Dr. Stephen Taylor is an OWCP - DOL provider and consultant who enjoys teaching all things federal workers compensation related. This is an educational short form format podcast for learning how to successfully file federal workers compensation claims. So grab a cup of coffee and lets begin. You will be glad you did!
Here at this podcast we discuss all sorts of topics related to federal workers compensation, Department of Labor, OWCP, FECA ACT, FERS, longshore-maritime, DOD contractors, VA benefits. I cover these relevant topics in a short coffee break style format because we like to discuss topics that are related to helping you the government employee with filing your claim, understanding your rights and responsibilities, relevant rules and provisions. I also like to cover topics that people are always wanting information on to help you successfully navigate the convoluted waters of federal claim filing. I do this to assist you, you and your doctor or your coworkers with claim filing denials or with appropriate filing of benefit claims, disability or injured worker claims. This episode is a show update and discussion about current events with Dr. Taylor

Dr. Taylor's contact information for more information or assistance is:
fedcompconsultants@protonmail.com

If you need an OWCP approved medical provider, You can make a a consultation with me to discuss your case or if you know someone in Tampa or Pensacola Florida and Atlanta and south Georgia or Alabama, who is recently injured you can call the clinic at 813-215-4356 or go to our website at https://fedcompconsultants.com/ & https://mrtherapycenter.com/ Also if you are in another state and you want me to assist you with claim questions or assistance for your doctor you can email me at fedcompconsultants@protonmail.com or send me a message on the website at fedcompconsultants.com

For responses email Dr. Taylor at fedcompconsultants@protonmail.com

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If you're an injured worker whose workers' compensation claim has been accepted but now faces a second opinion examination that seems prejudiced or improperly conducted, you may be at risk of losing your benefits. This guide provides practical tips and remedies to protect your rights and ensure fair treatment when a second opinion physician’s findings appear influenced by a claims examiner aiming for a predetermined outcome.

Understanding the Situation

When a second opinion physician determines that your injury is not work-related, the claims examiner may issue a Notice of Intent to Terminate Compensation. This notice typically gives you 30 days before your benefits end. The claims examiner often supports this decision with a Memorandum to the Director, outlining the reasons for denying your claim. This memorandum is a document that you never see but has a lot of prejudicial influence on the second opinion's determinations. There is a lot of these types of memorandums that hurt injured workers looking for fairness and help but instead receive a predetermined prejudiced outcome that is negotiated in these type of memorandum that often hurt the injured worker claimant.

If the second opinion feels biased or the examination was not conducted appropriately, you have options to challenge the findings and protect your benefits. Acting quickly and strategically is critical.

Steps to Take

1. Request Key Documents

To build a strong case, you need access to the documents influencing the decision. Take these actions immediately:

• Obtain the Memorandum to the Director: Request a copy of this document from the claims examiner. It details why your claim is being denied and is essential for your treating physician to understand the basis of the denial.
• Request the Second Opinion Doctor’s Report: Ask the claims examiner to send a copy of the second opinion physician’s report to your treating physician. This ensures your doctor has the full context of the findings to address. for more information click on the transcript:

Dr. Taylor’s contact information is: fedcompconsultants@protonmail.com

If you need a medical provider or assistance with an OWCP / DOL claim in Tamps, Pensacola Florida. south Mississippi or Daphne Alabama you can make an appointment to see Dr. Taylor, or Dr. Sullivan at the clinic at FWC Medical Centers. To make a consultation with Dr. Taylor call the clinic at 813-215-4356 or go to our website at https://fedcompconsultants.com/

For responses email Dr. Taylor at fedcompconsultants@protonmail.com

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Government Agency -Medical and Occupational Health Program consists of agency personnel that provide administrative functions, wellness initiatives, and other medically related activities designed to address the health and safety of employees in the workplace. The mission of the National Medical and Occupational Health Program is to reinforce the relationship between health, productivity, and the achievement of the Government Agency's business goals. This is accomplished through the development of quality programs and policies designed to promote and maintain employee health and to help ensure a safe, healthful work environment. The program’s services include but are not limited to the following activities:

a. Providing preventive medical programs in health counseling, education, and training.

b. Managing the care of acutely ill or injured employees.

c. Determining medical ability of applicants and employees to perform the

functions of the job.

d. Managing applicant and employee drug and alcohol testing programs.

e. Managing compliance with the regulatory requirements of the

Department of Transportation, Office of Worker’s Compensation Programs, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and other entities for which program compliance is required.

For more information click on the show transcript:

Dr. Taylor’s contact information is: fedcompconsultants@protonmail.com

If you need a medical provider or assistance with an OWCP / DOL claim in Tampa, Pensacola Florida or Mobile Alabama you can make an appointment to see Dr. Taylor, or Dr. Sullivan at the clinic at FWC Medical Centers. To make a consultation with Dr. Taylor call the clinic at 813-215-4356 or go to our website at https://mrtherapycenter.com/or https://fedcompconsultants.com/

For responses email Dr. Taylor at fedcompconsultants@protonmail.com

FEEDSPOT TOP 10 National Workers Compensation Podcast:

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Federal Workers Compensation Coffee Break Podcast is an educational and informative training on how to navigate the DOL -OWCP claims filing process for all types of injured US government and federal workers. The podcast is free and is educational. If you need help with anything related to a federal workers compensation claim...help is just a cup of coffee away.

