Reminder! New denial appeal language required as of November 1, 2024.

By Amy C. Osenar, Attorney at Law

I was pleased to recently serve, alongside other industry representatives, on a WCB advisory committee tasked with ensuring denial appeal language is clear and easy to understand. The goal was to allow easier access to justice and the committee worked together to address concerns from the perspectives of ALJs, the ombuds office, and both claimant and defense counsel.

The committee’s recommended changes were wholly adopted by the WCB and now is the time to update your templates!  The new appeal language is required for any denials issued on and after November 1, 2024 as follows.

For standard denials (always use BOLD type): 

IF YOU DISAGREE with this DENIAL, you must file an APPEAL WITHIN 60 DAYS after the mailing date of the DENIAL by doing one of the following: 

(1) MAILING a letter to the Workers’ Compensation Board, 2601 25th Street SE, Suite 150,
Salem, Oregon 97302-1280;

(2) Sending an EMAIL to: [email protected]; 

(3) Sending a FAX to: 503-373-1600; or 

(4) PHYSICAL DELIVERY of a letter to a Workers’ Compensation Board Office in Salem,
2601 25th Street SE, Suite 150, Salem, Oregon 97302-1280, or Portland, 16760 SW Upper
Boones Ferry Road, Suite 220, Portland, OR 97224-7696.

Your letter, email, or fax, should include: (1) you want a hearing; (2) your address; (3) the date of the denial; (4) the claim number; and (5) the date of your injury or exposure, if you know the date. If the Workers’ Compensation Board receives your appeal more than 60 days after the mailing date of this denial, you may have to prove you filed the appeal within 60 days. 

IF YOU DO NOT APPEAL WITHIN 60 DAYS of the mailing date of this denial, YOU WILL LOSE ANY RIGHT you may have to compensation. The only exception is if you can show good cause for delay beyond the 60 days. After 180 days, all of your rights will be lost. 

By law, your appeal cannot affect your employment. 

You may request an examination by a physician selected by the Workers’ Compensation Division at no cost to you if: (1) you timely request a hearing on a denial of compensability; (2) the denial is based on one or more medical reports of insurer or self-insured employer requested medical examinations; and (3) your attending physician does not agree with or did not comment on the report(s). 

You may be REPRESENTED BY AN ATTORNEY of your choice at NO COST TO YOU for attorney fees. 

If you have questions you may contact: 

(1) The Ombuds Office for Oregon Workers toll free at 1-800-927-1271, https://www.oregon.gov/dcbs/OOW. 

(2) The Workers’ Compensation Board toll free at 877-311-8061, https://www.oregon.gov/wcb. 

(3) The Workers’ Compensation Division toll free at 1-800-452-0288, https://wcd.oregon.gov.

For non-cooperation denials (always use BOLD type): 

IF YOU DISAGREE with this DENIAL, you must file an APPEAL WITHIN 60 DAYS after the mailing date of the DENIAL by doing one of the following: 

(1) MAILING a letter to the Workers’ Compensation Board, 2601 25th Street SE, Suite 150,
Salem, Oregon 97302-1280;

(2)Sending an E-MAIL to: [email protected]; 

(3) Sending a FAX to: 503-373-1600; or 

(4) PHYSICAL DELIVERY of a letter to a Workers’ Compensation Board Office in Salem, 2601 25th Street SE, Suite 150, Salem, Oregon 97302-1280, or Portland, 16760 SW Upper Boones Ferry Road, Suite 220, Portland, OR 97224-7696. 

Your letter, email, or fax should include: (1) that you want an EXPEDITED hearing; (2) your address; (3) the date of the denial; (4) the claim number; and (5) the date of your injury or exposure, if you know the date. 

If the Workers’ Compensation Board receives your appeal more than 60 days after the mailing date of this denial, you may have to prove you filed the appeal within 60 days. 

IF YOU DO NOT APPEAL WITHIN 60 DAYS of the mailing date of this denial, YOU WILL LOSE ANY RIGHT you may have to compensation. The only exception is if you can show good cause for delay beyond the 60 days. After 180 days, all of your rights will be lost. 

You will receive an EXPEDITED hearing within 30 days. 

By law, your appeal cannot affect your employment. 

You may be REPRESENTED BY AN ATTORNEY of your choice at NO COST TO YOU for attorney fees. 

If you have questions you may contact: 

(1) The Ombuds Office for Oregon Workers toll free at 1-800-927-1271,
https://www.oregon.gov/dcbs/OOW

(2) The Workers’ Compensation Board toll free at 877-311-8061, https://www.oregon.gov/wcb. 

(3) The Workers’ Compensation Division toll free at 1-800-452-0288, https://wcd.oregon.gov.

Please reach out with any questions to [email protected] and Happy Fall!