 

disability, as well as claims examiner actions taken to reduce 

the length of disability, or otherwise return the employee to 

employment. DM records provide a method for claims 

examiners to track and more effectively manage cases 

involving disability.

Page 32 03/31/2020
PEER Goal 6: Return to Work After Disability (11 Agencies) 

Which cases are scored?

 Only cases where an injured employee actually returns to some form 

of gainful employment (federal or non-federal) are scored as 

successes. Cases included in the performance rating are:

- Cases entered into OWCP’s Disability Management (DM) tracking in 

Employees Compensation Operations and Management Portal 

(ECOMP).

- When injured worker returns to the employing agency within the 2 year 

tracking period from DM start date.

- RTW status is determined by DM coding entered by OWCP.

 Cases where benefits were terminated, suspended, or simply not 

claimed by the employee, are excluded (see next slide).

Page 33 03/31/2020
PEER Goal 6: DM Tracking Closure Exclusion from Scoring

Page 34 03/31/2020

CCO Benefits Terminated, no continuing injury-related disability

CFC Fraud Termination, against OWCP/US Government

CRC Reduction – Incarcerated due to Felony

CSB Compensation Not Claimed

DEA Death of Claimant

TTD Continuing Total Disability per Second Opinion/Referee

TNX Comp reduced/declined temp LD-10.500

CCT Comp terminated/declined temp LD-10.500

CPN Permanent Total Disability Determination

SUM Suspension of Compensation for Obstruction of Medical Examination

(if code SRO (Suspension Reopened) is subsequently entered, the case will be removed from exclusion and again 

tracked for RTW)

SUC Suspension of Compensation for Rehab Non-Cooperation, but only if preceded by one of the following codes:

• RHN (Placement Previous Employer - Without Other Services)

• RHW (Placement Previous Employer - With Other Services)

If code SRO (Suspension Reopened) is subsequently entered, the case will be removed from exclusion and again 

tracked for RTW

RMV Remove from DM - unless followed by a DM code of PFP, PL$, PLF or PLP within two years of the DM start date
PEER Goal 6: Return to Work After Disability (11 Agencies) 

Page 35 03/31/2020
PEER Goal 6: Return to Work After Disability (11 Agencies) 

Page 36 03/31/2020
PEER Goal 7:

Use of ECOMP

Page 37 03/31/2020
PEER Goal 7: Use of ECOMP

 FECA regulations require that agencies provide a method of 

electronic filing of key workers’ compensation claim forms 

wherever feasible (20 C.F.R. §10.100 et. Seq.).

 In 2011, DOL launched Employees Compensation Operations 

and Management Portal (ECOMP) to standardize the claims 

process and aid in direct and immediate communication with 

an injured employee, facilitating prompt treatment and 

providing critical opioid awareness and pain education.

 Beginning September 30, 2020, agencies must use ECOMP to 

file all notices of injury and compensation claims to receive 

credit (yes or no indicator) for Goal 7.

 To date, ECOMP has 226,185 registered users.

Page 38 03/31/2020
PEER Goal 7: Use of ECOMP

•Agency 

Maintenance

•Agency approval & 

review

•Agency Query 

System

•Upload supporting 

documents

•Review uploaded 

documents

•CE-LinQ

•Disability 

Management 

Interface

•Timely receipt for 

disability 

management 

intervention

•Request medical 

evidence

•OSHA Form 301

•FECA Form CA-1

•FECA Form CA-2

•FECA Form CA-3

•FECA Form CA-6

•FECA Form CA-7

Forms Disability 

Mgmt

Agency 

Admin

Document 

Mgmt

Page 39 03/31/2020

ECOMP
PEER Goal 7: Use of ECOMP 

Measuring Performance

Page 40 03/31/2020
PEER Goal 7: Use of ECOMP

Page 41 03/31/2020
PEER Goal 7: Use of ECOMP

Page 42 03/31/2020
Page 43 03/31/2020

Pass / Fail
Recent ECOMP 

Enhancements: 

CE-LinQ

(Claims Examiner Query Link)

Page 44 03/31/2020
CE-LinQ (Claims Examiner Query Link)

 Two-way communications system available December 2019. 

Claims Examiner inquiries reach ECOMP Agency Reviewers and 

agency personnel responses are transmitted back to the Claims 

Examiner in near real time.

 Efficient electronic process.

 Why is this important?

Faster entitlement decisions and benefit payments.

Allows us to work virtually from anywhere. Since ECOMP is an 

internet application, it doesn’t require users to be in a specific 

agency tunnel/network.