Step-by-Step Tutorial: How to Fill Out and Submit OWCP Form 957 for Travel Reimbursement

If you’re a federal employee or a worker covered under programs like the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA), Black Lung Benefits Act, or the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA), you may be eligible to get reimbursed for travel expenses related to medical treatment for a work-related injury or illness. The key to unlocking this benefit is the OWCP-957 form, also known as the Medical Travel Refund Request. In this step-by-step tutorial, I’ll walk you through how to fill out and submit this form accurately to ensure you get reimbursed without unnecessary delays.

Step 1: Understand When to Use the OWCP-957

Before you start, confirm that your travel qualifies for reimbursement. The OWCP-957 is for travel expenses tied to medical care for an accepted work-related condition—think doctor visits, pharmacy trips, or approved treatments. You can claim up to three trips per form, and all requests must be submitted within one year of the expense. If your travel exceeds 200 miles round-trip, you’ll need pre-approval from your OWCP Medical Benefits Examiner, so keep that in mind. There are two different 957 forms for the process of filing for medical travel reimbursement.

OWCP-957A - Medical Travel Refund Request – Mileage

OWCP-957B - Medical Travel Refund Request – Expenses

For more information click on the show transcript:

Dr. Taylor’s contact information is: fedcompconsultants@protonmail.com

If you need a medical provider or assistance with an OWCP / DOL claim in Tampa, Pensacola Florida. Mississippi or Mobile Alabama you can make an appointment to see Dr. Taylor, or Dr. Sullivan at the clinic at FWC Medical Centers. To make a consultation with Dr. Taylor call the clinic at 813-215-4356 or go to our website at https://mrtherapycenter.com/or https://fedcompconsultants.com/

For responses email Dr. Taylor at fedcompconsultants@protonmail.com

FEEDSPOT TOP 10 National Workers Compensation Podcast:

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Federal Workers Compensation Coffee Break Podcast is about all things related to Federal Workers Compensation, FECA, OWCP, DOL & Longshore claim filing as an injured federal worker. The podcast is an educational and informative training on how to navigate the DOL -OWCP claims filing process for all types of injured US government and federal workers. The podcaster has 30 years in assisting with federal workers compensation as a consultant and trainer. The podcast is free and is educational. If you need help with anything related to a federal workers compensation claim...help is just a cup of coffee away.

Current rundown of the latest OWCP policy updates as of March 16, 2025. These updates are drawn from what’s been publicly shared by the U.S. Department of Labor and other reliable channels—perfect fodder for your next episode!

See transcript for more information on the policy updates of 2025.

The podcast Dr. Taylor’s contact email is: fedcompconsultants@protonmail.com

If you need a medical provider or assistance with an OWCP / DOL claim in Tampa, Pensacola Florida, Mississippi or Mobile Alabama you can make an appointment to see Dr. Taylor, or Dr. Sullivan at the clinic at FWC Medical Centers. To make a consultation with Dr. Taylor call the clinic at 813-215-4356 or go to our website at https://mrtherapycenter.com/or https://fedcompconsultants.com/

For responses email Dr. Taylor at fedcompconsultants@protonmail.com

FEEDSPOT TOP 10 National Workers Compensation Podcast:

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An OWCP traumatic injury is defined as: “A wound or other condition of the body caused by external force, including stress or strain, which is identifiable as to the time and place of occurrence and member or function of the body affected. The injury must be caused by a specific event or incident or series of events or incidents within a single work day or work shift.”

Notifying your supervisor and filing a claim & Immediately notify your supervisor of your injury and your intent to file a claim using ECOMP. Request your supervisor’s Postal Service email address to use in registering in ECOMP. Once you have registered in ECOMP, go to the top of your dashboard and click New Claim. Follow the directions for filing a CA-1 claim for traumatic injury. If you are filing the claim within one week of the injury, request form CA-16, Authorization for Examination and/or Treatment (must be supplied by your manager within 4 hour. Request a Form CA-17 Duty Status Report from your supervisor. The Postal Service is responsible for filling out the job requirements on the left (side A) of the CA-17. Once your doctor has completed the CA-17, make a copy or take a picture of the completed CA-17 and give the original to your supervisor.

Your doctor should provide you with their report so you can send medical reports directly to OWCP. You can upload medical reports into your claim file via ECOMP. When the occupational & safety personnel ask you for your records you are required to provide them with your return to work CA forms CA-17 or CA-5C. Your medical reports are protected by the Privacy Act and should be sent directly to OWCP, not the Postal Service. Never give your private health information medical reports to an agency employee that is protected by federal law. For more information read the show transcript and listen to the podcast.

