U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore and 

Harbor Workers’ Compensation

Office of Workers’ 

Compensation Programs

Federal Employee Program

Interagency Meeting

April 28, 2021
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore and 

Harbor Workers’ Compensation

Christopher Godfrey

Director,

Office of Workers’ Compensation 

Programs
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore and 

Harbor Workers’ Compensation

Administration Priorities

• COVID-19—ARPA

• Ending the Opioid Crisis

• Digital Strategy
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore and 

Harbor Workers’ Compensation

Ensure federal workers are able to access workers’ 

compensation and encourage states to do the 

same. Because it will be difficult for workers to prove that 

they were exposed to COVID-19 while on the job, the Biden 

Plan will ensure the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act 

program presumes they were exposed while on the job if 

their job put them in direct contact with infected individuals. 

And, he will encourage states to do the same.

The Biden Build Back Better Plan was to:
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore and 

Harbor Workers’ Compensation

American Rescue Plan Act

Signed March 11, 2021

Ensured coverage for 

any Federal Employee 

diagnosed with COVID 

with covered exposure in 

the workplace.
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore and 

Harbor Workers’ Compensation

Ending the Opioid Crisis

•Make effective prevention, treatment, and recovery services 

available to all, including through a $125 billion federal investment.

•Stop overprescribing while improving access to effective and 

needed pain management.

•Provide training to medical personnel in pain management and 

substance use disorder treatment.

•Expand the effectiveness of monitoring programs designed to prevent 

inappropriate overprescribing of opioids (Prescription Drug Monitoring 

Programs).

•Ensure regular updating of the Centers for Disease the Control and 

Prevention (CDC) prescriber guideline based on the best available 

evidence.
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore and 

Harbor Workers’ Compensation

Digital Strategy

"Digital communities and online 

spaces have taken on even more 

importance in the wake of the 

pandemic. We're building a team 

to speak to the lived experiences 

of all Americans. With much of 

our lives online, it is critical for this 

administration's digital efforts to 

be inclusive and extensive," Vice 

President Kamala Harris.
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore and 

Harbor Workers’ Compensation

Antonio A. Rios

Director,

Division of Federal Employees’,

Longshore and Harbor Workers’ 

Compensation
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

140,000

160,000

180,000

200,000

Total Cases Created

SHARE POWER PEER

NO

INITIATIVE
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

Total Periodic Roll

PRM Units 

Implemented New Policies 

• Nurse@ 2 weeks of TTD 

• 2nd Op Exams @ 12 months of TTD
U.S. Department of Labor 

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Chargeback Trends

Medical and Comp

Total
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

1

1.1

1.2

1.3

1.4

1.5

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Medical CPI

Billions

Medical Chargeback Trend

Medical Medical CPI
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation

-20.0%

-15.0%

-10.0%

-5.0%

0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Growth in Medical Chargeback Versus Medical inflation

Medical Chargeback Declining amid Rising 

Medical Inflation

Medical Chargeback Growth

Sources: DFEC and BLS 
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

1.6

1.7

1.8

1.9

2

2.1

2.2

2.3

2.4

2.5

2.6

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

CPI

Billions

Compensation Chargeback 

Trend

Compensation CPI
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation

-8.0%

-6.0%

-4.0%

-2.0%

0.0%

2.0%

4.0%

6.0%

8.0%

10.0%

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Growth in Compensation Chargeback Versus CPI

Compensation Chargeback Grew Slower than 

Inflation

Compensation Chargeback Growth

Consumer Price Index

Sources: DFEC and BLS 
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore and 

Harbor Workers’ Compensation

75

80

85

90

95

100

Q4 2009 Q4 2010 Q4 2011 Q4 2012 Q4 2013 Q4 2014 Q4 2015 Q4 2016 Q4 2017 Q4 2018 Q4 2019 Q4 2020

% CA-1s and CA-2s filed in under 10 

days

SHARE PEER

ECOMP

POWER No Active Initiative
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore and 

Harbor Workers’ Compensation

70

75

80

85

90

95

100

Q4 2009 Q4 2011 Q4 2012 Q4 2013 Q4 2014 Q4 2015 Q4 2016 Q4 2017 Q4 2018 Q4 2019 Q4 2020

% of forms CA-7 filed in under 5 days

SHARE

POWER

PEER

No Active 

Initiative

ECOMP
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation

Protecting 

Employees, Ensuring 

Reemployment 

(PEER)

How are we Doing?
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore and 

Harbor Workers’ Compensation

PEER 

Goal 5 

Return to Work 

During COP
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation

March 15, 2021:Memorandum issued by 

then-Acting Secretary Stewart setting a 

goal of increasing the rate of return-towork outcomes during the initial 45-day 

post-injury period by 1% per year above 

FY2020 performance.
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation

For cases to be counted, 

OWCP is notified via:

• FECA Form CA-1;

• OWCP assigned nurse; or

• Agency electronic 

submission of Form CA-3.
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation

 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.
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation

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.