Page 45 03/31/2020
CE-LinQ (Claims Examiner Query Link)

Page 46 03/31/2020
CE-LinQ (Claims Examiner Query Link)

Page 47 03/31/2020
CE-LinQ (Claims Examiner Query Link) Categories

Page 48 03/31/2020

CE-LinQ Task Type Task Due 

Days

Explanation

Compensation Claim 

Development

7 OWCP strives to issue payments in 14 days.

Payrate/Payment 7 OWCP strives to issue payments in 14 days.

Job Offers/Return to Work 

(RTW)

14 RTW is a high priority in disability 

management.

Controversion/COP/CA1038 20 OWCP strives to resolve in 30 days.

Reconsideration 20 OWCP strives to adjudicate these in 30 

days.

Recurrence Development 20 OWCP strives to adjudicate these in 30 

days.

Initial Development 30 OWCP strives to adjudicate initial claims 

(traumatic injury) in 45 days.
Recent Enhancements:

Agency Query System (AQS) 

Integration with ECOMP

Page 49 03/31/2020
AQS (Agency Query System) Integration with ECOMP

The same population of users was previously using 

parallel systems.

Now single sign-on with integrated ECOMP 

functionality.

Released March 19, 2020.

Page 50 03/31/2020
AQS (Agency Query System)

Page 51 03/31/2020
AQS (Agency Query System)

Page 52 03/31/2020
Upcoming ECOMP 

Enhancements: 

Your Requests

Page 53 03/31/2020
Upcoming Enhancements due to Recent Agency Requests

▪ To ensure continuity of operations while employees are 

working virtually:

▪ CE-LinQ for Agency Expansion – April 2020

▪ WEEDS Forms Upload Expansion (CA-2a, 7a, 7b, 16) – April 2020

Page 54 03/31/2020
CE-LinQ for Agency Expansion

Page 55 03/31/2020

▪ Expanding ECOMP’s CE-LinQ to include the other correspondence 

addressed directly to the employing agency.

▪ Additional letters include correspondence sent by the CE in response to 

agency inquiries, requests for Leave Buy Back information and requests 

for salary offset. 

▪ Tasks will be created and the Task Name will be the subject of the 

letter chosen by the CE when issuing the correspondence. 

▪ These Tasks will not have due dates. 

▪ Will explore expanding CE-LinQ to include all informational 

communications to agencies (when CCd) such as developments 

letters to the claimant, decisions, etc.
WEEDS Forms Upload Expansion

▪ Expanding WEEDS Forms upload capability to include

▪ CA-2a

▪ CA-7a

▪ CA-7b

▪ CA-16

Page 56 03/31/2020
Other Upcoming ECOMP 

Enhancements

Page 57 03/31/2020
Other Upcoming Enhancements

▪ CQS Integration – Late April 2020

▪ Elimination of DMI Licenses – April/May 2020

▪ CE-LinQ for Claimants – Winter 2020/2021

▪ Real Time ARi – Winter 2020/2021

Page 58 03/31/2020
Upcoming ECOMP Enhancements:

Claimant Query System (CQS) 

Integration

Page 59 03/31/2020
Upcoming Enhancement – CQS Integration

▪ For release in late April 2020. 

▪ Enhances access security with single-sign-on identity proofing.

▪ Links to new pharmacy benefit and bill pay provider portals.

Page 60 03/31/2020
Current CQS

Page 61 03/31/2020
New CQS in ECOMP – Identity Verified

Page 62 03/31/2020
New CQS in ECOMP – Identity Verified

Page 63 03/31/2020
New CQS in ECOMP – Identity Unverified

Page 64 03/31/2020
How do I Enroll in ECOMP?

Page 65 03/31/2020
How to enroll in ECOMP

 Sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with OWCP to 

set up agency accounts and start using ECOMP for filing FECA 

claims. Agencies using ECOMP for some forms but not others 

will need to transition all claims filing to ECOMP as well.

 For ECOMP enrollment, please contact

Ping Park, Chief of Branch of Technical Assistance

OWCP-DFEC-NO-FECA-TA-CHIEF@dol.gov

202-343-5847 (office)

Page 66 03/31/2020
Technical Assistance:

Helping You Achieve Your 

PEER Goals

Page 67 03/31/2020
Technical Assistance Quarterly Meeting

 Quarterly meetings will be held in the months of April, July, 

October and January.