The podcast Dr. Taylor’s contact information is:

https://fedcompconsultants@protonmail.com If you need a medical provider or assistance with an OWCP / DOL claim in Tampa, Pensacola Florida, Mississippi or Mobile Alabama you can make an appointment to see Dr. Taylor, or Dr. Sullivan at the clinic at FWC Medical Centers. To make a consultation with Dr. Taylor call the clinic at 813-215-4356 or go to our website at https://mrtherapycenter.com/or https://fedcompconsultants.com/

For responses please email Dr. Taylor at fedcompconsultants@protonmail.com

For responses email Dr. Taylor at fedcompconsultants@protonmail.com

FEEDSPOT TOP 10 National Workers Compensation Podcast:

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OWCP reversed course on that new announcement literally two weeks later with no real explanation why they reversed course. On January 10, 2025, the Division of Federal Employees' Compensation (DFEC) announced significant updates to the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) Procedure Manual, specifically Chapter 2-0808, addressing schedule awards and permanent disability claims. These updates, outlined in FECA Transmittal 25-03, introduce changes aimed at enhancing fairness and efficiency in the claims process.

FECA bulletin 25-03 was great new changes and I was excited about them…and OWCP killed it and withdrew it two weeks later…. So let’s read the new OWCP bulletin on impairment ratings announcement.

RELEASE – REVISION TO FECA PROCEDURE MANUAL

CHAPTER: 2-0808, Schedule Awards and Permanent Disability Claims

FECA TRANSMITTAL NO. 25-04 - February 10, 2025

Upon further review, it has been determined that to ensure all claims are treated fairly and consistently, a single version of the Guides should be used. Accordingly, DFEC is hereby revoking FECA Transmittal 25-03 and reinstating its procedures in effect prior to January 10, 2025.

Effective the date of this transmittal, Form CA-7, Claim for Compensation, should again be used to file claims for schedule awards under the FECA.

All schedule award claims, including those submitted with a CA-9 since January 10, 2025 in which an award has not yet been issued, will be processed under the procedures effective with this transmittal. Any claim filed in the Employees' Compensation and Operations Portal (ECOMP) that has not yet been submitted to OWCP will be cancelled so that a CA-7 can be filed. For more info here is the link for the new FECA bulletin 25-04: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/owcp/FECA/regs/compliance/DFECfolio/FECATransmittals#FECAT2504

The podcast Dr. Taylor’s contact information is:

https://fedcompconsultants@protonmail.com If you need a medical provider or assistance with an OWCP / DOL claim in Tampa, Pensacola Florida or Mobile Alabama you can make an appointment to see Dr. Taylor, or Dr. Sullivan at the clinic at FWC Medical Centers. To make a consultation with Dr. Taylor call the clinic at 813-215-4356 or go to our website at https://mrtherapycenter.com/or https://fedcompconsultants.com/

For responses email Dr. Taylor at fedcompconsultants@protonmail.com

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Simplifying FECA Bulletin No. 24-06: A New Streamlined Process for War Hazards Compensation Act (WHCA) Claims

CLAIM FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF BENEFIT PAYMENTS AND CLAIMS EXPENSE

UNDER THE WAR HAZARDS COMPENSATION ACT

The U.S. Department of Labor has introduced a new process to speed up decisions on claims made under the War Hazards Compensation Act (WHCA). This process allows insurance companies to submit suggested claim decisions, which the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) can approve if they meet all legal requirements. This change aims to make claim reimbursement processing faster and more efficient.

With a few exceptions, the DBA incorporates the provisions of the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA). The War Hazards Compensation Act (WHCA) applies to DBA employees who are injured as a result of hostile actions. 42 U.S.C. §§ 1701 – 1717. While WHCA claims can be considerably substantial, the statute provides a detailed set of procedures and requirements which, if performed properly, allow the employer or carrier to see 100% reimbursement of such claims including allocated and unallocated expenses from the government.

The WHCA provides financial coverage for employees injured or killed due to war-related hazards while working under the Defense Base Act. If an injury or death occurs because of a war risk hazard, private insurance carriers or self-insured employers can seek reimbursement for the benefits they have already paid out, such as:

Disability and death benefits Funeral and burial costs Medical expenses Other necessary claim processing costs

The OWCP, through its Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore, and Harbor Workers’ Compensation (DFELHWC) division, reviews and decides whether a claim qualifies for reimbursement through the guidelines established in the Defense Base Act.

The rules for requesting reimbursement under the WHCA are highly detailed and lengthy. Applications must be well-documented and include essential evidence that are outlined in the federal rules outlined in the DBS. For more information click on the transcript.

The podcast Dr. Taylor’s contact information is:
https://fedcompconsultants@protonmail.com If you need a medical provider or assistance with an OWCP / DOL claim in Tampa, Pensacola Florida or Mobile Alabama you can make an appointment to see Dr. Taylor, or Dr. Sullivan at the clinic at FWC Medical Centers. To mak

For responses email Dr. Taylor at fedcompconsultants@protonmail.com

FEEDSPOT TOP 10 National Workers Compensation Podcast:

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