Cases where the IW returned to 

work within 45 days of the date of 

injury count positively; those 

where the IW did not count 

negatively.

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.
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore and 

Harbor Workers’ Compensation

15.36%, DHS

8.34%, DOJ

3.10%, ARMY

12.34%, VA

46.29%, USPS

14.57%, ALL OTHER

PEER GOAL 5 - BY LARGEST AGENCIES (85.43 % OF 

CLAIMS)
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation

Agency FY 2021 

Target

FY 2021, Q1 

Result

FY 2021, Q2 

Result

U.S. Postal 

Service

66% 55% 58%

Department 

of Veterans 

Affairs

73% 74% 77%

Department 

of Homeland 

Security

68% 71% 70%

Department 

of Justice

65% 63% 71%

Department 

of the Army

77% 73% 76%

PEER GOAL 5 PERFORMANCE – 5 LARGEST AGENCIES (85.43% of claims)
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation

66% 66%

55%

58%

48%

50%

52%

54%

56%

58%

60%

62%

64%

66%

68%

FY 21 Q1 FY21 Q2

USPS

TARGET PERFORMANCE

DHS

DOJ

ARMY

VA

USPS

ALL OTHER
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation

73% 73%

74%

77%

71%

72%

73%

74%

75%

76%

77%

78%

FY 21 Q1 FY21 Q2

VA

TARGET PERFORMANCE

DHS

DOJ

ARMY

VA

USPS

ALL OTHER
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation

68% 68%

71%

70%

67%

67%

68%

68%

69%

69%

70%

70%

71%

71%

72%

1 2

DHS

TARGET PERFORMANCE

DHS

DOJ

ARMY

VA

USPS

ALL OTHER
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation

65% 65%

63%

71%

58%

60%

62%

64%

66%

68%

70%

72%

FY 21 Q1 FY21 Q2

DOJ

TARGET PERFORMANCE

DHS

DOJ

ARMY

VA

USPS

ALL OTHER
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation

77% 77%

73%

76%

71%

72%

73%

74%

75%

76%

77%

78%

FY 21 Q1 FY21 Q2

ARMY

TARGET PERFORMANCE

DHS

DOJ

ARMY

VA

USPS

ALL OTHER
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation

PEER 

Goal 6

Return to Work 

(two-year period)
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore and 

Harbor Workers’ Compensation
The Branch of Technical Assistance will be 

increasing outreach to the five largest 

agencies (USPS, DHS, VA, DOJ, and Army) 

from quarterly to monthly to assist in meeting 

PEER Goals 5 and 6.

INCREASED OUTREACH

U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation

COVID-19
Makes it easier for federal workers diagnosed with COVID-19 to establish 

coverage under the FECA.

Under ARPA, the term “covered employee” means an individual: 

• Who is an employee under Section 8101(1) and employed in the 

Federal service at any time during the period 1/27/20-1/27/23; 

• Who is diagnosed with COVID–19 during that period; and

• Who, during a covered exposure period prior to such diagnosis, carries 

out duties that—

• require contact with patients, members of the public, or coworkers; or

• include a risk of exposure to the novel coronavirus.

American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 

(ARPA)

U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation
Covered Exposure

The employee is deemed to have had exposure if, during the covered 

exposure period, he or she carries out (1) duties that require a physical 

interaction with at least one other person (a patient, a member of the public, 

or a co-worker) in the course of employment duties, or (2) duties that 

otherwise include a risk of exposure to COVID-19. 

The interaction does not have to be direct physical contact. 

Nor is there a specified time for such interaction, any duration qualifies. 

General office contact and interaction is sufficient. 

This includes but is not limited to interaction in shared workspaces such as 

lunchrooms, break areas and common restrooms.

• FECA previously used High-Risk determinations to make adjudication 

decisions – no longer necessary under ARPA.

