The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation plays a central role in providing medical care and wage replacement for injured workers across the state, including those here in Cincinnati. Understanding how the system works and what to expect can make a major difference in how your case plays out.
How Ohio Workers’ Compensation Laws Differ From Other States
Ohio is one of the few states with a state-run workers’ compensation system, meaning employers must obtain workers’ compensation insurance through the state. This means if you suffer a work-related injury or contract an occupational disease, your claim is handled directly by the BWC, rather than a private insurance company.
Ohio law requires nearly every employer to maintain a valid workers’ compensation policy, regardless of company size, which sets it apart from other states with more flexible or privatized systems.
What is the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation?
The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, aka the BWC, is the state agency that administers the Ohio workers’ compensation system. It serves as the primary resource for any injured worker who suffers a work-related injury or disease, ensuring access to benefits such as medical care and lost wages.
What Does the Ohio BWC Do?
For Injured Workers:
- Pays for medical treatment related to a work-related injury or disease
- Provides wage replacement benefits when a worker can’t return to work temporarily or permanently
- Covers rehabilitation and vocational services to help workers return to suitable employment
- Pays death benefits to survivors when a death occurs on the job
- Protects injured workers from retaliation by their employers for filing a claim
- Provides access to managed care organizations (MCOs) for coordinating medical care
For Employers:
- Offers workers’ compensation insurance coverage to protect businesses from direct injury-related liability
- Assists with claims management and works to reduce claim costs
- Provides workplace safety programs, inspections, risk assessments, and grants to reduce the risk of future injuries
- Monitors self-insured employer programs and monitors compliance
- Helps employers cope with workplace injuries by creating modified duty or light duty programs for injured workers
What is a Managed Care Organization?
A Managed Care Organization (MCO) is a private company hired by employers that manages requests for medical treatment under the Ohio workers’ compensation system.
Once a claim is filed, an Ohio MCO is responsible for managing treatment plans, approving medical services, and making sure injured employees receive appropriate and timely care.
What is a Third-Party Administrator?
In Ohio, a Third-Party Administrator (TPA) is a private company hired by an employer to help manage various aspects of their workers’ compensation policy.
Unlike an MCO, which focuses on medical treatment for employees who are injured, a TPA by assists employers with claim management, premium calculations, risk management, and ensuring compliance with the Ohio workers’ compensation system.
Benefits Provided By the BWC
Here are some of the most common types of workers’ compensation benefits available through the Ohio BWC:
- Medical Benefits: Coverage of medical expenses related to the injury, including doctor visits, hospital care, physical therapy, medications, and surgeries
- Temporary Total Disability (TTD): Wage replacement for workers who are completely unable to work on a temporary basis
- Permanent Partial Disability (PPD): Compensation for workers with a permanent injury that doesn’t prevent them from working but results in lasting impairment
- Permanent Total Disability (PTD): Lifetime benefits for workers who are permanently unable to return to any kind of gainful employment
- Wage Loss Compensation: Benefits for workers who return to work but at reduced earnings due to injury-related restrictions
- Vocational Rehabilitation Services: Support for retraining, job placement, and return-to-work programs
- Living Maintenance: Wage replacement and support while participating in an approved vocational rehabilitation program
- Work-Related Wrongful Death Benefits: Paid to eligible surviving dependents when a worker dies due to a work-related injury or illness
- Lump Sum Settlements: Negotiated one-time payment to close out a workers’ compensation claim or a portion of a claim
Do I Need a Lawyer for Workers’ Comp in Ohio?
While the Ohio BWC provides medical benefits and lost wages to employees who suffer an injury or disease on the job, nothing is guaranteed, and navigating the system alone can be challenging.
An experienced Cincinnati workers’ compensation attorney like Mark Newman can help you protect your rights, retain full benefits, and navigate the Ohio workers’ comp appeals process if your original claim was denied.
Call Cincinnati Workers’ Comp Attorney Mark L. Newman Today
Mark L. Newman, Attorney at Law helps injured workers in Cincinnati, Ohio and beyond obtain the medical benefits and lost wages they need to move forward following a workplace injury.
When you work with him, he will go above and beyond to make sure your rights are protected and ensure that you receive the compensation you are entitled to.
To learn more, call (513) 533-2009 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.