 Before your meeting, you will be provided a package 

containing:

COP Report

RTW Report

Technical Assistance Platform Highlights

Page 68 03/31/2020
Technical Assistance Platform

Page 69 03/31/2020
Technical Assistance Platform (TAP)

Page 70 03/31/2020
Click a department in the table to filter other charts

Page 71 03/31/2020

Line chart now shows 

cumulative spend for DOL

Pie chart now shows 

cumulative spend for 

DOL

Bar chart now shows cumulative spend for DOL

Clicking “Labor” will filter 

the other charts to only 

include DOL data
Right click on a department to drill-through for a more 

detailed breakdown

Page 72 03/31/2020

Right click “Labor” to drillthrough for a more detailed 

breakdown of DOL data
Drill-through page breaking down selected department’s 

spend by agency

Page 73 03/31/2020

Red for a 

Year over 

Year (YoY) 

increase

and blue

for a YoY 

decrease
Click an agency in the table to filter other charts

Page 74 03/31/2020

Now that 

MSHA is 

selected 

these tiles 

show 

MSHA’s

cumulative 

spend and 

what % of 

the DOL’s

spend 

MSHA

comprises

Clicking “Mine Safety & Health 

Administration” will filter the other 

charts to only include MSHA data
Click “Spend Over Time” for a YoY breakdown

Page 75 03/31/2020

Since MSHA is still selected, 

the Spend Over Time chart 

displays MSHA spend by 

chargeback year
Right click on an agency to drill-through for a more 

detailed breakdown

Page 76 03/31/2020

Right click on MSHA to 

drill-through for a more 

detailed breakdown of 

MSHA data
Drill-through page showing a selected agency’s 

spend broken down by building code

Page 77 03/31/2020

Red for a 

YoY 

increase

and blue

for a YoY 

decrease
Click a building code in the table to filter other charts

Page 78 03/31/2020

Now that PI

is selected 

these tiles 

show PI’s

cumulative 

spend and 

what % of 

MSHA

spend PI

comprises

Clicking “PI” will filter the other 

charts to only include PI data
Click “Spend Over Time” for a YoY breakdown

Page 79 03/31/2020

Since PI is still selected, the 

Spend Over Time chart 

displays PI spend by 

chargeback year
Technical Assistance Liaisons

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Technical Assistance Liaison – Anita Carter

Page 81 03/31/2020

Armed Forces Retirement Home National Credit Union Administration

Bureau of Safety & Environmental Enforcement National Gallery of Art

Commission on Civil Rights Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Department of Agriculture ** Office of Personnel Management

Department of Energy Securities and Exchange Commission

Department of Homeland Security ** Selective Service System

Department of Interior ** U.S. Botanic Garden

Environmental Protection Agency U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission U.S. Railroad Retirement Board

General Services Administration
Technical Assistance Liaison – Zanelle Rainy

Page 82 03/31/2020

Department of the Army ** Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation

Department of the Navy ** Pretrial Services Agency

Executive Office of the President Public Defender Service for DC

Export-Import Bank of the United States Smithsonian Institution

Farm Credit Administration U.S. AbilityOne Commission

Federal Housing Finance Agency U.S. Agency for Global Media

Federal Trade Commission U.S. Agency for International Development

International Trade Commission U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims

National Endowment for the Humanities U.S. International Development Finance Corporation

National Science Foundation
Technical Assistance Liaison – Madeline Cortes

Page 83 03/31/2020

Commodities Future Trading Commission Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services

Corporation for National and Community Service International Boundary and Water Commission

Defense Finance and Accounting Service Merit Systems Protection Board

Defense Logistics Agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Department of Defense ** National Security Administration

Department of Justice ** Peace Corps

Department of State Presidio Trust

Department of Transportation/FAA Small Business Administration

Director of National Intelligence Tennessee Valley Authority
Technical Assistance Liaison – Michelle Harrell

Page 84 03/31/2020

Architect of the Capitol Government Printing Office

Congressional Budget Office John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Department of Education Library of Congress

Department of Health and Human Services National Archives & Records Administration

Department of Labor National Endowment for the Arts 

Department of the Air Force U.S. Capitol Police

Department of Treasury ** U.S. House of Representatives

Department of Veterans Affairs ** U.S. Senate

Federal Maritime Commission VA Central Office

Government Accountability Office 
Technical Assistance Liaison – Nickie Athanason-Dymersky

Page 85 03/31/2020

Consumer Product Safety Commission National Capital Planning Commission

Department of Commerce National Labor Relations Board

Department of Housing and Urban Development National Transportation Safety Board

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission National Transportation Safety Board

Federal Communications Commission Office of Special Counsel

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Social Security Administration

Federal Election Commission Tax Court of the United States

Federal Judiciary U.S. Postal Service **

Federal Reserve Board U.S. Supreme Court

International Broadcasting Bureau
Thank You

Page 86 03/31/2020
Questions?

Page 87 03/31/2020