FECA Bulletin 21-09, issued April 28, 2021

(Processing FECA Claims for COVID-19 under the 

American Rescue Plan Act of 2021) 

U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation
Covered Exposure Period

The evidence should establish manifestation of COVID-19 

symptoms (or positive test result) within 21 days of the covered 

exposure. 

Existing medical literature suggests that the incubation period of 

COVID-19 is between 2 and 14 days; however, the use of 21 days 

acknowledges an employee’s potential delay in seeking 

professional medical evaluation and treatment.

Teleworking Employees

An employee that is exclusively teleworking during a covered 

exposure period is not considered a “covered employee” under the 

ARPA. 

• Routine FECA case handling procedures apply. 

FECA Bulletin 21-09

U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation
Diagnosis of COVID-19 (3 options)

a. A positive Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) COVID-19 test result; or

b. A positive Antibody or Antigen COVID-19 test result, together with 

contemporaneous medical evidence that the claimant had documented 

symptoms of and/or was treated for COVID-19 by a physician (a notice to 

quarantine is not sufficient if there was no evidence of illness); or

c. If no positive laboratory test is available, a COVID-19 diagnosis from a 

physician together with rationalized medical opinion supporting the 

diagnosis and an explanation as to why a positive test result is not 

available. 

FECA Bulletin 21-09

U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation
Duplicate Claims

Generally, a claim for COVID-19 will not be considered a new injury 

unless the date of injury is more than 1 year from the date of injury 

of any prior accepted COVID-19 claim for the same employee. 

If a new claim is submitted, it will be combined with the prior accepted 

claim and developed as necessary as a consequential or recurrence 

claim.

FECA Bulletin 21-09

U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation
• New Option for COVID-19 CA-1

• Claimant prompts to collect information needed for ARPA determination -

Date of Injury, Cause of Injury and Nature of Injury

• Claimant asked to upload a copy of COVID-19 positive test result and 

documentation of interactions with medical professionals 

• Supervisor prompts for Performance of Duty and Challenges

• Supervisor review has auto-fill for Location, Nature and Cause of Injury, as 

well as Third Party and Special Event Indicator

U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation

Process Changes- Forms Filing 

(Updated 3/26/21)
Any COVID-19 claim that was accepted for 

COVID-19 prior to March 12, 2021, 

is not impacted because coverage for benefits 

had already been extended.

• Case retains existing case number

• Case retains the COR special event indicator

• Case will be included in chargeback

U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation

Process Changes- Case Numbers

(Updated 3/26/21)
Any COVID-19 claim filed on or after March 12, 2021, will be 

reviewed solely under the new ARPA eligibility requirements.

• Case will have case number that starts with “19”

• Case will have new C19 special event indicator

• Case will NOT be included in chargeback

• Case will administratively close without formal adjudication by 

claims staff, if criteria are met 

• Change from pre-ARPA

• Assignment of COP/Triage Nurse will occur using the same criteria 

as other cases

• Change from pre-ARPA

U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation

Process Changes- Case Numbers

(Updated 3/26/21)
Any COVID-19 claim filed prior to March 12, 2021 that had 

not been adjudicated is considered an ARPA case.

• Case converted to case number that starts with “19”

• Special event indicator was updated from COR to C19

• Case will NOT be included in chargeback

• Claimant and agency received letter with case number 

conversion notification 

• 1715 cases filed pre-ARPA have now been accepted 

under ARPA

U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation

Process Changes- Adjudication

(Began on 3/12/2021)
FECA proactively reviewed cases that were denied based on 

a lack of federal exposure or lack of medical evidence 

establishing causal relationship to work factors under the new 

ARPA provisions.

• Case converted to case number that starts with “19”

• Special event indicator was updated from COR to C19

• Claimant and agency received letter with case number 

conversion notification 

• If ARPA criteria met, case was reopened under Director’s 

Own Motion and accepted

• 400 previously denied cases have now been accepted

U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation

Process Changes- Adjudication

(Began on 3/12/2021)
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore and 

Harbor Workers’ Compensation

Combatting the Opioid Crisis

• Effective Controls

• Tailored Treatment

• Impactful Communications

• Aggressive Fraud Detection
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore and 

Harbor Workers’ Compensation
ECOMP
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation

FY21 ECOMP Enhancements

Features Release Date

CE-Linq Updates

- Separate tab for No Response Required 

letters

10/15/20

Password Reset Experience Update (via 

email)

2/5/21

Case Management 

- Real Time Access to Case Documents

3/4/21

CE-Linq Notifications from Different Email

- noreply-celinq@ecomp.dol.gov

3/4/21

COVID-19 Forms Filing Updates 3/26/21

Upload Document Button in Case Imaging

- no need to enter 4 pieces of information

4/15/21

CE-Linq Integration in Case View 4/15/21
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation

What’s Next?

Features Planned Release

DMI Option to Request Second Opinion July 2021

Claimant Imaging July 2021

Help Site Redesign July 2021

Entity Access to ECOMP (Attorneys, Unions, 

Auth Reps)

September 2021

Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Integration September 2021

Opt Out of Paper Mail – Use CE Linq Only September 2021

Real Time Chargeback October 2021

CA-1032 On-Line Completion December 2021

Payroll Integration TBD
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation

Web Chat Now Open 

For Submission 

of Questions 
DMI Option – Request Second Opinion

U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation
Request Second Opinion

U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation

Option will only be available if ALL of the following are 

met:

• Case file is fully imaged

• Case status is OP, PR, or PN 

• There has not been a second opinion report received 

within the last 6 months

• Case is not currently in active vocational rehabilitation

• No pending termination or reduction decision
Request Second Opinion

U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation

Option
Request Second Opinion

U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation

What happens after request is submitted?

1. Referral automatically sent through ECOMP to a Field 

Nurse for a task based assignment to prepare the case for 

a second opinion. 

2. Memo is placed into the file for the CE to see when 

referral to Field Nurse occurs. 

• CE may object but this should be exceedingly rare. 

3. Field Nurse completes DRAFT SOAF and Questions for CE.

4. CE reviews, edits and finalizes both documents as the 

author, and refers for SECOP scheduling. 
Help Site Redesign

U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation

Help Site Redesign

U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation

Entity Deployment

U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation
Entity Deployment

U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation
Entity Deployment

U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation
Entity Deployment

U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation
Entity Deployment

U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation

Pharmacy Benefits 

Manager - PBM
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation

• Improve quality of care provided to injured 

federal workers through added clinical 

pharmacy personnel.

• Improve safety controls for pharmaceuticals 

such as a drug formulary.

• Add more modernized functionality for 

claimants, prescribers, and government 

staff.

• Assist agencies in reducing chargeback 

costs.

Expectations
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation

Phase One—April 1, 2021

PHASE 1: Welcome 

packets and new, 

Optum pharmacy 

cards were mailed to 

the 4,200 claimants 

receiving 90 MED or 

higher. Those cards 

became effective on 

April 1, 2021. 
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation

Phase Two—April 30, 2021

PHASE 2: Welcome 

packets and new, Optum 

pharmacy cards were 

mailed to the remaining 

200,000 claimants 

(approximation of 

numbers). Those PBM 

cards will become 

effective on April 30, 

2021.
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation

Phase Three—May 1, 2021

PHASE 3: All newly 

accepted claims and 

newly filed claims which 

are administratively 

closed will receive a new 

benefits card; the 

effective date will be the 

Date of Injury.
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation

• Our plan is to leverage ECOMP to:

• Immediately and electronically distribute pharmacy 

benefit cards and welcome letters for accepted and 

short form closure (SFC) cases.

• For SFC cases

• ECOMP will distribute a PBM card and welcome letter 

(“Admin Expenses Only”) as soon as the SFC is 

identified by the system; as previously, bills will pay 

up to the SFC threshold, after which the case will flip 

and the claimant will be notified.

• Once, and if, the claim is accepted, another letter/card 

is distributed via ECOMP for their accepted injury.

ECOMP AND PBM
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation

• ECOMP.DOL.GOV

• The Program is currently developing a PBM program landing site 

with program announcements, a pharmacy locator, and access to 

various portals.

• Improvements will be made over time.

• Currently claimants can access Optum network pharmacies via the 

ECOMP home page.

• The PBM will be creating portals for:

• Claims Examiners, Medical Benefit Examiners, Agency 

Representatives, and other government staff

• Claimants

• Providers

• Each portal will be slightly different, but will allow individuals to see case 

specific prescription activity including prior authorizations or letters of 

medical necessity.

• Report functionality will also be improved.

PBM PORTALS
U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore 

and Harbor Workers’ Compensation

Questions?